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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday February 25, 2018
WE
ARE LIVING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
2
Corinthians 3:1-6
In the first century Christian Church
it was customary that traveling teachers carry “letters of recommendation” that
were used to introduce them to the various churches that they may be visiting
to apply their calling. Apparently the Apostle Paul’s opposition had been
demanding that he show a letter of recommendation to help verify his
credibility, and to prove he was what he claimed he was, “an apostle of CHRIST”.
In 2 Corinthians 3, verses 1-6, Paul once
again finds himself defending his own reputation and legitimacy, instead of
spending time defending the Gospel as he should be. However, it has always been
the goal of the forces of satan to tie up GOD’s anointed with foolishness, so
that they may have as little time as possible to teach and spread the saving
knowledge of CHRIST JESUS to the world.
Here in the opening lines of this chapter
Paul answers the Luciferic attack by telling the church at Corinth, that, a
lifestyle and behavior that adheres to the Word of GOD is the only letter of
recommendation that they or anyone else ever needs. It is a letter written on
our hearts, that can be seen by everyone through our works and behavior that
actually serves as the best recommendation.
Every “true Christian” aspires to actually
live a life that manifests, through their personalities and behavior, that they
are believers dedicated to representing GOD before man (being true
ambassadors), here on earth. They have actually become living recommendations
who testify not only of CHRIST, but also of those who actually won them over to
CHRIST, through the work of their ministry.
Those who do the work of CHRIST represent
the “New Covenant” that CHRIST ushered in during HIS first advent, concluding
with HIS vicarious sacrifice. This New Covenant is not one that is written, but
rather, it is of the SPIRIT. And whereas the old way ended in death, “the new
trail of light” that was blazed through this dark world by JESUS CHRIST, leads
to eternal life in Heaven (v.6).
THE
GLORY OF THE NEW COVENANT
2
Corinthians 3:7-18
JESUS ministers on the
basis of a better covenant. HE is GOD’s superior priest and our ultimate
representative in the presence of the FATHER in Heaven. A superior priest could
never operate on the basis of an inferior covenant. Here in 2 Corinthians
chapter 3, verses 7-18, Paul begins to move toward the conclusion of his
discussion regarding the superiority of the New Covenant which was ushered in
by CHRIST JESUS as our HIGH PRIEST.
Aaronic priests
ministered on earth in a sanctuary that was a mere copy of the Heavenly
Sanctuary. It was only a shadow of the true sanctuary in Heaven that was built
by the hand of GOD, and where CHRIST now ministers. The superiority of JESUS’
ministry is also reflected in the superiority of the New Covenant, which HE ushered
in to us, during HIS three-year ministry here on earth.
Unlike the earthly high
priest who was required to offer gifts and sacrifices for, first, their own
sins, and then ours, JESUS has no need to offer sacrifices for HIMSELF because
HE, quite frankly, has never sinned. The sacrifice HE offers for our sins, past,
present, and future, is HIS OWN life, which was offered up on the cross at Golgotha,
where HE spilled HIS blood, some 2000 years ago.
Back in Exodus 24,
verses 1-8, the Israelites accepted GOD’s covenant as it had been given to Moses
on Mount Sinai. However, man would not then, and quite frankly, will not now,
abide by such a covenant, because we let our sins continuously interrupt our relationship
with GOD. It took the life of CHRIST to restore our lost relationship of friendship
with GOD. If we, as a people, would have abided by the first covenant, there
would have been no need for the, more superior covenant that was ushered in by
CHRIST JESUS to replace it.
The first covenant was
offered by GOD to show us how much we need HIM in our lives to survive, and,
how far we were from living according to HIS OWN glorious standards. Therefore,
the old Covenant, in essence, could only condemn us. The New Covenant, by
contrast, brings forgiveness through CHRIST JESUS, and thereby, can only save
us. However, this salvation can only be given to those who voluntarily accept
GOD, in all HIS fullness.
