Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New Death and Life Proof of Life 1

Are you the Real Deal? Are you being led by the Sovereign God? Are you finding promised victory in Christ? Are you having influence for Christ? Are you pleasing God in Christ? Are you empowered by Christ or by yourself? Are you sufficient for these things? 2

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The old covenant – 2 Corinthians 3:7-8 3

2 Corinthians 3:7-8 (NASB) 7  But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, 8  how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The old covenant – 2 Corinthians 3:7-8 Represented by the shining face of Moses Ministry of death Carved in stone This covenant had a certain glory to it. It is attractive … but why? It is also fading … but why? 4

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The new covenant – 2 Corinthians 4:6 5

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NASB) 6  For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The new covenant – 2 Corinthians 4:6 Represented by the face of Christ Ministry of life Written on human hearts The light of God’s glory shining in our hearts It brings the knowledge of the Truth. It is attractive but difficult … why? 6

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The old covenant is the Law. Romans 7:7-13 says that the law is good. 7

Romans 7:7-13 (NASB)  7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” 8  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. 9  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;

10  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; 11  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. 12  So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13  Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The old covenant is the Law. Romans 7:7-13 says that the law is good. Then, how could this old covenant, which is good, bring death? Is the law sin? How could the commandment, meant for life, bring death? The mystery is solved in Romans 8:3. 8

Romans 8:3 (NASB) 3  For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

1 Timothy 1:8-10 (NASB) 8  But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9  realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10  and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching,

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The old covenant is not just for unbelievers. There is a war within us as believers between the old covenant (flesh) and the new covenant (Spirit). The flesh requires the law so we might have the “knowledge of sin.” “The written code kills” in two ways. This leads us back to being controlled by the Spirit through repentance – Galatians 5:17. 9

Galatians 5:17 (NASB) 17  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The example of the Adams Adam and Eve lived under the new covenant (although not called that at the time) in the garden. Their choice caused them (and us) to live under the old covenant with the Spirit being withdrawn – Ephesians 2:1-6. 10

Ephesians 2:1-6 (NASB) 1  And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2  in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

4  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Old and New The example of the Adams Adam and Eve lived under the new covenant (although not called that at the time) in the garden. Their choice caused them (and us) to live under the old covenant with the Spirit being withdrawn – Ephesians 2:1-6. The second Adam ushered in the new covenant in the Spirit. 11

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Death and Life Fallen man faces death yet lives. Bible is very clear that there are not two gods! The Devil must follow God’s guidelines. Satan has twisted the very life we are given by God as human beings but … There is only one source of life. While fallen man can do good, it is not according to God’s rules – Romans 8:6-8. 12

Romans 8:6-8 (NASB) 6  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7  because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Death and Life Fallen man faces death yet lives. Bible is very clear that there are not two gods! The Devil must follow God’s guidelines. Satan has twisted the very life we are given by God as human beings but … There is only one source of life. While fallen man can do good, it is not according to God’s rules – Romans 8:6-8. The flesh is marked as being self-serving. 13

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Death and Life Contrast #1 – Death or Life The flesh produces death. Death is the absence of life. What is life then? Purpose, meaning, worth, and fulfillment Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control Therefore, death is the opposite of all these. 14

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Death and Life Contrast #2 – Stones or Hearts Law was written on stones. Spirit writes on hearts. Old Covenant is concerned with stones, things – rituals, ceremonies, buildings. New Covenant is concerned with hearts, people – well being both physically and spiritually. 15

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Death and Life Contrast #3 – Guilt or Righteousness The old covenant produces condemnation. This is good if it points to Christ. When it does not, it results in guilt (self-pity). The new covenant produces righteousness! Righteousness is being acceptable to and by God. This righteousness comes from God alone. It is not only doing, but being also. One does what is right because one is right! 16

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Death and Life Contrast #4 – Fading or Permanent Glory The old covenant produces what fades away. The “works” of this covenant are not lasting. This covenant produces the pressure to perform and has constant demands (duty). The new covenant produces what is permanent. The “works” of this covenant are eternal. This covenant produces freedom and desire. 17

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Proof of Life Are you living under the old or the new covenant? Do you show the vital signs of life or are you exuding death? Do you have a heart of stone or has God transformed it into a heart of flesh? 18

Vital Signs 2 Corinthians 3:1-18 Proof of Life Are you being controlled by guilt or by righteousness? Are you serving a fading glory out of duty or the eternal glory in freedom and great desire? 19