Monday, December 28, 2015

2 Corinthians 4:1–6

1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Commentary
Vs. 1 "Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."

Having been entrusted with the ministry of the New Covenant (which brings remission of sins to every person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified and risen from dead; and thus brings Holy Spirit regeneration and everlasting life to all who call upon Christ's Name). And so the Apostle Paul having received mercy through Christ, did not lose heart to the at times overwhelming opposition to His preaching the Gospel, and thus making disciples through the New Covenant. For Paul himself had already received God's mercy through Christ, and so the Apostle Paul now lived his new life through that same grace and mercy, extending the same to one and to all, so that they too might repent and believe, and thus receive Christ Jesus for themselves (consider Titus 3:3-7). And so the Apostle Paul did not lose heart when faced with tribulations, or opposition to his preaching the Gospel. Instead Paul remained faithful to the ministry which the Lord Jesus Christ entrusted to him, after He first saved him, and sanctified him, for the expressed purpose of preaching Him everywhere through the Gospel, so as to make disciples in His Name and establish His church in the New Covenant (1 Cor. 11:23-26). Something which the Apostle Paul came to understand was God's purpose for his person and life (Gal 1:15-17), to be Christ's minister everywhere, so as to turn people from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God (Acts 26:16-18). And thus the Apostle Paul knew God's plans would not be thwarted by the hostility or opposition of either Satan or man, but all things that we pass through in this life are working together for our good (Rom. 8:28). 

Vs. 2 "But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God." 

In further defense of his person and ministry the Apostle now says that "we (meaning himself and those who were faithfully ministering the Gospel with him) have renounced the hidden things of shame". Meaning both he and they were not only living lives of Godliness, righteousness, and integrity, but they themselves always strove to be absolutely honest and transparent in their preaching. And so unlike the false apostles, prophets, and teachers whose persons and lives are marked by "craft" and duplicity, by lust and by greed, and thus who only misuse and misrepresent the Word of God for their own ends. The Apostle Paul says of himself and those with him that through their lives and preaching, the manifestation of the truth, was being made known to one and to all. And so the Apostle Paul could rightly and confidently assert that they could commend themselves to every mans conscience in the sight of God. Because they had no secret lives, nor hidden agendas, everything they did and were was easily read and understood by one and by all. 

Vs. 3-4 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 

Here the Apostle Paul makes it clear that if the Gospel is veiled to some, it is only veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 


Vs. 5 "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake." 

Unlike the false preachers and teachers who are all about themselves, the Apostle makes it clear that he does not preach himself; that is what he is, or what he has, or what he has done. Paul preached Christ, just as every true minister of God does. For it is Christ alone that saves and brings to life everyone who believes in Him through the Gospel. Now to forward that end the Apostle Paul made himself a servant to not only the church, but to all men, that he might save some (1 Cor 9:22).

Vs. 6 "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

Just as God commanded light to shine out of darkness at the pre-creation (Gen 1:3-5), so now it is God who has commanded that His light should first shine in the hearts of His Apostles so that the whole world should be illuminated with the glory of His Son Jesus Christ through the Gospel. Thus it is God who has shone in our hearts the light and knowledge and glory of His Person through the Person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we ourselves are not only partakers of His promises with them, but we have become His people through whom His light and knowledge and glory is made known to one and to all. And so it is God who takes people who were once bound in darkness and brings them to light and life through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ (consider Matt. 4:16; Luke 1:77-79). The Only question then is have you seen the light of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:12), and have you received Him as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12). If you have not then please do that now! If you believe, invite the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior, so that by believing in Him crucified, buried, and then risen from the dead three days later for the remission of all our sins and everlasting life (John 3:16; Acts 10:43) you too might have the reconciliation with God that Jesus brings to everyone who believes in Him and confesses Him as Lord (Rom 10:9-10, 13). Don't delay, have peace with God, and begin a new life with Christ today! 

Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.


Monday, December 21, 2015

Merry Christmas!


    “Glory mto God in the highest,
    And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” Luke 2:14

Wishing you and yours a very merry and love filled Christmas! 

