The
Spirit
Gives Life
Not that
we are competent of ourselves to claim anything as coming from us; our
competence is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new
covenant, not of letter but of spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives
life.
Now if
the ministry of death, chiseled in letters on stone tablets, came in glory so
that the people of
Since,
then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness, not like Moses, who put
a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the
glory that was being set aside. But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this
very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is
still there, since only in Christ is it set aside. Indeed, to this very day
whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds; but when one turns to the
Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of
the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the
glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into
the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the
Lord, the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:5-18
Paul
emphasized the diminishing splendor of the Old Testament law by comparing it to
the surpassing glory of life and liberty in the Spirit.
Where the
Holy Spirit reigns, however, there is abundant grace, and its splendor far
exceeds that of the law. Imagine lighting a match in a completely dark place.
The sudden burst of flame provides an impressive display of light. But if you
struck a match in the presence of the noonday sun, its flickering rays would
seem insignificant.
The
commandments were demanding and ultimately they condemned; but life in the
Spirit brings the experience of God's transforming power into our heart.
The diminishing splendor of the law
is no match for the
glory of God's grace.
Our Daily Bread -