2 Corinthians 6:1–10

¹ We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³ We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. ⁴ But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵ in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶ by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ⁷ by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Commentary

Vs. 1-2 ¹ We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ² For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 

Continuing on from his exhortation to be reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:21), the Apostle Paul now warns us all not to receive the grace of God in vain. For one can turn back to the law (and or man made commandments) for a righteousness standing before God, just as surely as one can turn back to the world and ones sins (consider Matt 15:9; Luke 17:32-33; 1 Cor 15:2; Gal. 2:21, 3:4, 4:11; Phil 2:16 etc.). Therefore to encourage our ongoing commitment to Christ through His Word, the Apostle Paul now cites a section of Scripture from the Book of Isaiah which says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Isaiah 48:9  

The passage is poignant for it declares that God hears each and every one of us who call upon Him in truth, through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. For God is not indifferent to either our, or humanities plight and problems. Indeed everyone of us who believe In Christ have all had to come to realize our own lost and separated condition from God before salvation came to us, and thus in that moment of realization and despair cry out to Jesus to come and save us (Rom 10:13). And that is what is lacking in this world, not an indifference by God towards humanity, but an indifference, and or unwillingness by humanity to seek God through Christ by repentance and faith, so that He might also save and heal them. And so as long as either an individual, or church, or nation seeks to solve and resolve it's own problems by it's own resources, God's Person and His resources will not be availed by them (antithesis of such self-sufficiency: Psalm 18:2; 27:1; 28:7; 34:17-18; 54:4; 59:17; 100:5). Now it's not how we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that matters, it's that we come to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as testified to in the Scriptures, and thus seeing Him as He is, see our own need for Him, and thus unconditionally and unreservedly receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (John 1:12; Rev. 3:20). For as the Apostle Paul is emphatically stating here, "Behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation." Salvation then is not something to be put off or delayed (consider Jesus' Words in Luke 14:15-24), just as the grace of God is not to be received in vain. Rather if you believe receive Christ for yourself today! For God is gathering His people into His Kingdom here and now! Therefore if God is calling you, don't delay, receive Christ today! 

Vs. 3 "We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed." 

The Apostle Paul now lays forth the guiding principal for his ministry and life, which was to keep himself from giving offenses, so that the ministry Christ entrusted to him may not be blamed. Now this takes both personal discipline and ongoing resolve, governed by a heavy dependence upon the Lord to carry out, especially when circumstances or opposition are pressing down most heavily upon us, as the Apostle Paul will elucidate further in the upcoming verses. 

