614. The Source of Spiritual Bondage and How to Be Free

The Bible speaks of a slavery that keeps people in spiritual bondage. When speaking to Jews in one of their synagogues, Jesus referred to a prophecy in Isaiah that indicates the reason He came was to set these captives free with good news — those who were spiritually poor, held captive, blind and oppressed. What was it that was keeping these Jewish people in bondage? It was the very ministry that came through Moses on Mt. Sinai, the ministry they thought would be righteousness for them. Unfortunately, much of the church has inserted fragments of that old, obsolete ministry into the Christian mindset, and it has brought unnecessary misery to many believers today. The good news is Jesus provided the way of escape.



   

613. Why There Is No Condemnation in Christ

Part 3 in our series on the third chapter of 2 Corinthians includes some fantastic cross references related to the former ministry of condemnation (the law and commandments). Whereas the law that came through Moses brought death, condemnation and bondage, we've been transferred into the ministry of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. The law keeps a veil over hearts, and it can only be taken away when one turns to Christ, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.



   

612. Brought to an End: The Law (The Ministry of Death and Condemnation)

Continuing this week in part two of our short series in the 3rd chapter of 2 Corinthians. The ministry of the Mosaic law (including the ten commandments written on stones), is defined by the Apostle Paul as the ministry of death and condemnation. It’s a ministry that once had glory, but now has come to have no glory at all. Why? It’s a glory that was fading from the beginning with Moses, and was replaced with something more permanent and more glorious… the ministry of the Spirit of the living God, now written upon our hearts within a New Covenant established by Jesus Christ. Although Christian “religion” has been built upon combining the Old with the New, the covenant of death and the covenant of life should never be mixed together.



   

611. The Letter Kills, The Spirit Gives Life

It’s an important chapter for Christians to familiarize themselves with: 2 Corinthians Chapter 3. There is a significant contrast that the Apostle Paul presents between the former ministry of the Mosaic law the Jews were under before the cross, and the ministry of the Spirit that we live under the New Covenant. Sadly, many Christians will never hear this exciting news taught in their church. This week, we look at Paul’s introduction from the first part of this chapter, as he explains how the former ministry written with ink and on stones did not bring life, but its ministry was to kill.