Who is Sufficient? - Study 2/23/12
Who is Sufficient?
The Old and the New Covenant
There are many things in which we can compare the old and the new. One obvious one is the computer age. Many years ago, the old first generation IBM computer was a massive structure that filed the space of one large room. It could only do but so little. Compared to the computers of today that fit in the palm of our hands, the size alone is the first difference. The new computers are now accessible to almost of us and can accomplish millions of things the old IBM dinosaur computers could not. The idea of intelligent computing had been there many years ago but the power to perform was lacking.
In a way, it is similar to the Old and the New Covenants from God. A covenant is set by one party (higher subject) but cannot be amended. It is either accepted or rejected by the lesser subject to the covenant. It is not a contract where the two parties have to agree on terms and conditions. God made a covenant with man and set the conditions we have to abide by in order to relate to Him. God is the higher subject of the Covenant. The first part of God’s covenant with humanity is that we love and worship him (first four of the Ten Commandments). The second part of God’s covenant is that we also love and relate to one another as God has loved us (last six of the Ten Commandments).
The Ten Commandments (or the Law) were given to Moses on Sinai. Paul compares and contrasts between the Old and the New which has been instituted by Christ. Like the new computer age (made possible by new micro chips) where computer is now accessible and almost available to all (at least in the form of cell phones, ipads, iphones etc), the Holy Spirit has been poured out on earth to make the New Covenant of Christ available and user friendly to all who believe in Christ.
The comparison is necessary because Paul has already asked the question, “Who is sufficient?” This is in the context of defending his ministry to the Corinthians. Moses was the messenger of the Old Covenant and Paul is a messenger of the New covenant. The Holy Spirit has made Paul sufficient to minister and live the life God requires. The same is the result in Corinth whom Paul has ministered to. The Spirit has given life to Paul, the Corinthians and us. The Spirit has quickened the Letter of the Law to come alive in us. No one was adequate and sufficient to obey and abide by the Law of God. The Law has not changed, the change to the New is the ability made possible by the Holy Spirit in all who believe in the salvation in Jesus Christ. “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart”.
Who is sufficient? Are you? This is the truth of the gospels that must humble even the most pious saint among us. Can we pray that God will open someone’s blinded eyes to see God today? “But their minds were blinded” (vs.14) by the devil. I thank God that the Holy Spirit is helping me live more like Christ on a daily basis. I am a basket case without the Christ who lives in me.
2 Corinthians 3
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;[a] for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Here are my observations in addition to the Ones you may have:
1. Paul talks about a letter of commendation. I use to belong to a denomination where you traveled with a letter of commendation. When you visited another church in a different city, you presented the Letter of introduction so that the brothers and sister in that church will welcome you. It was necessary to differentiate between the real and the con artist. Paul is saying others may need it as they come to you Corinthians. But I do not because you are my letter. “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us”. In those days, people even forged letters purporting to be sent by Paul just to swindle money from the Church. (see 2 Cor. 2:14).
2. Our sufficiency is clearly in God who makes us sufficient. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;[a] for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” vs.5-6. Thank God. The Spirit truly gives us live. The spirit of God is the grace of God that enables us to live and reflect the qualities/character of Christ. That is why Paul was on the case of the Galatians and asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” (Galatians 3:2-3).
3. The Spirit clearly gives us life. “for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” vs.6. O may the Holy Spirit help us understand this. Many including me have misquoted this Scripture implying that the letter, misunderstood to be the word of God kills. We would say let us focus on the Spirit because the letter kills”. This is far from what Paul is saying here. The letter he refers to is the Law or the Ten Commandments. He goes on to explain it in verse 7-18 comparing the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Paul calls it “the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones “. It is ministry death, thus the Letter kills” because Ten commandments told us what to do and we cannot do it on our own therefore the Commandment has already condemned us to death. The Spirit working with Word of God always brings us life.
4. Thank God for the glorious gospel of life through the Spirit. “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”[d] 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”...13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing”. Brothers and sisters, this is our gospel and that is why it is the greatest good news ever. We cannot afford to keep it to ourselves. We must pray for all to believe in Jesus and that the blindness of their eyes is removed to see.
5. Please pray for our Jewish friends and Paul wished that they would know Christ. 14 “But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” vs. 14-17. Only God can make a Jew Christian and help them believe in Christ.
Lord, thank you for your glorious gospel of the New Covenant. Lord continue your work of transformation in my life 18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”. Amen.