Vs. 4-10 ⁴ But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵ in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶ by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ⁷ by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸ by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Therefore the Apostle Paul's says that we commend ourselves as ministers of God in all of the litany of hardships, troubles, and tribulations he lists. Demonstrating to the Corinthians (and to us all) that he is a true minister of the Gospel. Now this the Apostle Paul does not to shame anyone, rather it is to encourage all believers everywhere to carry on in their own trials and tribulations. And so it is the Apostle Paul says that in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God. Thus Paul's circumstances never dictated when he preached the Gospel, nor to whom he ministered the Gospel, or where or how Paul shared the Gospel. For the Apostle Paul's life was bound up in the life and ministry of the Gospel; and thus through his ministry and life the truth of the Gospel, and thus the power of God to salvation was being made known to everyone, everywhere. Therefore the Apostle Paul says in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses (vs. 4), Paul commended himself to every person as a minister of God. That is through these things the Apostle Paul not only conducted himself as a minister of God, but he also continued to minister the Gospel through them all. For again Paul didn't fold when things got difficult, instead by the strength of Christ strengthening him, Paul carried on ministering. The Apostle Paul then goes on to mention six more things in which he continued to minister the Gospel through: in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings (vs. 5). In strips means those wounds inflicted upon Paul when being flogged (often described as being scourged or beaten in the NKJ); like that which occurred to him and Silas in Acts 16:22-24; which later led to their sharing Christ in the prison to which they were confined for their faith; and so it is while there, even the prisons guardian, and later his whole household came to faith In Christ (Acts 16:25-34). In imprisonments is something which the Apostle Paul had to frequently endure for his faithfulness towards Christ (see 2 Cor 11:23). Nonetheless these seemingly outward defeats of his ministry, only became the means by which he continued to minister the Gospel to believers everywhere through the written Word. For it was during these "downtime's" that the Apostle Paul scribed or dictated many of his N.T. epistles. And so it is that though the Apostle was frequently chained, the Word of God through him was never chained (2 Tim 2:8-10). In tumults refers to the uprisings that came against him and those with him for preaching the Gospel, like those that occurred in Ephesus (Acts 19:21-40), or later in Jerusalem (Acts 21-23). And so it was the Apostle Paul did not shun sharing the Gospel because of these even when faced with certain harm or death from an angry mob. In labors too the Apostle Paul commended himself as a minister of God. Therefore Paul was, when he could be, a self-supporting missionary (see Acts 18:1-4 and how Paul supported himself by his tent making trade skills). Thus Paul didn't needlessly burden the church, or anyone else as he traveled around preaching and teaching the Gospel. Instead Paul worked and labored with his own hands, not shunning any sort of manual labor of whatever sort it was, for if Paul could do it, then he did it, so as to neither hinder the Gospel, nor be a burden anyone (consider 1 Thess 2:9; 3:8-12). In sleeplessness. In the early church the Gospel worker was seemingly almost always on the move, preaching here, teaching there, and so there was no nine to five routine. Sleep then was something that you did when you could, and if you could (consider Acts 20:7-12 and Paul's teaching all night in a house church). Not too mention the nights that Paul would've spent studying and thinking on the Word of God, or in prayer, in travels, or simply enduring local opposition, and or spiritual persecution etc. For anyone who has entered into the Lord's life and labors knows all to well that the enemy always attacks believers on this front. In fastings means that the Apostle Paul frequently went without food. Now the word used here often is indicating that this was a prolonged event and was born out of need, rather than something that was self imposed (see Louw Nida 23:31). And so whether by need, or wilful abstinence (as in Acts 27:21-26), the Apostle Paul new what it meant to go without food (consider Luke 6:20-26, vs. 25). Having then stated some of the most severe things the Apostle Paul endured for the Gospels sake, Paul now goes on to list in verses six and seven some of out workings of God through his person and life, by which he also commended himself as a minister of God:
⁶ by purity, Paul not only strove to keep the Gospels message pure and unadulterated, but he himself lived a life of purity. 
by knowledge, knowledge here is knowledge of the One true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent; as well knowledge also applies to knowledge of God's Will for himself and the church. 
by longsuffering, longsuffering means enduring patience, that is "having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people." Oxford Dictionaries © Oxford University Press And so whether these troubles came from opposition too the Gospel, or even from other believers whom the Apostle Paul cared deeply about, Paul remained patient with all (consider Ecc. 7:8; 1 Thess 5:14; 2 Tim 2:24).
by kindness, In the Bible kindness is often linked with love; being an essential part of God's Person and His dealings with us (Psalm 36:7; Jeremiah 9:24). That being so kindness is also a fruit of the Holt Spirit so that God may manifest His kindness through us all who believe (Gal 5:22). Therefore as disciples of Christ we are to treat each other with kindness (Col 3:12-14). 
