Our Sufficiency is of GOd

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

10:03 PM

1-5 - Our Sufficiency is of God Paul is explaining that they (the hearer's and readers of this Epistle were proofs of his ministry) But their salvation had nothing to do with him, but was all God. 6-11 The Letter and the Spirit We have been made a minister of the new testament - The word "testament" (diathēkēs PWS: 3943) is better translated covenant. It means an agreement made between two parties; a contract drawn up between two or more people; a special relationship set up and established between persons. In the Old Testament period of history, God had set up an old covenant between Himself and man which is here called the covenant of the letter. This simply means a written covenant or the covenant of the law. Since Christ, He has set up a new covenant with man which is here called the "new covenant of the Spirit." This is simply another way of describing the covenant of grace or of the gospel (Hebrews 8:8). Vine points out that this covenant is called the "new" (Hebrews 9:15), the "second" (Hebrews 8:7), and the "better" (Hebrews 7:22). (Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Old Tappan, NJ: Fleming H. Revell Co. No date listed.)

, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – 1 & 2 Corinthians, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "C. The Ministry: Its New Covenant, 3:6-18".

The Glories The Letter Killeth - it brought condemnation and death. It was outside, external - had no power to transform a life, or give someone the want to live a holy life. The Spirit makes alive - or giveth life (and this life is more than just breathing) It is eternal life. The Letter had a glory - so much glory that God himself came down and thundered it out at Mount Sinai. He took his finger and with laser like precision inscribed his commandments on the tablets of stone. He showed himself to Moses in such a powerful way that Moses reflected the glory of God so powerfully that the children of Israel had to veil his face - it shone so much. - Tremendous glory - If that had so much glory - and it was done away - MUCH MORE THAT WHICH REMAINETH IS GLORIOUS!!!

12-18 The Old & The New Moses had to veil his face - even today people's minds and hearts are covered or blinded - and can only be taken away by Christ. Notice some things the Spirit brings Life - Life more abundant and free - The Old Covenant could not do this

Eternal life in the NT eliminates the boundary line of death. Death is still a foe, but the one who has eternal life already experiences the kind of existence that will never end.

A. Berkeley Mickelsen, Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, ed. Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England (Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003), s.v. “ETERNAL LIFE,” WORDsearch CROSS e-book.

Liberty - freedom from the power of sin - Something the law could not do. Transformation -Becoming more and more like Jesus as time goes by - till the rapture. - The Old Covenant could not promise this. One OT writer likens this to the refiner

Proverbs 25:4 (KJV)

4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

Malachi 3:3 (KJV)

3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.