ONE DEGREE OF GLORY

Welcome to a tough passage! 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 is filled with lots of repetition, with lots of OT references, and with plenty of challenge. But like anything worth doing, it's challenging and rewarding. Once we get to the end, I think we'll find that our trivial battle in life with our temper (or struggles with laziness or overeating or whatever) are actually far from trivial. Instead, they're cosmic. Intrigued? Well let's dive in to 2 Cor 3:7-18.

2 COR 3:6-11

6 God ... 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. 7 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, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

• "THE LETTER KILLS" - While our text actually begins at v 7, we had to go back a step to verse 6. There we get this phrase "for the letter kills." Two questions here then:

  • As you read through this paragraph above (all the way to v 11), what other synonymous phrases do you see that echo this sense that the "letter kills"? 

  • What does the word "letter" refer to? What other words seem to be synonymous with that? (ie - the "ministry of condemnation" in verse 9 seems like one)

• "THE SPIRIT GIVES LIFE" - In the same way, look at how Paul contrasts the killing nature of the Law with the life giving nature of the Spirit. Two similar questions:

  • As you read through this paragraph above (all the way to v 11), what other synonymous phrases do you see that echo this sense that the "spirit gives life"? 

  • What does the ministry of the "Spirit" refer to? What other words seem to be synonymous with that?

• "GLORY, GLORY, GLORY" - Even as Paul is contrasting these two ministries, he is building a case by his repetition of the word "glory" - using a "if this, then how much more" pattern. How many times does he use that word here in these verses? How would you summarize Paul's point about glory over verses 9-11?

• SO WHAT? This is definitely a case where we don't want to nail down our OT imagery and grammatical accuracy without simultaneously asking why it matters. Clearly there's more to read below, but pause: What tragic difference would it make in our lives if we ignored Paul's points above?

2 COR 3:12-17

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

• "WE ARE VERY BOLD" - Summarizing everything from v 7-11 (and of course 1-6), Paul says "We have such a hope." And the result of that? Boldness! What connection do you see between what Paul has declared so far and the boldness we can have in Christ?

• "NOT LIKE MOSES" - Paul's boldness is an "unveiled" boldness ... more on that later. But this reference to Moses gives Paul a chance to explain what is happening with the Jewish people. Read Acts 14:1-2; why do you think Paul wants to explain their "hardened minds" in v 14-15 above? 

• "BUT WHEN ONE TURNS" - For Paul, these words have to feel very personal. As one who was very hardened against Jesus personally, a moment hit and the "veil" over his eyes was removed. (See Acts 9:1-9 for the moment or Acts 22:1-21 for his testimony of it.) Do you remember when you first "turned" to the Lord? What emotions does that memory stir in you?

• LET ME COUNT THE WAYS: From verse 16a-18, Paul begins to list the results of "turning to the Lord". Take time to list out as many consequences as you can find ... list them below, first by repeating the word/phrase and second by rephrasing it in your own words. (I gave room for 4 below:)

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Turning to Christ, and re-turning again,

Pastor Darren