Friday, December 18, 2015

2 Corinthians 3:7-18

7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Commentary
Vs. 7-9 "But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

The Apostle Paul now draws a demarcation line between the law given through Moses, which Paul calls here the ministry of death, and the ministry of the Spirit, which in practice is our being led by the Spirit of God, and thus living by the fruits of the Spirit of God, against such there is no law (see Gal. 5:16-23). Now the reason the Apostle Paul calls the law "the ministry of death" is that the law cannot justify anyone in the sight of God by their own obedience to it. The law only shows us all what we have not done, or what we have done wrong, and thus the law will only condemn those who seek salvation through it (Gal. 3:10-14; James 2:10). Thus there is no hope found in the law, because the law has no provisions for sinful and imperfect people, other than providing a animal sacrifice by which it's shed blood would temporally cover ones transgressions so that they could remain in the Old Covenant relationship with God through it. Thus there is no hope found in the law, because there is no way to find lasting righteousness or peace with God through it, there is just the letter of the law which condemns us every time we fail to obey it. The law then not only shows us our own sinfulness, it also and most profoundly reveals to us our own helplessness. Now the law has a glory, as the Apostle Paul recalls here, for when Moses received the law written on the stones by the finger of God on Mount Sinai, and afterward he came down from the mountain his face shone so bright that the children of Israel could not look at him. Now this glory of God that Moses so readily revealed to them then, and later revealed when he met with God in the Tabernacle did not remain, for his face shown for a time, and in time it returned to it's normal state (see Exodus 34:29-35). Thus not even that righteous man Moses when exposed to Glory of God could keep that glory in himself, for by it departing from him God was revealing that the covenant that was being entrusted to him would not be the means of our eternal redemption and change. It was temporary, it revealed the Holy Character and Nature and Requirements of God, which both the Law, and Israel's long history reveals, no mere mortal man has, or can fulfill (Rom 3:23), and so Christ came to do and fulfill all, that we could never have done (Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:44; John 19:30; Acts 3:18-26 etc.). And so the glory of God that shone on Moses face was temporary, because no eternal salvation or permanent change comes to us through Moses or the law. Thus the laws glory was temporary, for all that is in the law was a mere foreshadow of the good things to come (Heb. 9:11-15; 10:1-18 etc.). Therefore in light of all these things the Apostle Paul rhetorically asks us all here, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. vs. 8-9 
Therefore if that temporary covenant, the Old Covenant, the Law, or the Law of Moses as people often refer to it, which is represented here to us by the Ten Commandments, and which is here called the "ministry of death and condemnation" had glory, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be so much more glorious. For it is the Spirit that brings everlasting life to us all who believe In Christ. And thus brings and effects the regeneration and renewal of our persons and lives by the Spirit of God dwelling inside each and every one of us who believe In Christ. Therefore the ministry of the Spirit is also called the ministry of righteousness, because we are not only being sanctified by His presence inside of us, but we are also led being by Him to live righteous lives by His transforming work in our persons and lives. It's just a whole better deal to have His Person, Presence and Power at work in and through our lives, which we have in our New Covenant relationship with God through Christ, then be left to our own abilities and strengths to try to keep the commandments of God.

Vs. 10-11 10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away was glorious, what remains is much more glorious. 

And so, though the law was made glorious for a season, it had no glory in the regards to it's permanence, for it's expressed purpose was to expose our sinful condition, and thus reveal to us all are inability to redeem ourselves from our sins and transgressions, and ultimately the death that comes through sin. And so the Old Covenant was given till the Promised Seed would come and do for us all what we could never do for ourselves (Gal 3:19-25). Therefore if the law given though Moses had a glory, how much more will the New Covenant which God's own Son Jesus Christ enacted by His death on the cross, and His Resurrection from the dead, so that all who believe in Him will have the glory of God indwelling them forever.

Vs. 12-14 12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech—13 unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. 

Therefore like the Apostle Paul (we all who believe in Christ) also have such a surpassing hope because we know that through the blood of Christ we have now been redeemed from all our sins and transgressions, the Old Covenant then can never again be used in such a way so as to condemn us. And so we rest in the promises of God given us through the New Covenant, which again the Lord Jesus Christ enacted with His broken body and shed blood by which He has reconciled us who with God (Matt. 26:26-29; 2 Cor 5:21). And thus we use boldness of speech in our declaring the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, both Jews and Gentiles (see Rom 1:16-17). So unlike Moses, who as the Apostle Paul reveals here, veiled his face so that the glory which shone upon him would not be seen fading away as the Israelites looked on him (vs. 13). The Apostle Paul now states that the Old Covenant Israelites minds were blinded to this reality; that is the temporary nature of the Old Covenant, (something which will remain until the fullness of the Gentiles comes in, see Rom 11:25-27). And so the Apostle Paul takes the veil and uses it again, but this time as a metaphor for this spiritual blindness that currently resides on the Jews, and all who hold fast to Old Covenant; that is the Old Testament as the Covenant through which their redemption will come. And so the Apostle says, "For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ." And that is foundational to not only understanding the Scriptures, but becoming a disciple of Christ, to believe and thus receive the Lord Jesus Christ so that the Spirit and glory of God through Christ might reside with you and be in you forever. 

