THE MINISTRY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
2 CORINTHIANS 3:9
2 CORINTHIANS 3:9 NKJ
9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
OBSERVATION:
This is a chapter where an idea of what took place in the Old Testament would be of help.
Paul is talking about being a minister of the new covenant. The Jewish people were given the law, the old covenant. Moses brought the law down from the mountain, which contained the ten commandments.
But the law had no spiritual life to it. The Jews were not able to keep the law, so there was a constant sense of condemnation. We use the term letter of the law to indicate following exact instructions.
But if this old covenant, this letter of the law, was effective, there would be no need for a new covenant. The old covenant required the blood of animals to ratify it. There was a reminder every year of how the people had failed to keep this law. This is why Paul called it a ministry of condemnation. The law caused condemnation, and yet it was still from God and still carried God's glory. That is why Moses' face shined when he came down from the mountain.
However, we are not under a ministry of condemnation. That old covenant does not apply to us. We have a new covenant of the Spirit. A covenant full of life and an entirely new relationship with God. A relationship based on righteousness, being in right standing with God.
This new covenant is not based on the blood of animals. What ratifies this new covenant is the very blood of Jesus. Major, major upgrade. No longer are we under condemnation. We have been made right. So with being made right by the work Jesus did for us, we can live free from condemnation. And this new, better covenant is far more glorious, full of the life and Spirit of God. This new covenant says we are not struggling to be accepted of God; we have been made accepted through Christ.
APPLICATION:
So how do we apply doctrinal truths to our lives? There is not a list of dos and don'ts in this chapter.
We apply this truth to our hearts. And we act as if we are in a strong relationship with our Father in heaven. Because we are. We are part of that ministry of righteousness.
And it truly is a glorious thing.
PRAYER:
Oh Father, thank You for the covenant of righteousness that gives spiritual life to me.