September 25, 2005

YOU ARE...THE EPISTLE OF CHRIST

2 Corinthians 3:1-18

 

   "Are we beginning all over again to reproduce our credentials? No, you are all the letter we need, a letter written upon our heart, such that any man can see it for what it is and read for himself. You are an open letter from Christ, ministered by us, written...not with ink but with the spirit of the living God, not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. And it is in full reliance on God through Christ that we make such claims. We are not sufficient or competent in ourselves to decide things according to our own judgment. Our competency comes from God Who made us able ministers of a new covenant, not of letter, but of spirit, which is expressed not in a written document, but in a spiritual bond. The 'letter' kills, but the 'spirit' gives life!

   "Now if the administration of death, the Old Covenant, written and engraved on stones was inaugurated with divine splendor, such that the Israelites could not steadfastly gaze on the face of Moses (because the glory of his face was going to disappear), shall not the ministration of the "spirit" be even more glorious? For if the administration of condemnation be glory, much more does the administration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels! For if that which was abolished was glorious, much more that which is permanent has more glory. Seeing then we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech, not like Moses, who put a veil over his face, so the Israelites could not steadfastly gaze to the end of that which was abolished. Their minds are blinded to this day, for the same veil remains...in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ. Yet now, when the writings of Moses are read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when their heart shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be removed. Now the Lord is that spirit, and where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. When we with unveiled face behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, we are transfigured in to the same image, from every increasing glory...by the Spirit of the Lord."

 

Ivan L. Burgener