Vs. 15-16 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 

And so the Apostle Paul says that even to this day, meaning not just his own time, but our day as well, a veil lies on their heart, because they refuse to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Scriptures reveal Jesus to be: God's Promised Son, Savior, and Messiah of not only the Jews, but also of the Gentiles (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6; Acts 13:47). Nevertheless as the Apostle Paul also makes clear, when anyone turns to the Lord Jesus Christ, and not just the Scriptures (consider John 5:39-47), the veil is taken away.

Vs. 17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." 

The fact that the Lord is Spirit indicates that the ministry of the Spirit is indeed the ministry of the Lord, especially as this relates to our receiving and understanding His Word from Him. Now the second half of the passage which states "that where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." Indicates a foundational distinction between the Old and New Covenants. For the Old Covenant strictly regulated seemingly everything, while in the New Covenant which is given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and ministered to us by the Spirit of God we have great liberty in just about everything. Food, drink, clothing, days, holy days, and all things "religious", you and I are free to observe and not observe these things as we see fit. Same with our jobs, careers, social contacts, hobbies, sports activities, volunteering, and all manner of interests and pursuits, you and I are at liberty to do and pursue these things as we see fit. No believer then is ever to stand as another believers "conscience" in regards to any non-moral activity, for where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!   

Vs. 18 "But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord."

And so it is we all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ with unveiled face not only see the Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory in the Scriptures, but we ourselves also are being transformed into that glory. And so we see this progressive transformation that is taken place in our persons and lives as we are being transformed from one glory to another. For down here we bear the moral image of God; which is greatly heightened and improved with the Lord Jesus Christ indwelling us and transforming our persons by His Spirit; but there we shall bear the full glory of the Lord as He now is in His glorified state. And so what is being stated here is a descriptive metaphor of the ongoing sanctification and thus transformation of our persons, which finds fulfillment with the complete glorification of us with our Lord and Savior when we are with Him forever in His glorified state. 

Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.





Monday, December 7, 2015

2 Corinthians 3:4–6

4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Commentary
Vs. 4 "And we have such trust through Christ toward God."

As the Apostle Paul had trust that Corinthians themselves were Christ's, so he had the same confidence about himself, and his Apostleship from Christ, and thus in the sight of God Paul was sure of it. 

Vs. 5 "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,"

The Apostle Paul was not confident in himself, and or his own abilities, rather Paul's confidence was in God who was making him sufficient for His service and ministry. 

Vs. 6 "who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

The Apostle Paul now carries his thought forward from verse five, saying, that it is God Himself who has made us, (that is himself, and those who ministered the Gospel with him), sufficient as ministers of the New Covenant. Now this thought is critical because that is the one front that the Apostle Paul was in a constant battle with the false apostles, (especially those who were of Jewish origins) who were always trying to put those believers who believed by grace back under the law, or through the law, and or by distorting the Gospel, bringing them into the bondage of the doctrines and commandments of men (consider Matt. 15:1-20; Acts 15:1-33; Col. 2:16-23; 1 Tim 4:1-3; Titus 1:14-16 etc.), all which brought forth the huge body of N.T. Literature given by the Spirit of God through the Apostle Paul and others to refute such (Rom 3:19-26; 4:1-8; 5:1; 7:1-6; 9:30-33; 10:1-4; Gal. 2:16, 19-21; 3:2-3; 3:19-24; 4:21-31; 5:1-5; Heb. 7:11-28; 8:7-13; 9:11-28 etc.). And so here the Apostle Paul makes it clear that unlike them, he is a minister of the New Covenant, which the Lord Jesus Christ Himself brought forth, and ushered in through the Gospel. 
Therefore the Apostle Paul makes it clear as to what Covenant we who believe In Christ are under, and who it is who makes both him (and us) sufficient as His minister of it. For it is God who first choose the Apostle Paul for this purpose, and who also makes Paul (and every believer who is chosen by God and Spirit equipped for the same work) sufficient in every way to minister the New Covenant of Christ. For it is the New Covenant that is brought forth through the Gospel, which is to govern every believer and every assembly In Christ. Now whereas the Law required strict adherence to the letter of it (see Lev 18:5; Gal 3:10), the New Covenant requires us to be Spirit led, and thus to be able to relate ourselves and others to God through it. And thus we are not to impute peoples sins and transgressions against them as those under the Law would have us do (consider 2 Cor 5:21). Rather we are to extend the grace of God through the Gospel to them, so that they, and all people everywhere might have the opportunity too repent and believe in Christ; and thus receive remission of all their sins and everlasting life for themselves. For as the Apostle Paul makes clear neither the Law, nor the letter of it brings life, rather the letter only brings death to all who fail to keep it (Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10). Which raises a question: "Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." Gal. 3:21-22 And so we see that righteousness is not by Law, but only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Who first transforms our persons on the inside, by the indwelling of the Spirit of God, which then makes our transformation on the outside, that is our behavior, possible.
Today then if you have not yet received the grace and love of God that will transform your person and life, then please do that. By receiving the Lord Jesus Christ you too can become a child of God and thus enter into all of the Spirit life, love, joy and peace that God Himself provides, that will not only transform your person and life, but will give you the meaning and significance and fulfillment that we all long for, and that can only be found by following the Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore by a simple prayer of faith you can begin your journey home, by first receiving remission of all your sins and everlasting life through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore begin by praying something like this: Dear Lord Jesus I believe that You suffered Crucifixion death and that three days later you rose from the dead so that remission of sins and everlasting life could be given to all who believe in You, and thus who receive You by faith in Your Person (John 1:12; 3:16). Therefore I now invite You Lord Jesus Christ into my heart and life to be Lord and Savior, amen.  

