2 Tim 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
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THE SPIRIT OR THE LETTER?
SATURDAY, JANUARY 18
2 Corinthians 3:4-6
Romans 2:28-29
“… the letter killeth, but
the spirit giveth life.”
THE SPIRIT OR THE LETTER?
Unlike his false accusers, Paul’s reliance was wholly upon God. It was God who made him an able and competent minister of the gospel. Paul walked in the Spirit, obeying God and His Word sincerely from the heart out of love for Christ. As a true minister of the new testament, he was a minister of the Spirit (i.e. serving in the power of the Holy Spirit), thus his ministry for the Lord was full of power and life.
On the other hand, the false accusers had a false show of piety. Externally, they might have appeared to be “holy” men, but internally, they were devoid of any spirituality and true love for God. Their “ministry” was like that of the Pharisees, with only an external adherence to the law, yet inwardly they were ravening wolves. They were men who drew nigh to Christ with their mouths, and honoured Him with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Matt 15:8). Thus, their “ministry” of the “letter” was one that was dead and lifeless. It is in this sense that Paul said, “the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Cor 3:6).
“But when the Holy Spirit subdues the heart of an individual, obedience to the law and fulfilling its true intention are evident (see Rom 2:27- 29). Not the letter but the Spirit changes a person’s heart. We distinguish between an external conformity to the law (the letter) and an internal obedience, through the Spirit, to fulfil the express purpose of the law: to have life” (Kistemaker).
Herein lies a danger, that there may be those who go to church thinking that by their attendance and outward adherence to religious duties, all is right with their souls. And yet, they may have never trusted in Christ Jesus. Oh, may such men through the hearing of the gospel be truly born again of the Word and of the Spirit!
Let our lives not be a show of religious hypocrisy, but one that is lived sincerely and truthfully in the Holy Spirit.
THOUGHT: Why is religious hypocrisy such an abomination to God?
PRAYER: Father, help me truly to walk in the Spirit.