2 Corinthians 3:7-11

2 Corinthians 3:7-11  Now 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, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?  If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!  For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.  And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

Acts 15:6-11  Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.”  The apostles and elders met to consider this question.  After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: “Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe.  God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us.  He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith.  Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?  No!  We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”  

What does Paul mean by referring to the Law as the ministry that brought death?  Isn't the Law good?  Yes, it is good but can it bring life?  Can the Law bring forgiveness of sin?  Can it bring us into right relationship with God?  Yes and no.  First of all the Law is good, but fulfillment of the Law depends on MAN'S EFFORTS.  Therefore, to be righteous, to attain godly righteousness, a man must keep the Commandments completely all of his life, for if he breaks the Law, he cannot ever enter into the presence of God because God does not tolerate sin in his presence.  Sin has to be judged, and the judgement of violating the Law is DEATH.  Well, what about the sacrifices in the Old Testament?  Didn't they take away sin?  No, they covered sin.  They appeased the wrath of God for a while, for only blood, indicative of death, can satisfy the wrath of God on corrupting sin.  The sacrifices had to be performed yearly to insure that the wrath of God, the judgement of God, would not FALL ON HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE.  Because the Jews were chosen by God as his people, which in itself is an act of grace (unmerited choice), they needed a continuous covering of blood to stay in his presence and to find favor with him.  

However, the blood of bulls and goats could not eradicate sin; the blood could only insure for a short time that God's wrath on sin would be stayed.  All of these sacrifices, all of the ceremonies in the Old Testament, were in reality a looking forward to the enduring, complete sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.  His sacrifice on the cross completed the work necessary for the eradication of sin from the human soul.  His work would write the law of God on our spiritual hearts.  His work alone puts us in right standing with God, not our efforts.  We are now righteous because of him, not because of us.  Then what about the Law?  It is good, but we fulfill the Law by placing our faith in Jesus Christ's work and not our own.  He alone was able to walk this world sinless.  He alone fulfilled the holy requirements of the Law.  He alone did not deserve the wrath of God.  Therefore, He was the perfect lamb, the unblemished lamb, the sinless one.  His sacrifice forever satisfied God's wrath toward sin.  His death completed the judgement of God.  He paid for our sins by HIS DEATH.  

Consequently, those who have placed their trust in Jesus Christ and his work are righteous.  GOD has purified their hearts by faith (in Jesus Christ).  As Peter proclaimed to his fellow disciples: “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.  Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.  (Act 14:38-39)  We have been set free from the Law of sin and death, the Law of condemnation.  We have been set free from our works, our striving to be holy through our efforts.  We have been set free from the Law that could only mirror our unrighteousness, and now, praise God, we have entered into the ministry of the Spirit, which brings us eternal righteousness in Christ our beloved Lord.  We are now no longer just servants; we are sons and daughters of the Most High, ransomed by the blood of our only begotten brother, Jesus Christ.  Amen!