The Old and the New Covenant
There are many things in which we can compare the old and the new. One obvious one is the computer age. Many years ago, the old first generation IBM computer was a massive structure that filed the space of one large room. It could only do but so little. Compared to the computers of today that fit in the palm of our hands, the size alone is the first difference. The new computers are now accessible to almost of us and can accomplish millions of things the old IBM dinosaur computers could not. The idea of intelligent computing had been there many years ago but the power to perform was lacking.
In a way, it is similar to the Old and the New Covenants from God. A covenant is set by one party (higher subject) but cannot be amended. It is either accepted or rejected by the lesser subject to the covenant. It is not a contract where the two parties have to agree on terms and conditions. God made a covenant with man and set the conditions we have to abide by in order to relate to Him. God is the higher subject of the Covenant. The first part of God’s covenant with humanity is that we love and worship him (first four of the Ten Commandments). The second part of God’s covenant is that we also love and relate to one another as God has loved us (last six of the Ten Commandments).
The Ten Commandments (or the Law) were given to Moses on Sinai. Paul compares and contrasts between the Old and the New which has been instituted by Christ. Like the new computer age (made possible by new micro chips) where computer is now accessible and almost available to all (at least in the form of cell phones, ipads, iphones etc), the Holy Spirit has been poured out on earth to make the New Covenant of Christ available and user friendly to all who believe in Christ.
The comparison is necessary because Paul has already asked the question, “Who is sufficient?” This is in the context of defending his ministry to the Corinthians. Moses was the messenger of the Old Covenant and Paul is a messenger of the New covenant. The Holy Spirit has made Paul sufficient to minister and live the life God requires. The same is the result in Corinth whom Paul has ministered to. The Spirit has given life to Paul, the Corinthians and us. The Spirit has quickened the Letter of the Law to come alive in us. No one was adequate and sufficient to obey and abide by the Law of God. The Law has not changed, the change to the New is the ability made possible by the Holy Spirit in all who believe in the salvation in Jesus Christ. “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart”.
Who is sufficient? Are you? This is the truth of the gospels that must humble even the most pious saint among us. Can we pray that God will open someone’s blinded eyes to see God today? “But their minds were blinded” (vs.14) by the devil. I thank God that the Holy Spirit is helping me live more like Christ on a daily basis. I am a basket case without the Christ who lives in me.
2 Corinthians 3
Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;[a] for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious.
12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech— 13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Here are my observations in addition to the Ones you may have:
1. Paul talks about a letter of commendation. I use to belong to a denomination where you traveled with a letter of commendation. When you visited another church in a different city, you presented the Letter of introduction so that the brothers and sister in that church will welcome you. It was necessary to differentiate between the real and the con artist. Paul is saying others may need it as they come to you Corinthians. But I do not because you are my letter. “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us”. In those days, people even forged letters purporting to be sent by Paul just to swindle money from the Church. (see 2 Cor. 2:14).
2. Our sufficiency is clearly in God who makes us sufficient. “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;[a] for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” vs.5-6. Thank God. The Spirit truly gives us live. The spirit of God is the grace of God that enables us to live and reflect the qualities/character of Christ. That is why Paul was on the case of the Galatians and asked, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ. 3 How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?” (Galatians 3:2-3).
3. The Spirit clearly gives us life. “for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” vs.6. O may the Holy Spirit help us understand this. Many including me have misquoted this Scripture implying that the letter, misunderstood to be the word of God kills. We would say let us focus on the Spirit because the letter kills”. This is far from what Paul is saying here. The letter he refers to is the Law or the Ten Commandments. He goes on to explain it in verse 7-18 comparing the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. Paul calls it “the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones “. It is ministry death, thus the Letter kills” because Ten commandments told us what to do and we cannot do it on our own therefore the Commandment has already condemned us to death. The Spirit working with Word of God always brings us life.
4. Thank God for the glorious gospel of life through the Spirit. “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”[d] 11 So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”...13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing”. Brothers and sisters, this is our gospel and that is why it is the greatest good news ever. We cannot afford to keep it to ourselves. We must pray for all to believe in Jesus and that the blindness of their eyes is removed to see.
5. Please pray for our Jewish friends and Paul wished that they would know Christ. 14 “But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” vs. 14-17. Only God can make a Jew Christian and help them believe in Christ.
Lord, thank you for your glorious gospel of the New Covenant. Lord continue your work of transformation in my life 18 “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord”. Amen.
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