by the Holy Spirit, The Holy Spirit is not only the source of every noble and virtuous attribute and holy disposition that we posses and manifest, but here the Apostle Paul is saying that his ministry was not rooted in the flesh; and thus his own strength, power, resolve, or abilities; rather it was rooted in the Holy Spirit which gifted, empowered, and enabled him to be Christ's Apostle and thus to bring forth the Word of God for us all. Now this the Holy Spirit also does in and through us by gifting and enabling us all who believe to also be Christ's servants and workers (consider Zechariah 4:6; John 6:63). 
by sincere love, If there is anything marks a true Christian, it is our love for God and each other (1 John 3:10, 14-15; 4:7-8, 20). 
⁷ by the word of truth, The Apostle Paul's person and ministry wasn't only grounded in the word of truth, that is God's Word, but the Apostle Paul himself ministered the Word of God in truth; that is he made it as clear and plain and easy to understand as he could. And thus he strove to make the Gospel assessable to all, the antithesis which is described in Ephesians 4:14-15. 
by the power of God, already touched on, thus the power of God is not only the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes (Rom 1:16-17; 1 Cor 1:18); but it is the power of God to live a new life. And thus too manifest the life, death, and sufferings of Christ; and as an Apostle of Christ the mighty works and miracles of Christ (consider John 14:12-14; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; Gal. 3:1). 
by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, Here the Apostle Paul makes it clear that both his personal life, as well as his ministry was conducted in righteousness. For no true minister of Christ is a minister of sin (Gal 2:17). That is either practicing sin, or preaching, or teaching, or allowing any thing which God condemns as perversion and sin (consider 1 Tim 5:19-20). 
⁸ by honor and dishonor, And so whether honored as a true Apostle of Christ by those who believe, or held in dishonor and disdain by the unbelieving and ungodly for the same, the Apostle commended himself to all as true minister of Christ. 
by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; whether slandered by an evil report; or whether praised through a good one, the Apostle Paul wasn't swayed from God's purposes for him when someone gave a bad report about him or condemned him as a deceiver. For Paul knew Christ knew him, and his heart and motives and service as being true, so Paul continued to minister the Gospel everywhere and in everyplace, neither swayed by a bad report, or puffed up by a good one. 
⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; To the unbelieving yes, Paul was unknown, just as all Christians are basically "unknown" to this world and people of it (consider John 15:19-21). Yet Paul was well known to church and the many peoples lives Christ changed through him and his service forever. 
as dying, and behold we live; The Apostle Paul's life was one of not only daily dying to self, but literally his life was very often, "hanging in the balance", as his person and life was often plotted against by the Jews, persecuted by the world, arrested and imprisoned by governing authorities, and yet through it all Christ sustained his person and life, and so Paul could rejoice and say we live! 
as chastened, and yet not killed; Chastened here is not God's chastening us, rather Paul is describing the many beatings he endured for his faith in Christ and faithfulness towards Him. And so though beaten Paul was not killed, something which must have really strengthened his faith and resolve. For from the beginning Christ told that these would happen to him, and yet He would sustain him against the overwhelming opposition that would come against him (see Acts 9:15-16; 20:33; 2 Cor. 11:24-25 etc.). 
¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; Sorrow comes with a life of service for Christ, and yet the Apostle Paul could rejoice because of the ever present reality of Christ in his person and life. And so though there are those times of sadness, or loss, or grief etc., there is still far more joy from God given to us through the Holy Spirit, as we also see the wonderful works of God all around us, saving and changing and transforming people and lives, but we also personally experience the changes that God is making in our own persons and lives (consider Psalm 30:5). 
as poor, yet making many rich; Though the Apostle Paul was poor, yet through his life and ministry he was making many rich (something which continues to this day). Thus the Apostle Paul's ability to be and bring God's blessing into peoples lives was not based upon his finances. And so people in the church also need to see this for themselves. That what we do, and how effective we are for Christ is not based upon our financial abilities to give and share. For through the gifts and talents and abilities God has given us all, God intends to bring His blessings to one and to all. Even our own life stories and experiences (whether good or bad); can be the means by which God enirchens people's lives with the Gospel. And so being poor has never disqualfied anyone from being God's blessing. For we can all share a Scripture, or be a friend, or show empathy or compassion, or give a timely word, or simply share what we have learned through our lives experiences, and thus be far more enriching than merely writing a check, and then basically checking out. Now if your ministries primary focus is on fundraising, and not relationship building, then maybe you need to re-examine your priorities.  
as having nothing, and yet possessing all things; And so it is the Apostle Paul was not only enriching people and their lives through his Gospel ministry, but he was also being enriched himself. For though Paul had nothing substantially of any material worth, yet he was truly possessing all things that really matter. 

