Today’s passage: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18
Helpful thoughts:
- Paul calls the Mosaic Law a “ministry of death” not because there was anything wrong with the Law or the Ten Commandments, but because man is unable to perfectly obey them. The Law taught man that he is a sinner and deserves death.
- Those who read the laws/rules/commandments of God and thinks they can be good enough are living with a veil over their eyes. They are blind and remain in their sin. Those who acknowledge their sin and look to Jesus for forgiveness and freedom have had the veil removed. They can see the purpose of the law and the grace of God through Christ!
- Staring at the Law and ourselves will never cause us to change and grow. We look to Jesus. We rejoice in our salvation in Him. Beholding the Lord transforms us.
Questions to consider:
- What must a person believe if he is to think he has performed adequately according to God’s commands to have earned eternal life? What is wrong in that person’s theology, his understanding of himself, etc.? In what way has the Law become a stumbling block to him? Why would he find the gospel of Jesus Christ offensive?
- What kind of glory does the Law of Moses have if a person does not understand the gospel? What is the only way the true glory of the Law of Moses can be seen?
- How should the truth of this passage affect the way we teach and disciple others? If all we do is teach rules and reward or criticize, what are we missing? If we never teach rules, what won’t we be able to introduce? How does centering our teaching and thinking on Jesus and the gospel make all other teaching biblical accurate and constructive?