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 GLORIOUS MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL
LORD’S DAY, JANUARY 19
2 Corinthians 3:7-11
John 1:17
“… the ministration of
righteousness exceed in glory.”
THE GLORIOUS MINISTRY OF THE GOSPEL
2 Corinthians 3:7-8 points us back to the event recorded in Exodus 34:29-35. Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai with the Ten Commandments written on a second pair of stone tablets. As Moses came down, the skin of his face shone so brightly that the people were unable to look directly at his face.
Nevertheless, despite the glory that was manifested in the sight of people, the ministration of the law was described as the “ministration of death” (2 Cor 3:7). Why so? Not because the law is bad, for Paul himself taught that the law is holy, just and good (Rom 7:12). Moreover, God Himself wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger. Therefore, the ministration of the law is a glorious ministration.
The problem is not with the law, but with man. The law reveals man for who he is and like a sword condemns him of his sin (Rom 3:19-20). The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). “Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” (Rom 7:13). Therefore, the ministration of the law is also a ministration of death unto man.
Why then is the ministration of the new testament far glorious? It is because man through the gospel may find eternal life. Christ, the only begotten Son of God, has come into the world to become the Son of man, so that the sons of men may become the sons of God. He came to be our Substitute and Propitiation for our sins. “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
Now that we know the wondrous privilege for us to be involved in the glorious ministry of the gospel, should we not therefore hasten in our witness for Christ?
THOUGHT: We must hasten in the ministry of the gospel today.
PRAYER: Father, grant me boldness to share the gospel of Christ.