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

2 Corinthians 5:12-21

¹² For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. ¹⁶ Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Commentary
Vs. 12 "For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart." 

Previously the Apostle stated that he was confident that his own proven character and conduct was well known to the Corinthians consciences (vs. 11). Therefore the Apostle Paul did not now feel the need to commend himself to them once again. Rather his stating as much now was so that the Corinthians might have opportunity to boast on his behalf (consider Prov 17:2), that they might have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. For the Apostle Paul new that the false brethren, teachers, and prophets who were deprecating his person, and seeking to undermined his authority to the Corinthians, were all about outward appearances, and not about what is in a mans heart (consider 1 Samuel 16:7). And thus they not only promoted and praised and commended each other according to their own carnal standards (consider 2 Cor 10:12), but they also judged and deprecated Paul through the same, all which is contrary to Gospel (consider 1 Cor 1:26-31). Thus their boasting could only be said to be rooted in their own pride of life (consider 1 John 2:15-17). 

Whereas the Apostle Paul's boasting was always In Christ who by the Holy Spirit was not only working mighty works and deeds through his lowly person and life; but who is also transforming and renewing and regenerating and empowering every one of us who believe in Him to take on new challenges, and overcome the exceedingly great and overwhelming opposition and forces and circumstances that we will face when we step out in faith and follow Christ (consider Hebrews 11). And so it was just as they took great pleasure in deprecating the Apostle Paul's person because of his lowly person and stature (in this life), and the calamities which frequently befall him as he faithfully followed Christ. So the Apostle Paul now wants to give the Corinthians opportunity to boast on his behalf, and I suspect put to silence the ignorance of such foolish and ignorant men and women, who neither know Christ, nor the mighty works of God in his person and life, nor anyone elses. 

Vs. 13 "For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you." 

Therefore the Apostle Paul says if we are besides ourselves (lit. out of our minds) it is for the Lord, or if we are of a sound mind it is for you. Apparently the Apostle Paul's detractors had used Paul's intense devotion to the Lord, and His people, as a means to again slander him, basically saying only someone who was out of their mind would continue to willingly endure such things. And so here the Apostle Paul turns their deprecatory words into a personal declaration of his ongoing devotion to the Lord as well as the Corinthians spiritual welfare and well being. 

Vs. 14-15 ¹⁴ For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Thus it wasn't "insanity" that drove the Apostles' great devotion, it was the love of Christ (vs. 14). Love that was not only shown and given him by God, but love that flowed through him as well. Now the Apostle Paul specifically relates all this too the Lord Jesus Christ's Crucifixion death for us all. For that is the foundation upon which God's love is made known and has been manifest to one and to all (John 3:16). And so it is just as Christ died for us all who believe in Him, so we have also died with Him (see Rom 6); so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again (vs. 15). For just as Christ died and rose again for us all, so we who believe in Him have now died and risen with Him to new and everlasting life. Thus the lives that each and every believer now lives must be marked by our own dedication and devotion to Lord and His will for us. That is what the Apostle Paul is pressing forth here, not just our reception of the Lord's salvation for us all, but each and every one of us must have our own heartfelt devotion to Lord Jesus Christ. 

Vs. 16 "Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer." 

The Apostle Paul now returns to verse twelves rebuke of looking upon "outward appearances", to debunk the notion that anything of anyone can be known about us by our flesh. For the flesh reveals nothing about our person, nor our place and standing with Christ (consider John 3:6; 6:63). Thus if the Corinthians thought they could make a right assessment of the Apostles Paul's character and person by judging him according to the flesh, then they themselves were only being as carnal as the very people who were influencing them to do so. And so to make this point, the Apostle Paul compares His own experience with "knowing" the Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh, before his own encounter with Him and experiencing salvation from Him; and thus before the Apostle Paul came to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ he only knew of Jesus of Nazareth as just a mortal Man. For before salvation Paul "knew" Christ according to the flesh; that is he heard about Jesus, and the amazing things He was doing and did, and how many of his own people, the Jews were turning to Him, (which intensified after Jesus' Crucifixion and then Resurrection, all which culminated with the Holy Spirit's outpouring at Pentecost in Jerusalem) and so Paul (then Saul) who was then a young Pharisee, and the son of Pharisee, only saw Jesus as a threat to his own religious convictions, and thus sought to destroy the very faith that so many of his own people were turning too. This continued on until the day the Apostle Paul had his own encounter with Resurrected Christ while on the road to Damascus.
For it was there that the Lord Jesus Christ revealed Himself to Paul, and Paul was thereafter forever changed (see Acts 9:1-31; 26:1-23). Therefore the Apostle Paul here states that though he once "knew" Christ according to the flesh, he now knows Him thus no longer, that is not as just as a Man who works miracles, or a Great Teacher, or a Prophet, but as He is, and that is the Son of God and Savior of the world. Now there are many such testimonies of people who down through the ages, who once "knew" Christ according to flesh, but later came to truly know Him as their own Lord and Savior.

