II Corinthians 3 - 5:10

MINISTER AND MINISTRY
Wes emphasis was on RELATIONSHIPS…Paul handled the criticisms beautifully…as we should through the power of the Holy Spirit. The challenging question is,” Is there ever a legitimate reason to write off someone in your life?”
Remember the setting of II Corinthians. Paul is writing a warm autobiographical letter reminding the church of his commitment his conduct, and his credentials. Paul described himself – what type of letter could you write to recommend yourself? Paul’s walk has been consistent with his talk—Paul is truly a model for Christians in any generation.
Paul was an ambassador to the country he lived in…just as you are today! An ambassador never has a day off! Regardless of where they go or what they do 24 hrs. a day, they are representing their country. Everything they do and say reflects back upon the nation they are representing – how they dress, how they eat, how they spend their leisure time. In order to serve their county, they have forfeited certain freedoms and assumed certain responsibilities.
Every born again is an ambassador for Christ (5:20) a walking, talking, 24/7 representative of the King of Kings. Whether or not you open your mouth, you are communicating volumes about your Savior—by your actions and your attitudes.
WHAT IS A TEACHER’S LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION? Chp. 3 as Paul says to the Cor. believers: “you are the only letter that I need”…the change in their hearts that everyone can see…a letter written by the Spirit of the living God on human hearts.
Paul describes Christians as ones who “tell others about his new agreement ‘covenant’ to save them” 3:6 as opposed to the old covenant of the Mosaic law. There are at least six pairs of contrasts between the old and new convenants in verses 3;6-11.
Our only power and success comes from God…He is the One Who desires that others be told about His new agreement.
* We do not tell others to keep the Law, but instead the good news that He places a new life in them through the power of the Holy Spirit.
* Condemnation – Righteousness! The Law was not given for the purpose of salvation, for there is no salvation through obedience to the Law. The Law produces condemnation – reveals the dirty face. The O way seems to say to try to be saved by keeping the 10 C. – that ends in death; the Holy Spirit gives life. The Law produces condemnation and is the mirror that reveals how dirty our faces really are. BUT we cannot wash our faces in ANY mirror…It only reveals!
* Moses’ face shone with the glory of God, the brightness faded away; Holy Spirit gives life – plan that led to doom gave glory; much more glorious is the plan that makes men right with God. No comparison between the glory of Moses’ face and the overwhelming glory of the new agreement.
* Old faded into nothing; God’s new plan is certainly far greater, it is for eternal. V. 11 Temporary or Permanent! Because we know that this new glory will never go away, we can tell others with great boldness as contrasted with Moses putting a veil over his face so that the Israelis could not see the glory fade away.
Not only was Moses face veiled, but the people’s minds and understanding were veiled and blinded. This veil cannot be removed only by believing and receiving Christ. When one receives the Lord, the veil of darkness is removed.
As a born again, you do not have a veil over you!!! YOU can be a mirror that brightly reflects the glory of the Lord. 3:18 HOW? Reveals and then TELLS the Answer! V.12-13.
This verse 18 seems to be the climax of the chapter and it presents a truth that we must not miss or ignore. YOU and I can share the image of Jesus Christ and go “from glory to glory” through the ministry of the Spirit of God! Under the O, Moses was the only one who went up the mountain and had fellowship with God; but under the New Covenant, ALL born agains have the privilege of true communion with the Lord! Through Him, we may enter into the Holy of Holies and we don’t have to climb a mountain!
The Mirror is the Word of God. As we look into God’s Word and see His Son, the Spirit transforms us into the very image of God. We must hide nothing, be open and honest with Him and not “wear a veil”.
Changed describes a change on the outside that comes from the inside. Metamorphosis…the change comes from within. Moses reflected the glory of God…we may radiate the glory of God. When we meditate on God’s Word and in It see God’s Son, then the Spirit transforms us! THIS WONDERFUL PROCESS CANNOT BE ACHIEVED BY KEEPING THE LAW.
The goal of the O is obedience to an external standard, but this obedience cannot change human character. The goal of the New is likeness to Jesus. Law can bring us to Christ but only grace can make us like Christ. Legalistic preachers and teachers may get others to conform to some standard, but they can never transform them to be like Jesus.
