THE FIRST WILL BE LAST AND THE LAST WILL BE FIRST
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
The Jews
were first to get the Word of God and will be the last to understand
The Word.
The Jews were the first to see the power of God destroy their
Enemies (Egypt)
and the last to recognize that power worked for them.
The Jews
were the first to get the prophecy of the Messiah and will be the last
To accept
the Messiah.
The Gospel
was first preached to the Jews and they will be the last to accept the Gospel.
The Jews were
the first to see Jesus in the flesh and the last to accept His spirit.
THE GLORY
OF THE GOSPEL FAR EXCEEDS THE LAW
V:7 Now if
the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came
with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses
because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the
Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious,
how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
A. The 10 commandments written by God in
stone were judgment to
The people of Israel. They could not and would not adhere to
Them. Therefore, the law brought death.
Exodus 34:29-31
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the
Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he
had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his
face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.
Exodus 34:34-35
And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,
35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over
his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
1. Because the people of Israel could
not stand to look at the glory of
God was shown on Moses’
face, they were blinded to the spirit of the
Law.
2. The law condemns, but the spirit of
the Law saves.
3. The law is the righteousness of God
and His love for creation.
4. The Jews were the first to get the
Law and the first to reject the Law.
B. The Spirit is the fulfillment of the
Law through Jesus Christ.
1. I believe that if we cannot see the
glory of the Lord
Shown constantly over the
face of the earth, we will never know
Love of God.
2. Everything we see, as far as we can
see is the glory of God.
3. The grass, the trees, the birds, the
clouds, the sun, the moon and
The stars are all His creation
by His unlimited power.
4. If we cannot glory in the Lord for what
we see, how can we
Glory in the heavens we
cannot see.
C. The Israelites knowing that Moses had
been with God and
Spoke the Word of God could not stand to see the glory in
His face.
1. Because of their actions, the
Israelites were blinded to the
Spirit of God.
2. When we blind ourselves to the Word
of God, we blind ourselves
To the blessings of God.
3. Instead of glorifying God’s blessings,
we complain about His judgment.
4. We need the law which is the glory of
the Lord to tutor us to
To understand the spirit which provides salvation from the
judgment of the law.
5. The Law was a foreshadow of the grace
of GOD.
THE
UNENDING GLORY OF GRACE
V:10 For
what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11
And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of
that which lasts!
A. The law was given as a tutor until
grace came.
Galatians 3:24-25
24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be
justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the
supervision of the law.
1. The Law is necessary for our
education in God’s righteousness.
2. The law in all its glory with all its
rules and procedures cannot save.
Hebrews 10:3-4
But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of
sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away
sins.
B. We should glory in the Lord Jesus, who
shed blood on the cross
Is the payment for the sins of the entire world, past, present, and,
future.
1. The glory of the Law was given for a
time and a season.
2. Grace is the fulfillment of the Law
for all times.
3. We are no longer under the Law but under
Grace.
4. The glory of the Lord should shine on
the face of all believers.
5. It is the grace of God through the sacrifice
of His Son that is
Foundation of our hope in eternal
life.
BLINDED
BY THE LAW, ENLIGHTED BY GRACE
V:12
Therefore, since we have such hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses,
who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it
while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to
this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been
removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
A. Our faith in the death and
resurrection of Jesus gives us access to the full
Knowledge of the promises of God.
1. Our hope is born of God’s promises.
2. Our confidence in the Glory of God is
built each day in His works.
3. Since we know the creator and His
works, we are confident in His
Power and authority over
our lives.
B. Those who live by the Law have the
veil of ignorance covering their minds.
1.
Not
being able to see past the Law, they cannot see the grace of our
Lord Jesus.
2.
Though
the Temple in Jerusalem and the veil in the temple no longer
Exist, the Israelites are
governed by the darkness of their own
Self-righteousness
3.
The
Israelites believe in the Law but not the atoning sacrifices of the law
Which gave them temporary
payment for previous sins but not salvation.
4.
The
veil in their minds still exists and cannot be removed until Jesus
Becomes their salvation.
FREEDOM COMES
THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS
V:15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a
veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is
taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is,
there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's
glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory,
which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
A. The
reading of the Law keeps the Israelites tied to all the judgment of the law.
1. Since the law cannot save they condemn
themselves.
2. All the requirements of the law have
been fulfilled but Israelites
Are ignorant of the salvation in Jesus
Christ.
4. Because they cannot see Jesus, they
cannot participate in
His Glory.
5. The Israelites are a God-chosen nation
and will not be left without
Salvation
6. As a nation, the Israelites will be
the last to receive salvation.
Romans 11:25-27
Israel has experienced a hardening in part
until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be
saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will
come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness
away from Jacob.
27 And this is my
covenant with them
when I take away their
sins."
7. This will not take place until after
the second coming of Christ
During His 1000-year
reign on earth. Revelations 20:3-6
C. We who believe in the death and
resurrection of Christ are
Unveiled and live in the glory of Christ.
1. The old man in us has died and a new
man in Christ has been
Borne.
2. Our hope in His second coming is renewed
each day by the
Renewing of our minds.
3. The first will be last and the last
will be first. Revelations 20:3-6
THANK GOD
FOR MAKING US THE FIRST
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