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!

Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 2 Corinthians 3:1-3

When we compare the New Covenant in Christ with the Old Covenant with Moses, there is a big difference. You might ask what are the differences? Well here the Apostle Paul, who was a Pharisee, is going to walk us through the differences with the Covenants, which were prophesied by the prophets of the Old Testament

As the prophet Jeremiah said “ I (God) will put the law on their minds and write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33) As the prophet Ezekiel said “ I (God) will give you a new heart and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26) This is why Jesus said “You must be Born Again to see the Kingdom of God” (John 3:3) In the New Covenant the Law of Christ is written on our hearts and the Holy Spirit lives inside of us!

As the Apostle Paul says “The letter of Christ, not written with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God” This is why you need to be Born Again, regenerated, because then you have the Law written in your heart, without the Holy Spirit, your just another Israelite wandering in the wilderness full of disobedience and left to your demise.

Not in tablets of stone but on tablets of the human heart! So what are the tablets of stone being referenced here? Of course it’s the Ten Commandments, the Law of God, in the New Covenant the Law is written on our hearts by the Holy Spirit. As the Apostle John said “The Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ! (John 1:17) 

There are many today who are trying to Keep themselves under The Law, trying to earn their own salvation,  As the Apostle Paul said “For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the Law of Sin and Death” (Romans 8:2) The Law brings forth death, this is why there is only salvation through Jesus Christ alone. 

If you are Born Again, The Law of God is written on your heart, the Holy Spirit is living inside of you! We have been given a new heart , a new mind, and we are a new creature though Jesus Christ, Amen!

For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. 2 Corinthians 2:17

Today we are looking at one scripture, but this statement by Paul is so important we can’t just skip over it. Paul starts by saying “For We Are Not As Many” , now it’s very obvious even since the beginning of Christianity , there were already many wolves and false prophets selling a false gospel to make money, as Paul says there are many

This is a huge issue in Christianity today, as I believe the overwhelming majority of Christianity is filled with false teachers and unfortunately false converts. Christianity has become a Billion dollar business, all you have to do is turn on your TV to TBN and see these mega Pastors begging for money, while living in mansions and flying private jets. It’s absolutely disgusting that these wolves would trample on the blood of Christ to make money, and in the process deceive many on the broad road to Hell

Jesus warned this would happen, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in Sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15) Many of these wolves appear to be “real Christians” they say all the right things, they even use the name of Jesus, what did Jesus say “Many will say to Me, Lord Lord, Have we not prophesied in your Name, cast out demons in your Name, done many wonders in your name” (Matthew 7: 22)  But notice Jesus response to them “Depart from me, I never knew you” (Matthew 7:23)

Notice Paul says “They corrupt the Word of God” , these false prophets and false teachers will use the name of Jesus and twist scripture to fulfill their agenda, make money and a name for themselves. John the Baptist said “He (Christ) must increase, I (John) must decrease” ( John 3:30) John didn’t start a new ministry, name it after himself, build a huge building, living a luxurious life. No, John’s ministry was all about Jesus, he even died for Christ without anything left in his name

Paul goes on to say “But as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak before God in Christ” The word sincerity can also mean clearness and purity, with a clean conscience we preach the gospel of Christ. Now you might ask, how do we know who is fake and real? Go back to Jesus teaching in Matthew 7 “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16) The Apostle Paul gave his life (literally ) for Christ, beheaded at Rome, it puzzles me how anyone can call Paul a false teacher

Look at the false teachers of today, what fruit are they producing? Are they willing to give their life for Christ to promote the gospel and Kingdom? Most of them are in air conditioned buildings, having a steak dinner, in a 3 piece suit, you can clearly know them by their fruit

We don’t peddle the Word of God for profit or money, we share the gospel because it’s our higher calling by our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!

Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord, I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia. Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?  2 Corinthians 2:12-16

It’s interesting when we see the shadows from the Old Testament show up here in the New Testament. Whenever the Israelites offered God sacrifices or offerings , the aroma was pleasing to God, (Numbers 15:3) why? It’s because God is pleased with our heart towards him, to worship God in Spirit and Truth!

The Apostle Paul says here “For we are unto God a Sweet savour or aroma of Christ” Think about that, everything you do, ever act of worship or service to The Lord , is pleasing to God. As the Apostle Paul said “Present your bodies as a Living Sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) Live your life for Christ, in everything you do, be sanctified and led by the Holy Spirit, as His temple!

Not only are we a pleasing aroma to God but also to the Church, when you are around Born Again believers, doesn’t it just please your soul and re energize you? This is part of the Church , to fellowship with one another , to share our spiritual gifts with one another, to comfort one another. However the false convert gives off a worldy stench, as Jesus said they make him want to vomit them out of his mouth” (Revelation 3:16)

While we the Church are a pleasing aroma to God and others, we are the aroma of death to the world. Why? Because the real gospel exposes sin and its penalty, the real Jesus requires repentance and baptism of the Holy Spirit, the real Church is Born Again and follow the Word of God has their authority!

The world hates the real Jesus Christ of the Bible, the world hates the real gospel that is not watered down and sugar coated, the world hates the remnant of the real body of Christ! The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing! (1 Corinthians 1:18)

Continue to love and serve The Lord with all your heart, mind, and soul, you are a pleasing aroma to God, for the world you are the aroma of death, as Jesus said “they will hate you, because they have hated me first!” (John 15:18) Amen!