11/23/08: 2 Corinthians 3
Category: 2 Corinthians
Posted by: sejje
"For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!" (2 Corinthians 3:10,11). Previous to this, Paul had been talking about the law, written on stone, given by God to Moses (3:7). At the time, it was glorious, because without the law, people would not have been aware of all of their sins. And without an awareness that one is sinning, there would be no awareness of the need to be saved from sin, and all would be lost.
Once Jesus came and sacrificed Himself for sinners, He surpassed or supplanted the glory of the law. The law initially was kept by the Israelites, and any transgressions of the law were atoned for by the blood sacrifices of animals. It was glorious not only that God gave the Israelites the law, but also that He provided a means by which atonement could be made for breaking the law. With time, though, that glory faded, because Israel continued to sink deeper into sin. Eventually, even the atonement rituals for sin were ceased, so all of that glory faded away.
But once Jesus came,--the perfect "Lamb" who was the ultimate sacrifice for sin (1 Corinthians 5:7)--then the original glory and intent of the law was restored. He also brought the promise to all who believe in Him that they will be glorified (changed into a perfect form) at the resurrection. Furthermore, not one bit of the law will change, throughout Jesus' glorious reign during the Millennium, until heaven and earth disappear (Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; Revelation 20:), and a new heaven and earth appear (Revelation 21:1,5).
Once Jesus came and sacrificed Himself for sinners, He surpassed or supplanted the glory of the law. The law initially was kept by the Israelites, and any transgressions of the law were atoned for by the blood sacrifices of animals. It was glorious not only that God gave the Israelites the law, but also that He provided a means by which atonement could be made for breaking the law. With time, though, that glory faded, because Israel continued to sink deeper into sin. Eventually, even the atonement rituals for sin were ceased, so all of that glory faded away.
But once Jesus came,--the perfect "Lamb" who was the ultimate sacrifice for sin (1 Corinthians 5:7)--then the original glory and intent of the law was restored. He also brought the promise to all who believe in Him that they will be glorified (changed into a perfect form) at the resurrection. Furthermore, not one bit of the law will change, throughout Jesus' glorious reign during the Millennium, until heaven and earth disappear (Matthew 5:18; Luke 16:17; Revelation 20:), and a new heaven and earth appear (Revelation 21:1,5).
