Bad News: You'll Never Measure Up. But Thank Goodness, There's Good

March 30, 2022

Bad News: You'll Never Measure Up. But Thank Goodness, There's Good News!

2 Corinthians 3

Emma Dotter

Central Truth

By ourselves, we're far from sufficient.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God.

Ministers of the New Covenant

1 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some do, letters of recommendation to you, or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our^{1

3:2
Some manuscripts your} hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.^{2

3:3
Greek fleshly hearts}

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one^{3

3:16
Greek he} turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. 17 Now the Lord^{4

3:17
Or this Lord} is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord,^{5

3:18
Or reflecting the glory of the Lord} are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.^{6

3:18
Greek from glory to glory} For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Footnotes

[1] 3:2 Some manuscripts your
[2] 3:3 Greek fleshly hearts
[3] 3:16 Greek he
[4] 3:17 Or this Lord
[5] 3:18 Or reflecting the glory of the Lord
[6] 3:18 Greek from glory to glory

Listen to the Podcast

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Remember when iPhones used to have headphone jacks? Initially, when Apple removed the headphone jack from the iPhone, everyone was outraged. But now, Airpods (and really Bluetooth headphones in general) have been normalized—we depend on them while running or flying on a plane. And in a somewhat similar way, Paul's audience was struggling to adjust to a revolutionary change—one that was worth getting used to.

Before the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, God's people lived under what was called the "Old Covenant." It was a conditional covenant, meaning God's blessing was conditioned upon the Israelites' observance of the law. If they kept the law, things would go well . . . and vice versa (Deuteronomy 28).

When we think about the Old Testament, we often associate it with sacrifices and rules—that's why! The law showed God's people how to regulate their lives in a way that was honoring to Him—they had to regularly offer up sacrifices for their sin. But it also revealed how fickle humans are—we consistently fall short of God's standard! (Hebrews 10:1-4) Keeping the law didn't save people. It simply revealed their brokenness.

But here's the good news: Jesus perfectly fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law (Hebrews 8:6; Matthew 5:17). If you are a believer in Christ, you live under the New Covenant! And this is the change Paul wants to make sure his readers don't forget! The New Covenant meant three things for the believers in Corinth and means the same for us today:

Our sins? Forgiven. And our records are wiped clean of sins past, present, and future—no sacrifices needed (Romans 8:1).

At the moment of salvation, one receives the Spirit, who empowers us to live obediently (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

We don't need to rely on a priest to have access to God, as Jesus is our high priest (Hebrews 9:11-15).

When I read today's passage, I couldn't help but notice 2 Corinthians 3:5. I must continually fight the temptation to believe my performance could warrant God's approval. It can't, but thanks be to God (1 Corinthians 15:57).

1. Do you ever find yourself thinking other believers don't measure up? Are you uniquely exempt? Are God's standards consistent for all believers today? Explain.

2. How do you view the Old Testament? Why might it be valuable for us today?

3. Why do you think the New Covenant gave Paul boldness? (2 Corinthians 3:12)

4. Do you live as if your sufficiency comes from God? Explain. (2 Corinthians 3:4-6)

Having trouble understanding the references to Israel and the Old Covenant? Check out these podcast episodes and read Romans 9-11:

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