“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, 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.” 2 Corinthians 3:7-11
Devotional Thought For The Day
This true apostle of the Lord is comparing and contrasting the ministry of the giving of the Law through Moses, which was accompanied by such glory that the people couldn’t even look at Moses’ face, with the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The giving of the Law through Moses was an astonishingly glorious event, the codification of God’s Law in writing so that our wicked sinful nature would have a permanent corrective whenever we begin to rationalize and justify doing what our sin compels us to do rather than repenting. This ministry of the Law is described as “the ministry of death.” Now the commandments do promise life to all who keep them – the problem is that no human can keep the Law. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” [Rom. 3:23] “If a man keeps the whole law and yet offends in just one point, he is guilty of all.” [James 2:10] “The wages of sin is death.” [Rom. 6:23] Because of sin the ministry of the Law is a ministry of death.
Now, it is certain that God does not desire the death of anyone [Ezek. 33:11]. So this requires a rethinking of the purpose of the giving of the Law, the commandments. What promises life [the Law] is actually a death sentence upon every human being. What then is the primary purpose of Moses’ ministry of God’s Law, of death? It is the ministry “condemnation,” the removal of all grounds for human beings to commend themselves to God or to others on the basis of their performance of God’s Law, on the grounds of their own personal “righteousness.” If the purpose of the Law is to condemn all people and bring us to repentance, then it is the utmost insanity to focus upon the Law and utilize the Law as the means and basis for establishing our relationship with God. This simply cannot be, and those who persist in this – and self-righteously urge the same upon others, are actually engaged in the worst rebellion against the Law imaginable. They are “calling God a liar,” and His Word cannot be in them. [1 John 1:10]
So the ministry of the Law, the ministry of death and condemnation, is actually preparatory for a far greater ministry, one which is much more glorious and excellent. It is the ministry of “righteousness.” Not personal righteousness, mind you. The Law addresses our personal righteousness – and it establishes death and condemnation for all. Rather, the ministry of righteousness which is so glorious that the other ministry has come to have “no glory at all” is the application of another righteousness, the righteousness of Another, to fallen and sinful human beings. It is received by faith, by faith in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness, faith in Christ and what He has done for us – taking away all of our sin and guilt, and providing us with a perfect righteousness in God’s sight. [2 Cor. 5:21] Whereas the Law, if we allow it to do its rightful purpose, provides us with utter fear, trembling, and terror, the Gospel – the ministry of Christ’s righteousness – assures us that everything that terrorizes us about our sin and guilt has been taken care of by God’s grace and mercy. We are fully and completely forgiven, pardoned, and justified – declared perfectly righteous, pure, and holy by God Himself through faith in Jesus, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world. This is the “ministry of the Spirit,” and any “spirit” ministering anything contrary to or even obfuscating of this glorious ministry, whether human or demonic, is a lying spirit, a deceiver, an agent of death and condemnation.
We can understand why the ministry of the Law is appealing to many – it is glorious. However, our sin makes it terrible and terrifying. Thank God that this ministry of Law is “being brought to an end,” and that the ministry of the Spirit, the ministry of God’s righteousness in Christ has a far surpassing glory, a glory which is permanent rather than passing away. This is Christianity 101, and what makes Christianity different from every other religion [including those which label themselves with Christ’s Name, but which in fact remain a religion of Moses’ fading glory, of Law]. None of this is invented by men [what human being would ever have invented such thoughts] – and it has been around for thousands of years, for even Moses, the minister of Law, death, and condemnation, wrote of the glory of God’s gracious mercy, forgiveness, and salvation, and urged people to turn back to God in repentance and faith. [Ex. 34:7] This is the ministry of God’s Word from the fall into sin to this very day, and will be until the day of Christ’s glorious return. Let it sink in, and do not forget it, for it is the only life and salvation available to us – and it is sure, certain, and clearly communicated throughout God’s Word, the Bible. It is His Word, His glorious ministry of righteousness and life, and it alone is permanent – thanks and praise be to God!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for providing us with the glorious ministry of Your Law through Moses, that we should forsake forever the hypocrisy of posturing as “good” people, and understand the glorious gift of forgiveness, life, and salvation that You have provided for us in Your suffering, death, and resurrection. In this faith to which You call us and bless us, You assure us of Your forgiveness and mercy, and thus enable us to turn from sin and to embrace what is truly good and loving, rather than wasting our time and energy in self-deceit. Help us to grasp the greater glory of the ministry of Your gracious love, to rejoice in its permanence, and to look forward to all of the blessings You have promised us for now and forever. Amen.