Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 2 Corinthians 4:1-3

Now that we are Born Again in Jesus Christ, what do we do next? Do we just sit around and wait to be raptured? No , Jesus said “Go and preach the gospel to all the nations” (Matthew 28:19) Since you were called by Christ, you have a calling by Christ, Go and be the Church, Go and be the hands and feet of Christ, be the Light and Salt into this dark world (Matthew 5) You are filled with the Holy Spirit, the same power that rose Jesus Christ from the dead is living inside of You! (Romans 8:11)

Is this going to be easy? No way, remember what Jesus also said “They will hate you because they hated me first” (John 15:18) Remember you are in a spiritual war against the dark forces of evil, the darkness hates the light, Satan hates you and wants to destroy you. You have become an enemy to the world as a true disciple of Christ. That’s why you can’t conform to this world (Romans 12:2) because you are an enemy to this world

Lets see what the Apostle Paul says here “Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not or don’t lose heart” Notice Paul is warning the Christians, don’t give up in your ministry, because it’s not going to be easy. The world hates you because the world is under control by Satan (1 John 5:19) If you preach a true gospel, expect heavy opposition from the dark forces of this world. But don’t lose heart, Christ has already overcome the world (John 16:33) You are filled and sealed by the Holy Spirit, demons tremble at the name of Jesus Christ! (James 2:19)

And as a Born Again Christian, we must walk worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1) As Paul says here “We renounced the hidden things of dishonesty or shameful ways” We no longer live in the sin before we came to Christ, we are Born Again, we are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) And importantly “ we don’t handle the Word of God deceitfully” If your truly Born Again, then you believe the Bible is the Word of God. We listen and obey the Bible, we don’t twist and distort to fit our agenda or lifestyle!

“But the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God” Notice the keywords here “In the sight of God” Christ is watching your ministry! If your being deceitful , you might be able to fool people, but you can’t fool God, you will be under heavy judgment. Walk worthy of your calling, be led by the Holy Spirit, read and follow the Word of God

Finally Paul says “But if our gospel be hid or veiled, its hid to those who are perishing” The reality is most people are not going to accept the true gospel of Jesus Christ, but you must continue to be obedient and preach it, because there will be a remnant that will receive it. Don’t lose heart, many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14) Get Busy for our Lord and God Jesus Christ, Amen!

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

It’s beautiful here how the Apostle Paul demonstrates to us the Triunity of God, as the Holy Spirit is also referenced as the Spirit of The Lord Jesus, the unveiling on the entire Old Testament is fulfilled by Christ. You can’t understand or comprehend the Old Testament without understanding Jesus Christ. This is why Orthodox Jews are still waiting for their Messiah to come, while the prophet Isaiah clearly revealed in detail the life of Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53) How can they not see or understand this? Because they don’t have the Holy Spirit, their hearts and minds are veiled from the scriptures

There is liberty or freedom in Jesus Christ, as The Lord said himself “If the son has set you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36) So what did Jesus set us free from? Jesus set us free from the bondages of our sin, Christ can set you free from the slavery of alcohol, or the slavery of pornography, Jesus can set you free from false religion, but most importantly Jesus Christ has set you free from the penalty of our sin. Without Christ there is no freedom or liberty, any self help will still lead to an eternity in Hell. 

Notice what Paul says here “But We All” , who? Born Again Christians in Christ, with the Holy Spirit , we ALL have been unveiled to our Heavenly Father. No longer do we have to hide our faces in fear or shame, no longer is the veil separating us from the presence of God, as God now lives inside of us, we have now been reconciled back to God through Christ. As Jesus said “Nobody can come to the Father, except through Me” (John 14:6)

As Paul says here “Are changed into the same image from glory to glory” This is a transformation not just a confession of faith. This is not talking about saying a “Sinners Prayer” or baptizing a baby, this about becoming Born Again by the Holy Spirit through Christ. Your old self, the veiled is dead, and your new self is raised with Christ and is now unveiled. You are a new creature in Christ, from glory to glory!

