Regardless of what we go through in life, Paul shows us again the purpose of it all – living out the gospel for the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 3: Ministers of the New Covenant
1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you?
2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all.
3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.
5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,
6 who has made us competent 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?
9 For 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.
11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.
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.
2 Corinthians 4: The Light of the Gospel
1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.
6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Treasure in Jars of Clay
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.
11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death is at work in us, but life in you.
13 Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, "I believed, and so I spoke," we also believe, and so we also speak,
14 knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence.
15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.
16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.
17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison,
18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
Things to think about…
When I was in the recruitment industry, chasing up references was a minor but important part of the process. Paul says that he should not require a letter of recommendation because his credentials were written on their hearts, 2 Cor 3:3. We are our own references. As Christians we should have a love, trust and respect for each other that goes beyond written recommendations. Our witness should be evident and on display for all, but especially with each other.
2 Cor 3 is all about our witness before the world. Paul says ‘I don’t need letters’, recommending me to others from you or you to others from me. He says, look at the witness we have. This witness isn’t like the fading glory that Moses had that the Israelites experienced, this is the glory that comes from knowing Jesus. This is Spirit and the Spirit gives freedom. A veil is over the Jews today, they are not able to see the truth of the Lord’s Spirit in Christ, but may I suggest this veil is over a lot of Aussie’s as well. They have heard about Jesus, but don’t really want to take the step of faith. What’s the answer? 2 Cor 3:18 – Our unveiled face! As we behold His glory – we shine it out to a lost generation! Reflect Jesus with your words and witness today!
Moses was a ‘minister of death’ through the law that brought death by it giving a knowledge of sin – which brings death. But the Spirit brings life. Moses’ glory faded but we show the glory of Christ with unveiled face, 2 Cor 3:18. May we never then put a mask over our faces and be someone we are not called to be. Hypocrisy, fear and doubt should be swallowed up with the power of the resurrection and new life in Christ. Paul encourages us to live like we are in glory now!
Praise God for the light and truth of the gospel. We don’t practise underhanded ways. Such things should not be named among us. Let’s continue to love and support each other and never fear the truth, about ourselves or others, even when the truth is painful to hear. We know that our light will shine even in the darkness, 2Cor 4:6.
The older I get, the more I understand jar of clay analogy that Paul speaks about in 2 Cor 4:7. The Holy Spirit deposit within our souls confirms that this body and life are perishing but the treasure within lasts for eternity.
I wonder whether we really have any understanding in this country of what Paul is speaking about in 2Cor 4:8-11. Ultimately he is speaking about himself and possibly the Apostles in general. The promises remain the same.
Paul is speaking from the position of the Apostles when he says “So death is at work in us, but life in you”, 2 Cor 4:12. But the reality is that we are all called to die to sin that the life of Christ may be seen. Paul says we have the same Spirit, vs 13 and as such we will all enter into our Lord’s presence, vs 14. A wonderful truth.
Whatever our suffering, Paul calls it ‘light momentary affliction’, 2 Cor 4:17. If that is what he refers to regarding his affliction, how should we refer to ours? Non affliction?! Possible not, but you get the point. We are seeing a change in the spiritual climate in Australia that may unfortunately lead down this road. We are in many respects “at ease in Zion” trusting in our own Samaria, Amos 6:1.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups on break.
Prayer Points
1. Planning for this year’s preaching topics and roster.
2. Those returning from holidays.
3. Victorian parliament discussing gay conversion therapy, antichristian bill next month.
3. America. Pray for truth, grace and peace. Especially the next 2 weeks.
4.Sunday’s message. This week –Andrew Otte.
6. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
7. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. Faithful message on Sunday by Graham Willey
2. The worship team and streaming on Sunday. Great job Josh and Ben.
3. All those who served in 2020 – Especially Dan Anderson, Helen and Steve Hawkins , Angelo, Rod and muso’s, Murray Aitchison, Yuki and many, many others. Thankyou. The elders have been a great support to me this last year.