Vs. 17 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

This is my life verse, the verse which the Lord Jesus Christ gave me the night before my baptism when I prayed over the Scriptures for a verse that would be most appropriate. Never has such a single verse of Scripture touched my heart and life, and continues to do so like that one (except John 3:16 and the innumerable others that I have underlined, copied, studied, recited, written out, for they all are so important and relevant). Each and every believer then must no longer see themselves, and other believers, according to what they once were, but who we now are! Thus the Apostle Paul did not see the Corinthians according to the lives and lifestyles that God had drawn them out of, and Christ had saved them from. Instead Paul saw them all, just as Christ now sees us all who believe in Him, as His called and chosen, and thus His (and our) beloved people and friends (consider John 15:15; 1 Peter 2:9-10). 

Vs. 18-19 ¹⁸ Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

And so it is from our election, too our redemption and beyond, all things that pertain to our salvation is of God (Rom 8:28-30; 9:11; Eph. 1:5-6, 11-12; Heb 12:2 etc.), who has not only reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, but He has given us the ministry of reconciliation; "that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation." vs. 19 
Thus it is through the Gospel that the ministry reconciliation first comes to us, and then works through us all who believe In Christ; and thus the ministry of reconciliation is exceedingly superior too the ministry of condemnation (see 2 Cor 3:5-6, 9), which could neither save, nor transform, nor justify anyone (James 2:10). Therefore it is only through the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that God is reconciling sinful humanity back to Himself. Therefore it is this ministry of reconciliation that has also been committed to each and everyone of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ; to extend the same grace of God that we have received through it to one and to all; without prejudice or partiality; so that they too might repent and believe, and receive Jesus Christ for themselves. And thus though this world is inundated and overrun with sin, and sinners propagating the same, we are not to impute their sins against them; as if having sinned disqualifies anyone from salvation. Rather we are to point everyone to the Crucifixion death of Christ by which their and our sins find their finial judgment and ultimate end, and thus our persons and theirs reconciliation with God, and thus everlasting life the moment we believe in Christ (Eph. 1:13-15). For it is the word of reconciliation that is at the heart of Gospel (consider Matt 9:10-13; 1 Tim 1:15-17), and it is that Word of reconciliation that has been committed to us to preach, to teach, and to speak in every place, and through every means possible. 

Vs 20 ²⁰ Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. ²¹ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Therefore as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, you and I are ambassadors of Christ. Thus we are the redeemed people of God through whom God now pleads too others to be reconciled with Himself through Christ (vs. 20). Family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and just about anyone we meet we are, and can be ambassadors of Christ too.
I implore you then on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God! For it is God who made His Son Jesus Christ who knew no sin, to be sin for us; that is Jesus Christ became the sacrificial Lamb of God that God placed all of our sins upon (John 1:29, 36), so that by His suffering Crucifixion death in our place we can have atonement for them all the moment we repent and believe in Christ. And so it is by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ crucified for us we now have the righteousness of God imputed to us when we believe in Him. Therefore the ministry reconciliation says, I don't condemn you for your sins and transgressions (John 3:17), rather I have paid for all your sins and transgressions through the death and Resurrection of My Son Jesus Christ (John 3;16). Therefore be reconciled too Me through faith in My Son Jesus Christ and I will forever justify you (that is declare you righteous) when you place your faith in Me through My Son. Therefore I implore you, be reconciled to God today, and receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith so that He might not only save you from the judgment that is coming on this unbelieving and ungodly world, but He will forever justify you before God the Father through His Righteousness; that is through what He has done on the cross for you (Isaiah 53, vs.11). Therefore if your heart is open to the Lord Jesus Christ, receive Him into your heart and life to be your Lord and Savior, so that He will not only save you from your sins and transgressions, but He will also transform your person and life here and now. Therefore if you believe, please be reconciled to God here and now, invite Jesus Christ into your heart and life, to be your Lord and Savior, then confess Him as Lord. For He will come to you and bring everlasting life into you, but He will transform you with His life forever (John 11:25-26). Therefore be reconciled to God today!

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

2 Corinthians 5:9-11

⁹ Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. ¹¹ Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.

Commentary
Vs. 9 "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him."

In light of our future and hope with the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul now says that whether we are present with the Lord (meaning out of this body and life and thus with Him) or absent from Him, (meaning still living in this mortal body and life), we should all seek to be well pleasing to Him. Thus whatever state we are in, we make it our aim to be well pleasing to Him. 

Vs. 10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

The judgment seat of Christ is first mentioned here in the New Testament. Now this where each and every believer down through the ages will be judged by the Lord and will be rewarded or suffer loss according to what we have done in the body; whether good or bad; and thus the judgment mentioned here is distinct from Christ's judgment of the unbelieving and unrepentant world (see Rev 20:11-15 for that). This judgment then will cover not only each and every believers works, but also our attitudes and inner motives, and thus it will reveal our persons and character as only the Lord now knows us all. It will be a judgment then where every secret thing and motive will come to light, and be judged and rewarded accordingly, both the good that was done, as well as the bad. 

Vs. 11 "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."

"Knowing then the terror of the Lord, we persuade men"... now by saying as much the Apostle Paul is making it most clear that he himself is taking Christ's judgment of him most seriously, and so it was because of his reverent fear of the Lord, the Apostle also sought to persuade others to live lives well pleasing to the Lord (consider Acts ). Now the Apostle Paul also new that what he was as a believer was well known to God, God new his love, his integrity, his faithfulness, his endurance for the Gospel's sake, and thus as much as God already knew him, the Apostle Paul trusted that his person and character was also well known to their consciences as well. Something that each one of us must strive towards living, more open and honest and transparent lives before God and man.


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

2 Corinthians 5:1-8

¹ For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. ⁴ For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. ⁶ So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. ⁸ We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Commentary

Vs. 1 "For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."

The Apostle Paul now personalizes not only his own plight, but every believers, as we live in a hostile world in a temporary earthly body, while awaiting our Resurrection bodies and our glorious eternity with Christ in the Kingdom of God. And so knowing our Resurrection future with Christ; where we will have far more exceedingly beautiful and glorious bodies than we ever bore down here; Paul now uses metaphors, specifically of a tent, to describe this temporary dwelling that is our mortal life and bodies down here. And so it is even if our mortal bodies are destroyed; our persons and our standing with Christ is not, nor can we be; for as the Apostle Paul states here, "we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." Thus in the midst of the Apostle's great trials and tribulations he is accessing both his, and our own glorious future, which is not just a place with Christ, but it is a quality of person and life that will be enjoyed by us all there. For there will be no suffering, no decay, no death of our bodies and persons to endure there (see Rev. 21:4). For God has not only prepared a place for us who believe in Christ as Lord (John 14:2-3), but He will also give us a Resurrection body that will be unique to each one of us, and yet will also reflect the glorious Resurrection body of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so it is that since Christ's Resurrection body will never be subject to death, neither than will any of ours ever be again. 

Vs. 2-3 ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 

Therefore in light of our glorious future with Christ, the Apostle Paul does not long for his life down here, though we can certainly have enjoyment and pleasure in our lives down here, enjoyment of our our lives down here is neither our purpose, nor our hope, nor our finial destiny (consider Matt. 10:38-39). Now this desire for our heavenly habitation often grows as we age, and as we experience the many trials and tribulations, rejection and hatred, that we as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ must all pass through in this life as we journey homeward (consider John 15:18; Acts 14:22; 2 Tim 3:12; 1 John 3:13-15). Therefore in light of his present sufferings, and the glorious future that awaits us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul does not long for his life down here. Instead he (and those with him) greatly longs to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven. For now we only have this temporary body, that is born in sin, and is only subject to decay and death; which not only marks and mares our mortal bodies down here, but also this life, and sadly this world. While up there in the Kingdom of heaven there will not be seen, nor experienced any of the deperations and despair, the injustices and evil, that so often marks and mares this life for so many in this fallen world. And so it is up there we will all have a glorious body, that is neither subject to sin or death; that is not subject to sickness, disease, nor death. Neither we will ever again suffer cold or hunger, heat or thirst, hatred, persecution, rejection or injustice. For in the Kingdom of heaven our persons and bodies will not only be nurtured by the hand of God, but there we will all experience the healing that the Gospel so readily reveals Jesus Christ as our Great Physician doing. And so in the Kingdom of heaven our persons and bodies we will no longer bear any of the scars and wounds; the deformities and disabilities (both physical and psychological); the pain and suffering and ailments and aging that now mare our persons and bodies, and often mark this life's journey for so many of us.

