Law and Grace

Intro:

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This text contrasts the Law of Moses and the Gospel of grace.

1. Law: Accompanied by a fading glory

2 Corinthians 3:7 ESV

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end,

2 Corinthians 3:10 ESV

Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.

Moses’ face had to be hidden because it had absorbed and was reflecting the glory of God after he received the Law

However, it was a temporary glory

Moses didn’t spend all his days that way

1. Grace: Accompanied by unfading glory

2 Corinthians 3:10 ESV

Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it.

Grace revealed an even greater glory!

He comes to reside within us.

Grace displays even better

Instead of visible light it brings a transformation of our being!

He conforms us to His image

2. Law: It was temporary

2 Corinthians 3:11 ESV

For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

OT law was God’s plan, but it was temporary

That covenant pointed to the better covenant, the New Covenant

It was a temporary instructor

Through the Law we learned God’s holy standard and our inability to reach it.

2. Grace: It is eternal

2 Corinthians 3:11 ESV

For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

Grace brings the eternal covenant

All who call on the Lord will be saved

HE took our place and now we don’t have to try to reach His standard, He dwells with us and implants His nature without us.

It is an eternal covenant

3. It led to death

2 Corinthians 3:9 ESV

For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.

There was glory in the old covenant, but it was death.

Remember 2 Cor 3:6

2 Corinthians 3:6 ESV

who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The letter kills

It is inflexible

It displays our inadequacy

The letter kills

3. Grace: Leads to life

2 Corinthians 3:8 ESV

will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory?

Grace brings life!

The Spirit makes us alive in Christ

Again, this is the greater glory

God is revealed in us and through us

4. Law: Restricted God’s Glory

2 Corinthians 3:13–14 ESV

not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

2 Corinthians 3:15 ESV

Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts.

Law is like a veil

Moses had to wear a veil

They couldn’t handle the remnant of God’s glory

By requiring a veil, they missed out on seeing a reflection of God

The Law and its focus on actions rather than relationship becomes a veil between us and God.

4. Grace: Reflects God’s Glory

2 Corinthians 3:16–18 ESV

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Like a mirror

We see God!

We see His nature

The Spirit brings freedom

The Spirit transforms us

5. Prevented Christlikeness among the unsaved

2 Corinthians 3:14 ESV

But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away.

They, being stuck in the Law, cannot become like Christ

They can imitate it and pretend to be true converts, but the veil is unlifted

Without Christ, it cannot be lifted

all the works of the Law cannot bring true transformation

5. Grace: Produces Christlikeness among the saved

2 Corinthians 3:9 ESV

For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory.

Grace brings the difference.

God gives us what we don’t deserve

forgiveness

Transformation

Christlikeness

6. (Bonus) Grace produces boldness

2 Corinthians 3:12 ESV

Since we have such a hope, we are very bold,

Paul’s boldness had the same source as our own.

The Grace of God makes us bold.

Bold enough to

Live it

Proclaim it

Conclusion: