"Contrasts In Covenants"
2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (NASB)
(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on August 27, 2000)

Introduction: In our passage today we will continue with Paul's rebuttal to the false teachers, who were known as Judaizers (Jewish Legalists), who taught a gospel of legalism. They thought that they had a superior message, than that of Paul's message of salvation by grace. So in our passage today, we see Paul drawing contrasts between the ministry of the Old Covenant and the New Covenant.
 

I. Contrasting Ministries (vv.7-11).
1. Life and not death (vv.7-8)

A. The ministry of death (v.7).

1) Paul contrasts the glory which attended the giving of the law with the glory which is connected with the gospel.
2) The words "glory" and "glorious" are used 17 times in chapters 3 & 4.
3) They both come from the Greek root word, "doxa" (dox'-ah) which means; glory, splendor, grandeur, brightness, radiance, as a manifestation of light.
4) While the glory that shone upon Moses' face was certainly impressive, but it could not save anyone from their sin.

- Romans 7:9, "And I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive, and I died;" (NASB)

B. The ministry of life (v.8).

1) It wasn't until the ministry of the New Covenant, by means of the Holy Spirit, that a permanent solution to sin was made, and it was a better Covenant that outshined the Old.

A) Galatians 4:4-7, "But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God." (NASB)
B) John 10:10b, "... I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." (NASB)

A. The Old Covenant brought condemnation to all men because no one could perfectly keep the law.

1) There was still a certain glory connected with the law because it had a real purpose for its time.
2) But the law could not justify the lost sinner, nor make them right with God.

A) Galatians 2:21, "...for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly." (NASB)
B) Romans 3:20, "because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin." (NASB)
C) Galatians 2:16, "nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified." (NASB)

3) Again, the law only brought condemnation because no one perfectly keep the whole law.

A) "condemnation,"katakrisis {kat-ak'-ree-sis: n, gen, f, sg}; condemnation, to condemn.
B) James 2:10, "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all." (NASB)

B. The New Covenant was a ministry of righteousness because it revealed a righteousness by which men are justified, and thus free from the law of condemnation.

1) "righteousness," dikaiosune {dik-ah-yos-oo'-nay: n, gen, f, sing}; righteousness, what is right, i.e., of God putting man in a right relationship with Himself.
2) The glories of Calvary far out shine the glories of Mt. Sinai.
3) The glories of the gospel did more than appeal to the sight of men, but shined into the hearts of men.
4) Romans 3:22, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference," (NIV)
5) Romans 10:4, "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (NASB)

A. When you place the ministry of the law next to the ministry of the gospel, the glory of the gospel dims the ministry of the law (v.10).

1) It is like comparing the brightness of the sun and the moon together.
2) Or the brightness of a flashlight to the sun's light.

B. Glory was present when the Old Covenant was delivered, but the gospel of God's grace is glorious in itself (v.11).

1) This verse contrasts the temporary character of the law and the permanent character of the gospel.
2) Hebrews 8:6, "But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises." (NASB)
3) Hebrews 8:13, "When He said, "A new covenant," He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear." (NASB)

II. Contrasting Messages (vv.12-16).
1. Boldly proclaimed and not hidden (vv.12-13).

A. The glory of the gospel will never fade or become dim, this is our hope (v.12).

1) Because of this strong assurance, we can speak the gospel with great boldness.

A) "hope," elpis {el-pece': n, acc, f, sg}; expectation of good, hope.
B) "great," polus {pol-oos': adj, dat, f, sg}; many, much, great.
C) "boldness," chraomai {khrah'-om-ahee: v, indic, pres, mid/pass, dep, 1 per, pl}; to deal with in a certain way, act toward, treat.
D) "speech," parresia {par-rhay-see'-ah: n, dat, f, sg}; openness, frankness, plainly, freely, boldness, confidence, assurance; i.e., in speech.

2) Everything about the New Covenant is clear and open, nothing is hidden or secret.

B. The background of verse 13 is Exodus 34:29-35.

1) Paul used the experience of Moses and his veil to illustrate the glorious freedom and openness of the Christian life under grace.
2) Moses placed the veil over his face so as not to show Israel that the glory on his face was fading.

A) The law which God had given to him had only a temporary glory.
B) Moses wasn't trying to hide the glory itself, but rather the passing of the glory.

- But the law had just been instituted and the people were not ready to be told that it was only temporary.
- The truth that the law was a preparation for something greater had not yet been revealed to them.

A. Paul tells us in verses 14-15 that the Jews living in his day (and even today) did not discover the secret which Moses hid from their forefathers beneath the veil.

1) The did not realize that the glory of the law was a passing glory, it was only a preliminary to a better covenant to come.
2) They didn't understand that the law was only given to prepare them for something better.

- Galatians 3:24-26, "Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus." (NASB)

B. Only When a person comes to Christ, the veil of the law vanishes (v.16).

1) 2 Corinthians 4:3, "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing," (NASB)
2) Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill." (NASB)

Application: As participants in the new covenant, Paul and all believers have the sure hope that the New Covenant is a permanent, irrevocable covenant, never to be superseded and never to be surpassed in splendor. The gospel message is superior to any previous covenants, and it definitely superior to anything that man can devise or tack onto it. Our faith is in God's hands and not mans'.
 

III. Contrasting Results (vv.17-18).
1. Freedom and not slavery (v.17).

A. "liberty," eleutheria {el-yoo-ther-ee'-ah: n, nom, f, sg}; liberty to do or to omit things having no relationship to salvation, freedom (used here of a life rescued from spiritual and moral wrongdoing).
B. The gospel brings freedom from the bondage of sin, whereas the law kept us enslaved to our sins because its not capable of setting us free.

1) 1 Corinthians 15:56-57, "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (NASB)
2) Romans 8:2, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (NASB)
3) John 8:36, "If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." (NASB)

2. Transforming and not unchanging (v.18).

A. Since the law could not save anyone from their sins, it also was powerless to change their hearts.
B. Only the New Covenant has the power to not only release a person from their sins, but also to change their lives.

1) "transformed into the same image..."

A) "transformed," metamorphoo {met-am-or-fo'-o: v, indic, pres, pass, 1 per, pl}; to change into another form, to transform, change, of an inward change of nature.
B) "the same image," eikon {i-kone': n, acc, f, sg}; an image, figure, likeness, as an embodiment or living manifestation of God.

2) Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren;" (NASB)
3) 2 Corinthians 5:17, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (NASB)

Application: The gospel message is more glorious because it not only can save people from their sins, it also transforms them from the inside out. The glory of the Old Covenant is faded, but the glory of the New Covenant of God's grace continues to increase in our lives.
 

INVITATION:

What's all this mean to believers today?

1. There are numerous groups or organizations today who according to the Apostle Paul are False teachers because of the very gospel of works that they preach.

A. Galatians 1:7-9, "which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you, and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed."  (NASB)

- Grace + anything else = a distorted gospel, taught by False Teachers.

B. There are many "Christians" today who say that we shouldn't let "doctrines" separate us. 1) We need to put aside these petty differences, and join hands in fellowship, but according to God's Holy Word we should not ever compromise His gospel.

- We should not belong too or join hands with anyone or any group who preaches a gospel of works.

A. Your works cannot, and will not save you.

1) Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast." (NASB)
2) Romans 3:27-28, "Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." (NASB)

A. Acts 4:12, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (NASB)
B. John 14:6, "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me'." (NASB)

A. Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NASB)
B. Romans 10:9-13, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved." (NASB)