The O is the Law, but the N is the Spirit of God using the Word of God. The Spirit can use the o and the New Testament to reveal Christ to us. The Holy Spirit wrote the Word, He can teach it to us. Is your self image consistent (Psa. 139) with “I am child of the King of Kings!” Because the Spirit lives in us, He can enable us to obey the Word from our hearts. This is not legal obedience but filial obedience…Obedience is really who we are…when you obey, you are not a hypocrite because you are acting like what you really are!!!
Bondage – Freedom: Legalism keeps you immature and must live by rules and regulations. God’s children obey, not because of an external code, but an internal character. NOT being under the Law does not mean that the born again is lawless! The Spirit writes the Word on our hearts, and we obey because of the new life that is in us…He gave!
Don’t work on the outer, but cultivate your inner! Magnify the Lord Jesus Christ!
HAVE COURAGE FOR THE CONFLICT: (CHP.4)
We faint not…we do not lose heart! What was it that kept Paul going in spite of discouragement? He knew what he possessed in Jesus Christ! Instead of complaining about what he did not have, he rejoiced in what he did have! You and I can do the same!!
Paul explains that we have a glorious ministry in v. 1-6 brings men life, salvation, righteousness…transforms men’s lives… This ministry is a wonderful gift. The way you view your ministry, will determine how you will fulfill it. What kind of attitude do you have about your ministry as a messenger of reconciliation?
Paul’s positive view of his ministry kept him from being a quitter, a deceiver – many today deceive…claim to base their doctrine on the Word. You can prove anything by the Bible, provided you twist the Scriptures out of context and reject the witness of your own conscience and the Spirit within.
Why aren’t people more easily saved? Because minds are veiled – blindness of hearts. Lost cannot understand the message of the Gospel. Satan does not want the light of salvation to shine into their hearts. . .his work is to keep them in darkness. Many religious teachers are used to deceive people.
Kept Paul from being a self promoter: Mindful always of the fact that he received this ministry from Christ. “We preach not ourselves” 4:5. Paul could have built a fan club.
Like the earth in the Genesis account of the creation – the lost sinner is formless and empty; but when he trusts Christ, he becomes a new creation.” 5:17 Then God begins to FORM and FILL the life of the person who trust Christ and He begins to be fruitful for the Lord. God’s pronouncement “let there be light” makes everything new.
4:7 The believer is simply a jar of clay; it is the Treasure WITHIN THE VESSEL that gives the vessel its value. Facts about the vessel: *God has made us the way we are so that we can do the work He wants us to do. Don’t complain to God because of your lack, limitations, or handicaps (Psa. 139:13-16) Accept yourself and be yourself! *the important thing about a vessel: must be clean, empty, and available for service. (read II Tim.2:21) We are EARTHEN vessels so that we might depend on God’s power and not our own. FOCUS ON THE TREASURE AND NOT ON THE VESSEL. Paul was not afraid of suffering or trial, because he knew that God would guard the vessel so long as Paul was guarding the treasure. GOD IS GLORIFIED THROUGH WEAK VESSELS. Hudson Taylor “All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on Him being with them.”
God’s vessels are often JARRED so that some of the Treasure will spill out and enrich others.
FOCUS on the Master and not the servant. If we suffer, it is for His sake; if we die to self, it is so that the life of Christ might be revealed in and through us; if we go through trials, it is so that Christ might be glorified. All for the sake of others. “…after he has suffered awhile, he will have a message worth listening to!”
A great verse to tie with 3:18…beauty formula is verse 4:16…”Though our outer man is progressively decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is BEING PROGRESSIVELY RENEWED DAY BY DAY!”
In Chp. 5 Paul uses his tentmaking for illustration: a tent is a weak, temporary structure, without much beauty; but the glorified body we shall receive will be eternal, beautiful, and never show signs of weakness or decay. The earthen vessel-a temporary tent; but he knew that believers would one day receive a wonderful glorified body suited to the glorious environment of heaven.
1. We KNOW…because we trust the Word of God. We don’t need a fortune teller, we have the Word. If we die, we need not fear because this is only the house that we live in. Body to the grave, spirit with Christ.
2. Paul is not expressing v.2-5 a morbid desire for death..he was eager for Jesus to return so that he would be clothed with a glorified body. . .he wanted to be here at the Rapture. V.5 Eph 1:13-14 H.S. dwelling=guarantee of future inheritance earnest=engagement ring, down payment.
v. 10 : the BEMA, Judgment Seat of Christ! (READ) What is the Focus at the BEMA?