2 Corinthians 3
1Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
The Glory of the New Covenant
7Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
12Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Footnotes:
[a] 2 Corinthians 3:18 Or contemplate
3 comments:
2 Cor 3
I pretty much think this sums it up fellas.
16But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. 17Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. 18And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect[b] the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.
Father God, how amazing is your grace and mercy. I pray that I can aontimue to grow closer to you and that my life will be more like Christ and reflect your glory een more.
IN Christ,c
2 Cor 3
very interesting chapter. It is strange for me to read about Paul shedding a little fraility on the face of Moses. It reemphasizes to me the true power of Christ and how we as people have the power to be transformed into having eternal life through Christ. Even people in the old testament like Moses WHO HEARD GOD DIRECTLY (!) still died. But those who find life in Christ will live on. That makes me want to live boldly as well, but in the mindset of giving the glory to God.
It's also interesting to be in a profession so determined by letters of recommendation and read how Paul comes with the letter of the Spirit. It reminds me of a story cas once told me about an interview where the interviewee spotted him immediately as a Christian and just said "I could see it in your eyes". That's a letter of recommendation if I ever heard of one, and quite a calling card.
Lord, give all of us your stamp of approval via the holy spirit. Let others around us know why we are who we are, and give us the chance to share this incredible truth with them.
Amen
crb
In the first 6 verses, Paul seems to pull away from claiming he preaches from pure motives (as opposed to profit) and puts ALL the glory back on the Trinity (so that no one will think Paul is merely bragging on himself). He is so tied to the church there. They are the evidence of God's transforming power in his life and the world. Paul's confidence, however, is not in the flesh's ability to manufacture changed lives. Instead it is fully upon God--the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I think that community can only be forged out of this kind of intimate intertwining between God's grace and our brothers and sisters.
Verses 7-11 is such an amazing reminder. I want to pump my arm in the air like I did the first time I heard the Sex Pistols' "God Save the Queen" (lol) Seriously, it is so great...LIFE, FREEDOM, LIGHT, LOVE..."how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!"
cas, I agree that vs. 16 hits the mark for the last section of the chapter. I also need to be reminded of what that freedom is to be used for...it is for boldness (vs. 12) not comfort and complacency. Praise God for His grace manifested in His sacrifice in Christ and his gifting of the Spirit, who is "transforming us into his likeness with ever-increasing glory."
ER
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