In the Greek, the word
used for “covenant”, in all normal secular applications, is “suntheke”
(soon-tha-kay), and it is “an agreement between two equal parties or entities,
on equal terms”, i.e. a marriage, or a business deal or partnership. However,
in the New Testament Scriptures, the Greek word that is always used for “covenant”
is “diatheke” (dee-ath-ay-kay), and it is “an agreement that is actually along
the terms of a “devised Will”. In other words, only one party draws up the terms,
and the other party can either accept or reject the terms, or inheritance, that
is offered. They cannot change or alter any of the contents within that Will.
The choice of this word,
“diatheke”, in regards to the word “covenant” is understandable, because we, as
human beings, cannot enter into an equal partnership with GOD, and cannot be on
equal terms with GOD for obvious reasons. We are only able to make a voluntary
decision to accept, or reject HIS covenant offer, and cannot alter, or change
HIS terms in any way.
Even in the secular
world, we know that a Will does not go into effect until the person who wrote
it has been proven dead. JESUS, WHO is our HIGH PRIEST, first died on the cross
for our sins, then, re-entered into Heaven itself, bearing HIS OWN blood to
present as a sacrificial atonement for all of our sins, past, present, and
future. And with HIS sacrifice, HE purchased eternal salvation for all mankind in
general, and all Christians in particular, once, and for all time. In short,
JESUS is the mediator of the New Covenant that was activated by HIS OWN death.
In the Greek, there are
two words that are used for “new”. One is “neos” (neh-os), which is “new in
respects to time”. It can be a regeneration, or “exact copy” of something
already existing, such as a new piece of clothing, or a new pair of shoes. The
other word used for new is “kainos” (kahee-nos), which means, not only new in relation
to time, but also new in quality and expression. It is something that is a new creation
altogether, or a new product that has been introduced into the world for the
first time. “Kainos” is the word used here by Paul to describe the covenant ushered
in by JESUS CHRIST, and this New Covenant can never be improved upon, or copied.
There is one other
essential that we should accentuate regarding the New Covenant and that is that,
the New Covenant is one that calls for “internal”, rather than “external”
adaptations. This means that people would no longer want to obey GOD simply
because the law compels them to, or they fear punishment, but rather, because
the desire to obey HIM will be written on their hearts and minds.
Under the old Covenant,
man could only hope to keep a right relationship with GOD by obeying HIS laws,
through their own efforts. Here, in the New Covenant Age, everything is
dependent, not on, what we can do, but rather, everything rests solely on the
grace of GOD, and what JESUS CHRIST has done, by way of HIS vicarious
sacrifice. JESUS, both, removes our guilt, and, mediates our New Covenant with
GOD.
With the coming of the
New Covenant, GOD wishes to place HIS laws for living on our hearts, not just
in writing on stone or, even paper, for that matter. HE wants us to understand
HIM in our innermost being, so that we can obey HIM more completely. HE wants
to be our GOD, and HE wants us to be HIS people. HE wants us to teach of HIM,
not just with the words of our mouths, but more importantly, with our behavior
as professed Christians. We, as Christians, must make our old selves obsolete, just
as GOD made the Old Covenant Law obsolete when HE sent us HIS only begotten SON
to save us from ourselves.
In the New Testament
Greek, the word used for “old”, or “obsolete”, which is “palaioumenon”
(pal-ah-yo-o-me-non), describes “something that is out of date” and “ready to
be set aside”. Over in Hebrews chapter 9, the writer shares his thoughts
concerning the superiority of the New Covenant that was ushered in by CHRIST
JESUS.
In the first covenant
between GOD and Israel (the Mosaic Covenant), there were many regulations
concerning worship, and, there was a sacred place, a tent, in which to do it.
Every element of the Mosaic Covenant had special significance because it
reflected realities that are found only in Heaven. Inside this sacred tent were
two rooms. In the first room there was a lamp stand, a table, and loaves of
holy bread on the table, and it was called, the “Holy Place”. There was a
curtain that separated this first room from a second room. This second room was
called the “Most Holy Place”. Inside this second room, were a gold incense
altar and a wooden chest called the “Ark of the Covenant”.
The Ark of the Covenant was
covered with gold on all sides, and inside it were three items, a gold jar,
which contained the two quarts of manna that were placed there by Aaron at the
command of GOD, through Moses (Exodus 16:32-34). There was also Aaron’s
blooming staff, which GOD commanded to be put there as a warning to those who
try to rebel against HIM (Numbers 17:10-11). And, there were the tablets upon
which the Ten Commandments were written (Exodus 40:20).