The Apostle Paul says we are to be “conformed or like the image or likeness of Christ” (Romans 8:29) What is your calling in life? To be more like Jesus Christ! How do we accomplish this? By the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech: And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished: But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:12-14

How do we come to Christ? How do we understand the Word of God? It’s by the Holy Spirit living inside of us, giving us a new heart and a new mind, conforming us into the image of Christ. As the Apostle Paul said “The natural man doesn’t understand the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14)  You can’t understand God unless God reveals it to You

The Apostle Paul here goes back to when Moses put a veil over his face so the Israleites couldn’t see his face. Why? Because when Moses stood in the presence of God, his face shined from the glory of God, and this frightened the Israelites. Paul says “For until this day remain the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament” 

Without the Holy Spirit there is a veil on the scriptures, you can’t understand the scriptures unless you have the Holy Spirit. Even today there is a veil on the prophecies of Christ, you can’t understand the fulfillment of these prophecies unless you have Christ. This is why many still blindly reject Christ , they misinterpret the Word of God, because the veil is still over the scriptures

But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart. Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 1 Corintians 3:15-16

Notice what Paul says here “Even today when Moses (Torah) is read, the veil is upon their hearts. People can read The BIble all their lives, but without the Holy Spirit they won’t understand the scriptures, so how can you understand the Bible? Paul says here “When You Turn to The Lord, The Veil shall be taken away” it’s only if you are Born Again in Christ, then you can understand the Word of God

I pray the veil is removed from the scriptures for you drawn by the Father, conformed in the image of the Son, and sanctified by the Holy Spirit, Amen

But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. 2 Corinthians 3:7-9

 As the Apostle Paul continues to show us the differences between the Old (Mosaic) and the New Covenants, he describes the Old Covenant as the “Ministry of Death”, while he describes the New Covenant as the “Ministry of The Spirit” This really emphasizes the big difference in the New Covenant in Christ, we are Born Again, regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Spirit

Why is the Mosaic Covenant a ministry of death? Because without the Holy Spirit, you can’t understand God , this is why the religious leaders couldn’t even identify the Messiah yet dedicating their lives to the scriptures. It’s impossible to know God without the Holy Spirit, it’s impossible to “Keep The Law” without the Holy Spirit, it’s impossbile to come to Christ without the Holy Spirit

Another reason why the Old Covenant is a ministry of death, is because you don’t have the atonement of Christ. There is no forgiveness of sins without the blood of Jesus Christ, there is no salvation without the blood of Jesus Christ, there is no ransom without the blood of Jesus Christ, The Law will reveal your sin, but can never save you from your sins, only the Lamb of God can save your soul!

For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 2 Corinthians 3:10-11

The Apostle Paul references Mose’s face when he went up to Mt Sinai , and just by him being in the presence of God his face shined, that he needed to cover himself with a veil to be in the presence of the Israelites. Think about this, in the New Covenant , the Holy Spirit is living inside of you, your body is the Temple of God, the New Covenant is a ministry of glory!

Notice Pauls language here, “For if that which is done away was glorious” The Old Covenant is “done away”, it was fulfilled by Christ at the cross, the Apostle confirms this. “Much more that which remains is glorious” The New Covenant of Christ is glorious because it brings life while The Law brings death!

The Ministry of the Holy Spirit is the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, we are Born Again and reconciled back to our Heavenly Father, Amen!

And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.  2 Corinthians 3:4-6

Again Paul is teaching us the differences between the Old (Mosaic) Covenant and the New Covenant in Christ. For those Christians who believe we are still in the Mosaic Covenant, the Apostle Paul as an ex Pharisee is showing you the differences. In Christ you are now a Minister of the New Covenant by the Holy Spirit, Amen!

In the Old (Mosaic) Covenant only those born in the line of Aaron, The Leviticul Priest line, could be priests. Everyone who was in the Mosaic Covenant couldnt be a priest, it’s important to understand this. In fact, if you tried entering The Temple, the Holy of Holies, and were not a priest, God will strike you down instantly! Why? Because sinful people could not stand in the presence of a Holy God. This is why the Temple had a courtyard, it separated those who were sanctified and those who were unclean in their sins

Fast forward to the New Covenant, it’s no coincidence when Jesus Christ said “It Is Finished” on the cross, the veil was torn, a great earthquake shook the land of Jerusalem, and eventually the Temple would be destroyed and never rebuilt again. The Old Covenant was fulfilled by Christ at the cross! Everything from the Mosaic Covenant was a shadow of Christ to come! The Sacrifices, The Priest line , The Temple, are all fulfilled by Christ, there were shadows pointing to The Lord, The Messiah, the Son of God

As a Born Again Christian, you have been raised to a new life, a new creature, you are filled and sealed with the Holy Spirit, therefore as Paul tells us “He (Christ) has made/enabled/qualified Us as Ministers of the New Covenant” Think about that!

Many Christians will just say they are nobody, they are just a member of a Church, NO! If you are Born Again in Christ, You are a Minister of Christ! What does a Minister do? They have a Ministry for Christ! We all have ministries, we are all preachers of the New Covenant, Go and preach the gospel to everyone, baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!