Now the Apostle Paul statement that says of this desire of being clothed with his heavenly habitation, if having been clothed, we shall not be found naked (vs. 3). Which the Apostle Paul is saying to warn those amongst the Corinthians (most likely his own detractors) or anyone else who professes faith in Christ and yet has not yet been reconciled back to God; and thus it is stated so that those who do so do not deceive themselves into thinking that they will be there without first coming to genuine repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (in regards to this consider Jesus' own language and metaphors in Rev 3:18-20). For you can do all things that Christians are commanded to do and speak, and yet never come to the place of seeing your own need for Christ to personally come into your own heart and life, to not only save you from your own sins and transgressions, (and thus bring you into a personal relationship with God), but also too transform your person and life by His Spirit indwelling you here and now, which is the prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of heaven, and God giving you a eternal home and heavenly body with Christ there. Therefore the Apostle Paul by saying as much is warning us all to make sure that we have done as Jesus says for us all to do in Rev 3:18 and that is to buy from Him the silver and gold that does not perish, and get garments from Him so that we are not found naked on the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ. For too trust in ones own self and righteousness down here will only end in eternal nakedness and poverty and ruin there. Therefore be zealous and repent and invite the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart and life as He says for us all to do here and now and thus receive Him now as Lord and Savior so that He might receive you there as His own child (John 1:12). "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20

Vs. 4 "For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life."

And so it is the Apostle Paul does not long for death, he longs for the day when this mortal body and this life will be swallowed up by life, that is eternal life in the Kingdom of heaven with Christ.

Vs. 5 "Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee."

The Holy Spirit is the Person of God who not only transforms our persons and lives through His regeneration of our persons down here (see Titus 3:4-7), but He is the Person of God who seals us for the Day of Redemption (Eph. 4:30), and thus as the Apostle Paul says of Him here, He is the Person and indwelling Presence of God in our persons as the guarantee from God to us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that we have not only been reconciled back to God (and thus are now His children) but we will forever remain His child and be forever with Christ in the Kingdom of heaven. No Christian anywhere then should ever fear being rejected by God at the Judgment seat of Christ because we have been given by God the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of our redemption.

Vs. 6 "So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord."

And so it is, because we have the Holy Spirit in us as God's guarantee to us, that we are His redeemed children and people, we can all be confident while at home in the body here and now because of our assured futures with Christ in the Kingdom of heaven. Therefore our being at "home" here in the body, and absent from the Lord, obviously does not mean that this earthly body is our finial home. Nor does our currently being absent from the Lord mean that we are without His continuous Presence and Help while we are at home in this earthly body. It means though we have not yet come to the state and place where He currently is; where He resides at the right hand of the Father waiting till all His enemies are made His footstool; we can all be confident about our finial dwelling place with Christ Himself.

Vs. 7 "For we walk by faith, not by sight." 

And so it is all that we have and are, and are going to be, can only be seen by faith. Yet for those who walk by sight, all that they have, and will be, is only what they can now see, and thus the diminsihing returns of this perishable life. 

Vs. 8 "We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord."

The Apostle Paul now concludes verse six's thought by again saying that we are confident; that is confident about our standing and future with the Lord; and thus well pleased to be absent from this body and to be present with the Lord.

Scripture Quotations

The New King James Version. (1982). (2 Co 4:16–18). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

2 Corinthians 4:7-18

⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. ⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you. ¹³ And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. ¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Commentary
Vs. 7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."

The Apostle now says of us all who believe that we have this treasure in earthen vessels. The Apostle Paul's metaphor here is that Christ is the treasure that we have within our mortal bodies (i.e. "earthen vessels"); that is His life, by His Spirit, is within us all who believe in Him. And so it is that through our fragile persons the power and glory of the God in Christ is being manifested and made known to one and to all. Now God has chosen to do this through us who are inherently weak and subject to death so that the excellence of the power may be of God alone (consider 1 Cor 1:26-31). Thus it's not of any of us as Christ's disciples/messengers/ambassadors that salvation comes to anyone. It is only by the excellency of the power of God through the Gospel preached and believed on that everlasting life comes to one and to all; so that all glory, honor, praise and power will be ascribed to God alone. 