Above the ark were
angels whose wings were stretched out over the Ark’s cover, the place of atonement.
Any of the priests were able to go in and out of the first room on a regular
basis, as they performed their religious duties to man and GOD. However, only
the high priest was allowed to enter into the second room, the Most Holy Place,
and then, he could enter it only once a year, always with blood that would be
offered up to GOD to cover, first, his own sins, and then, the sins of the
people.
By these regulations,
the HOLY SPIRIT was communicating that the Most Holy Place was not open to
everyone, as long as the first room, the Holy Place, and all that it
represents, was still in use. This was also an illustration of how the gifts
and sacrifices that the priests were offering were not able to cleanse the
consciences of the people that brought them. This old system only dealt with
food, drink, ritual washing, and other external regulations that were, in
effect, only until their limitations could be corrected by the introduction of
the New Covenant, that was ushered in by JESUS CHRIST.
All of the old system’s
Levitical arrangements were designed to convey the idea that the true way to
GOD did not lie in them, but rather, would lie in CHRIST. What this tells us in
this day and age, is that, the old covenant sacrificial system never met our human
needs on their most profound level, and could not, by any means, clear the
spiritual consciences of the people who seek to worship GOD.
JESUS CHRIST has now
entered into the perfect sanctuary that was not made by human hands, but
rather, by the hand of GOD. There HE has become high priest over all that is
good. Once and for all time HE has carried HIS OWN blood into the Most Holy
Place in Heaven, and with it, HE has secured our salvation forever.
Under the old law, the
blood of goats, bulls, or rams could be used to cleanse the defilement of human
sins. How much more effective then, must the blood of CHRIST be in purifying
the human heart from deeds that had long led man to death, and is now allowing
man to re-establish a relationship of friendship with GOD.
The Old Testament
sacrifices had an external effectiveness, but JESUS’ sacrifice at Golgotha has
an internal effect that cleanses the conscience that bounds us to the guilt of
our past. We are no longer overcome with a past that renders us inadequate to
function in the present, and keeps us from moving forward to a brighter future
with GOD.
When a person dies and
leaves a will, no one can collect on the benefits of that will until there is
proof that the person who wrote that will is actually dead. Likewise, under the
old covenant, GOD required the blood of certain animals as proof of death, and
the blood confirmed man’s obedience to the covenant. Afterwards, man was able
to collect on the benefits of GOD’s will, which was found in HIS forgiveness,
instead of the death of the sinner.
The blood of animals was
sufficient to purify things here on earth, and by the sprinkling of animal
blood, man was allowed to continue to live here on earth. However, the real
things, which are only found in Heaven, had to be purified with a far better
sacrifice than the blood of unblemished animals. It took the blood of an
unblemished man to meet the requirement of GOD to enter into the Kingdom of
Heaven, and that perfect sacrifice could only come in the person of JESUS
CHRIST. But first, JESUS had to become a man, born into the world like all
other men, so that HE could suffer through everything man has to suffer
through, overcome it, and then, present HIMSELF faultless before HIS FATHER GOD
as the perfect sacrifice for the sin atonement of all persons, past, present,
and future, once and for all time.
And just as it is
appointed by GOD that each person dies only once, and after which comes
judgment, so too, CHRIST died only once as a sacrifice that took away the sins
of the people who choose to believe in HIM. JESUS will come again, but not to
deal with our sins again. This time HE will bring with HIM, the salvation that
is promised to all those who believe, and eagerly await HIS return.
Before we come to
believe in CHRIST, our minds are veiled to the truth of GOD’s Word. A spiritual
veil actually covers our minds so that we can’t understand GOD’s written Word.
This veil can only be removed by one’s belief in JESUS CHRIST, our LORD and
SAVIOR (v.14-16), and this removal frees us from the dominion of sin in our
lives forever. And so the LORD JESUS is the SPIRIT, and wherever the SPIRIT of
the LORD is, there, we will find freedom. All true believers have had that veil
removed, and as a result, they become mirrors that reflect brightly, through
their behavior, the glory of GOD.
A Sunday school lesson by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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