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."
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.
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.
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