Here we are about to enter New Covenant grounds from the stand point of a renewed mindset a place that few have come to. Let see what we may discover in the kingdom of GOD within a judged and redeemed mindset, other wise spoken of as having the mind of Christ. By way of putting things into today's language of common use.
2Corinthians 3:1-3, 4-6, 7-11 "Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
And such trust have we through Christ to(G4314) God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think(G3049) any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away(G2673): How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious." (KJV)
2Corinthians 3:1-3, 4-6, 7-11 "Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward(G4314) God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim(G3049) anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end(G2673), will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory." (ESV)
2Corinthians 3:1-3, 4-6, 7-11 "The days when I needed letters to endorse my authority are over! (Look at Acts 9:2) We are not in a competition showing off our credentials! Some insist on certification; i do not see any relevance in it! Neither do I require a note of recommendation of you or to you or from you. Instead of an impressive certificate framed on my wall I have you framed in my heart! You are our Epistle written within us, an open letter speaking a global language; one that everyone can [1,G314]read and recognize as their mother tongue! (The word [1G314 from G303] anaginosko, is from (G303 and G1097) ana, upward and (G1097) ginosko, to know upward; thus to draw knowledge from a higher reference or source; from above; to recognize; to read with recognition.) The fact that you are a Christ-Epistle shines as bright as day! This what our ministry is all about. The Spirit of GOD is the living ink. Every trace of the Spirit's influence is on the face of every heart and is what gives us permanence to this conversation. we are not talking Law-language here; this is more dynamic and permanent than the letters chiseled in (hard hearts of) stone. This conversation is embroidered in your inner consciousness. (It is the life of your design that grace echoes within you!)
Christ is proof of our persuasion about you [1,G4314]before GOD. ( The Greek preposition [1,G4314, this is strengthen by G4253 pro, meaning prior to ] pros, means towards; as in face-to-face. Look at 2Corinthians 1:18-20) We have not [1,G3049]reached this conclusion by any merit of our own! Of GOD's doing are we made competent! (The word, [1,G3049] logitsomia, means to reckon; making a calculation to which there can only be one logical conclusion.) It is GOD's signature in our spirit that authorizes New Testament ministry. We are not qualified by a legal document endorsed by a fellow human. The letter (of the Law) is the administration of death; it is the Spirit (of grace) that quickens (gives life) life.
Because of its prophetic purpose even the old administration of death, carved in (hard hearts of) stone evidenced a glimpse of glory; for a brief moment the face of Moses shone with such brilliance that the people of Isreal could not even look at his face. The fact that the glory reflected in Moses was brief and fading confirms that the ministry of the letter had a "sell by" date and that it was destined [1,G2673]to be brought to its due closure of naught. (It served merely to emphasize the failure of the flesh to access the glory that Adam had lost on humanity's behalf. The word, [1,G2673 from G2596 and G691] katargeo, derives from(G2596) kata, meaning intensity, and(G691) argos, meaning labor, denotes that the law of works would be rendered entirely useless; thus, the new arrangement would free us from all self effort to attempt to improve what GOD has already perfected in Christ. Consider the contrast in verse 18; from a mere glimpse of a veiled and fading glory to unveiled gazing into the face of glory as in a mirror and a transformed life radiating the same glory!) How much more radiant would the ministry of the Spirit be. If the ministry of condemnation had a glimpse of glory, the glory that the ministry of righteousness (G1343 from G1342, innocence,) now communicates is beyond comparison! (There are two administrations: the one confirms humanity's guilt because of Adam; the other confirms humanity's innocence because of Christ! The one was upheld by the letter of the Law; the other is confirmed and sustained by the life of the Spirit. Humanity's standing before GOD is restored; in his righteousness (innocence) by the merit of the cross far outweighs any attempt of the flesh to compete! Nothing that anyone can do can improve their standing before GOD! The blood of Christ separates grace from the works of condemnations letters!) What seemed glorious and important at the time has been reduced to total obscurity and irrelevance. The fragile and fading glory of the flesh is dwarfed into insignificance by the unfading glory of the Spirit of life in the blood! (The ministry of the New Testament reveals oneness and permanence. In Christ the idea of distance and delay is cancelled.)
When looked at from the correct stand point of a renewed mind what a change is seen and recognized by intuitive knowing. Until our next visit may the LORD increase you and yours understanding of the mystery.
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