Scripture Quotations 
The New King James Version. (1982). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.



Friday, December 4, 2015

2 Corinthians 3:1–3

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you? 2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Commentary
Preamble: Having declared that the Apostle Paul and all true believers are the fragrance of Christ wherever we go and wherever we are, which is manifest to all through the Spirit of God within us, radiating Christ's life, love, and thus God's Person's Character, and thus fragrance through us. Paul then contrasted that with those who only use the Gospel for their own gain (see 2 Cor 2:17). The Apostle Paul now asks the Corinthians a poignant question about what qualifies someone in their eyes as an Apostle of Christ. Is it merely letters of commendation, (apparently a common first century practice, BBC), which the false apostles and teachers would readily present to validate themselves, and their invalid ministries, or is it something more personal and real. 

Vs. 1 "Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others, epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?" 

And so the Apostle Paul now asks the Corinthians, should he begin to commend himself, and those ministering the Gospel with him, to them again? Had he not already demonstrated in Word and deed his calling from Christ (see 1 Cor 2:1-5) and his love for them (2 Cor 2:4). Or does he now need epistles (i.e letters) of commendation to validate his person and ministry to them? Since that was only the manner of the false apostles and false teachers, who both had these to give, and sought these from those they "ministered" God's Word too. Yet if you took those letters away they were void of Christ's Spirit life and giftedness, and thus they neither had, nor manifested the love and grace of God to anyone. Indeed if you reduce qualifications to preaching the Gospel to letters of commendation (or degrees and letters of academic achievement and such) as validating someone for Gospel ministry, then you have effectively limited all that the Spirit does through God's children, whom the Spirit equips as He chooses with His gifts for that very purpose, so that all glory, praise, and honor may begin and end with God alone. Therefore what qualifies someone for Christian ministry, is it mere letters of commendation, or ones level of academic achievement? Or is it ones Spirit given giftedness, and ones character which can be read and known by all, as the Apostle Paul is saying as much here. And so it is Christ's life inside us, and His character that is being manifested through us, by the Spirit of God enabling and equipping us for His witness and service, that qualifies us for Christian ministry (1 Cor 9:27). 

Vs. 2 "You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men"

And so in contrast to the false apostles whose sole qualification was their letters of commendation, The Apostle Paul doesn't need epistles to commend himself to the Corinthians again, for they themselves are his epistle, written on his heart, and thus they are known and read by all men, because a true Apostle's love and concern for those whom he ministers the Gospel too is far more real and revealing about himself, and them, then any mere letter of commendation. For no letter of commendation can ever take the place of ones own heart and life given in loving service for God's people. Love then for Christ and His people is what sets the true apart from the false (1 John 3:10-18).

Vs. 3 "clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart."

The Corinthians themselves then were an epistle of Christ, ministered by the Apostle and those with him, by which all men and women could also "read" Christ's epistle and see transformed people, and or perceive the Corinthians new born persons and lives, which had first received the grace and love of God through Christ for themselves, and which were now living, ministering, extending and or emanating the same. And so what was written (that commended both them and Paul) was not written by mere ink as if that qualifies anyone, but it was written by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart. The contrast then of the Law written on stones which transforms no-one, with the epistle of Christ, written on every believing persons heart by the Spirit of God, is both moving and enlightening. 

Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

Additional Resources
Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.