I am currently looking at our receiving of the LORD GOD a Fuller Revelation of our new station of Life in Him. And the next area of study is our Gain through Loss, other wise known as our light afflictions (Matthew 11:29-30). And earlier posting I called this our receiving a crisis that is to perfect us in our lives. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and Grace. And then our subject targeted area with the use of the ESV translation and the LORD should He give more insight.
"Substantial Glory versus Excelling Glory"
"But if the ministry of death . . . was glorious . . . how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious." (2Corinthians 3:7-11)
"These verses proclaim another significant difference between the glory of the old covenant of law and the Glory of the New Covenant of Grace. This difference is seen in various contrasting phrases: "was glorious" versus "more Glorious," "had glory" versus "exceeds much more in Glory," "made glorious" versus "Glory that excels," and "was glorious" versus "much more Glorious." The old covenant of law is characterized by substantial glory, whereas the New Covenant of Grace is characterized by excelling Glory.
It is certainly true that the law is glorious. That glory pertains to the Holy character of GOD revealed in its standards. "Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them: I am the LORD Who sanctifies you. For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death" (Leviticus 20:7-9). This Revelation of GOD's Holiness in the law also exposes the unholiness of man. "Now we know that whatever the Law says, it says to those who are under the Law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before GOD" (Romans 3:19).
When a person struggles and struggles with a major medical problem, it is agonizing to go on and on, not knowing what the problem actually is. It is glorious when someone is able to reveal what the problem actually is. Part of the glory of the law is that it reveals the basic problem of human struggles: "sin." Yet, it is a far more glorious matter to have a remedy for a problem revealed. Grace is that Remedy. "Moreover the Law (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy) entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, Grace Abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so Grace might Reign through Righteousness to Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our LORD" (Romans 5:20-21).
Gain through Loss:
Loss of Earthy Treasures secures the Spiritual,
Matthew 19:16-22 "Behold, a man came up to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why do you ask Me about what is good? There is only One Who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments." He said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." The young man said to him, "All these I have kept. What do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow (be joined to, side with) Me." When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions."
Self-sacrifices a Paying Investment,
Matthew 19:27-30 "Peter said in reply, "See, we have left everything and followed You. What then will we have?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, I say to you, in the New World, when the Son of Man Will sit on His Glorious throne, you who have followed (been conjoined to and sided with) Me Will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My name's sake, Will Receive a hundredfold and will inherit Eternal Life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
A Spiritual Paradox,
Mark 8:34-38 "Jesus calling the crowd to Him with His disciples, He said to them, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow (is in union with) Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the Glory of His Father with the holy angels."
Humility leads to Exaltation,
Mark 9:33-37 "They came to Capernaum. And when Jesus was in the house He asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. Jesus sitting down and called the twelve. And He said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all." He took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him Who sent Me."
Life comes out of Death,
John 12:20-26 "Now among those who went up to worship at the Passover feast were some Greeks. So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, he must follow (be united as in being conjoined to) Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves (attends to) Me, the Father Will honor him."
Paul gave up All, and won the Great Prize,
Philippians 3:7-11 "Whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of Knowing Christ Jesus my LORD. For His sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may (win) gain Christ and be found in (being conjoined to) Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which comes through Faith in Christ, the Righteousness from GOD that depends on (His) Faith— that I may Know Him and the power of His Resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, that by any means possible I may attain the Resurrection from the dead."
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