Vs. 8-9  ⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—


Even our going through the inevitable trials and tribulations that comes with following Christ faithfully is not something that anyone endures in their own strength and power. Rather it is by the power of Christ within us that God is sustaining us to not only endure the seemingly overwhelming opposition, but also to overcome the seemingly insurmountable odds. And so though there are such things to each believer as God decrees for us, there is also His grace and His power by which we can all overcome. Thus the Apostle Paul is making it clear that he is neither discouraged, nor set back by any of them. For consider the Apostle Paul's words here: "We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—" Vs. 8-9  
For again, just as God allows these things in our lives, yet He does not give us over to any trial or tribulation which He Himself does not also sustain us through.

Vs. 10 "always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."

In light of that fact the Apostle Paul can embrace his sufferings for the Gospels sake, so that the life of the Lord Jesus Christ may be manifest through him, specifically through his body. The death of Jesus then can be thought of not only our own death positionally with Christ as is expounded in Romans chapter six (see Rom. 6:3-11; Gal 2:20); but here it is the dying (not death) of the Lord Jesus Christ which is our transformation from one glory to another through the things which we suffer and endure for the Gospel's sake. Thus as our bodies yeild their strength and will to the will of the Lord so the life of Jesus Christ is being made more manifest through us all who believe in Him.

Vs. 11-12 ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. ¹² So then death is working in us, but life in you.

And so it is that we are always being delivered to death for Jesus' sake, not literal death, though following Christ faithfully will involve martyrdom for some of us, but death by which God removes and purifies from us all which is contrary to the life of Christ inside of us, and thus His manifesting Christ's life more fully through us. "So then death is working in us, but life in you." Meaning that though we are being delivered to "death", it is through that death that Christ's life is coming to you, and ultimately will manifested in you who also believe. In being delivered to death and dying for us Christ atoned for our sins, in our being delivered to death sin is being purged from us. 

Vs. 13 "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,"

The Apostle Paul now makes it clear that the same spirit of faith that is in the Corinthians is also in himself. Now it is through that same spirit of faith that both Paul and those who ministered the Gospel with him spoke. That is because they believe they were unashamed in their declaring the testimony of Christ wherever they went, therefore Paul cites the Scripture which states:“I believed and therefore I spoke” (Psalm 116:10), a Scripture which entails openly speaking the truth while enduring tribulations, something which clearly mirrors his own faith journey. 

Vs. 14 "knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you." 

The Apostle Paul also wants the Corinthians to know that the power of God which now sustains both them and him will also raise them all up and present them together with the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore the Apostle Paul wants the Corinthians to know for certainty not only their own resurrection from the dead, but also that he himself, and those with him, will be there with them as well. And so any notions that they, or any Christian has about being at the resurrection of the dead without also being there with every other believer is false and misleading. For throughout the Apostle Paul's epistles Paul always strives to make it clear that what is true of himself, is true of everyone else in Christ. 

Vs. 15 "For all things are for your sakes, that grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God."

The Apostle Paul thus sees all that he goes through as ultimately bringing grace to the Corinthians; (and ultimately us as well) so that thanksgiving may abound through many to the glory of God.

Vs. 16 "Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day." 

And so the Apostle Paul is greatly encouraged and even more strengthened in his faith (as we ought to be as well) when we see and also understand that though our outward man is perishing, (that is the natural body's beauty and vigor and abilities and such, yet our inward man is being daily renewed! Thus there is the death or dying on the one hand, and yet the renewing and glorifying on the other. For this temporary must give way to the eternal, which will be far more exceedingly beautiful and wholesome and powerful than anything we could have imagined our earthly bodies ever being . 

Vs. 17-18 "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal."

And so it is the Apostle Paul saw his tribulations in this life as but a light affliction, temporary things which we pass through in this life that are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (vs. 17). Thus the Apostle Paul did not look at the things which are seen; that is he did not judge his life, nor his standing with Christ by whatever his current circumstances were, for these light afflictions which we see and we all must pass through on our journey homeward are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

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

Additional Resources Consulted
Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 563). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

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.

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! 

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.

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.

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.