HOPAN Bible Study 2 Corinthians 3:1-

Fading Glory of law - Increasing Glory of the New Covenant (2 Cor. 3:7-11)

Corinthian major emphasis was that salvation was by faith in Christ plus the keeping of the Law (Acts 15:1 ). They also taught that the believer is perfected in his faith by obeying the Law of Moses. Their "gospel of legalism" was very popular, since human nature enjoys achieving religious goals instead of simply trusting Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to work. It is much easier to measure "religion" than true righteousness. Paul did not deny the glory of the Old Covenant Law certainly was glory. What he affirmed, however, was that the glory of the New Covenant of grace was far superior, and he gave several reasons to support his affirmation.

The Ministry of Spirit of the Grace and of death of the law (v. 7-8).

The deficiencies of the Law in Galatian Church

The Law cannot justify the lost sinner (Gal 2:16),

The Law cannot give a sinner righteousness (Gal 2:21),

cannot give the Holy Spirit (Gal 3:2),

cannot give an inheritance (Gal 3:18), give life (Gal 3:21),

cannot give freedom (Gal 4:8-10).

The glory of the Law is really the glory of a ministry of death.

The Ministry of righteousness and of condemnation (vv. 9-10).

The Law gives condemnation but no condemnation in Jesus Christ Rom 8:1-2

The law is the mirror that reveals how dirty our faces really are. But we cannot wash our faces in the mirror. It is grace that provides the cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ 1 John 1:7.

The ministry of the New Covenant produces righteousness and changes lives to the glory of God.

God's greatest gift is righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. "For if righteousness [comes] by the Law, then Christ is dead in vain" (Gal 2:21).

The Law produces guilt and condemnation:

for it is like a bond of indebtedness (Col 2:14),

the law is a guardian who disciplines us (Gal 4:1-5),

a yoke of bondage: a yoke too heavy to bear (Gal 5:1; Acts 15:10).

The New Covenant glory is permanent, not temporary (v. 11). "live in the glory of the New Covenant which is getting greater and greater."

The glory of the Law is but the glory of past history, while the glory of the New Covenant is the glory of present experience.

As believers, we can be "changed .. from glory to glory" (2 Cor 3:18), something that the Law can never accomplish.

The glory of the Law was fading in Pauls day, and today that glory is found only in the records in the Bible.

The nation of Israel has no temple or priesthood, no Shekinah glory dwelling in the holy of holies.

The Law of Moses is a religion with a most glorious past, but it has no glory today. The light is gone; all that remain are shadows (Col 2:16-17).

The Law Is Not Contrary to the Promise (Gal. 3:21-26)

While Law and grace seem to be contrary to one another, if you go deep enough, you will discover that they actually complement one another Why, then, was the Law given?

The Law was not given to provide life Gal3: 21).

The law could not provide spiritual life to the people. (Gal 3:21; 2:21.)

If life and righteousness could have come through the Law, then Jesus Christ would never have died on the cross.

The Law was given to reveal sin (vv. 19 a, 22

The Law and grace cooperate in bringing the lost sinner to Jesus Christ.

Law shows the sinner his guilt, and grace shows him the forgiveness he can have in Christ.

The Law is "holy, and just, and good" (Rom 7:12), but we are unholy, unjust, and bad.

It is grace that provides the cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ 1 John 1:7.

The Law was given to prepare the way for Christ (vv. 23-26).

the Law was a preparation for the nation of Israel until the coming of the promised Seed, Jesus Christ.

the ultimate goal in God's program was His coming (Gal 3:22),

"before this faith [Christ] came" (Gal 3:23,, the nation was "imprisoned by the Law" (literal translation).

The Law cannot change the promise, and the Law is not greater than the promise. But the Law is not contrary to the promise: they work together to bring sinners to the Saviour.