Bible Studies

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Paul Declares the Glory & Majesty of the New Covenant made by Christ Death & Resurrection Part 2

2 Corinthians 3:10-11 For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it. For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory. NKJV

Paul continues on by saying this very profound but truly obvious reality in that although the Old Covenant was made glorious or doxazo meaning it was extolled, magnified and celebrated with honor, decorated or adorned with luster or a quality that shines brightly, clothe with splendor, rendered excellent and renowned, yet it was extinguished as one would put out the light burning from a candle by the glory that excels or huperballo meaning to throw beyond the usual mark or to surpass it fully and completely. Paul is clearly here declaring that the perfect Law of God written on stones or tablets was like a candle burning in the night to illuminate the darkness compared to God being in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19) the Creator of all things and the Giver of all life shining like the sun and rising like the sun in the morning instantly and completely dispelling all darkness as it is written, “But for you who fear My name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall” (Malachi 4:2). The glory that was made visible “in the face of Moses” which faded or weakened as Moses was removed from the close presence of God on Mount Sinai is again not to be compared to Christ in the believer the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), though we believers can grieve the Holy Spirit and we often do, we cannot ever remove Him from His permanent dwelling place “in us” (John 14:16-17) at all, thanks be to the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for this truth.

2 Corinthians 3:12-14 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. NKJV

Paul now declares that because of the exceeding glory of this New Covenant or the gospel dispensation brought in by Christ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead, we who have heard and believed can now use plainness of speech or parrhesia meaning we can be blunt, bold, and frank with our testimony of the gospel of grace with complete assurance knowing and being confident that there is no other way for sinful man to be reconciled to God and receive forgiveness of his sins and live with a clean and clear conscience as he continues to live on this earth (Hebrews 10:1-9). Paul declared this same truth to the believers in Thessalonica when he said to them, “For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2).

Moses veiled his face every time he spoke to the children of Israel in order that they would not witness the glory fade or pass away from his face when he was not in the presence of God. Martin R. Vincent described Paul’s analogy here in this manner, “Paul’s comparison is between the ministry of Moses, interrupted by intervals of concealment, and the gospel ministry, which is marked by frank and full proclamation. The opposition is twofold: 1. Between the veiled and the unveiled ministry, as regards the mere fact of concealment in the one case, and openness in the other. 2. Between the ministry which was suspended by the veiling that its end might not be seen, and that which proceeds ‘from glory to glory,’ having no termination” (Alford). The face of Moses needed a continually renewed illumination: in the face of Christ the glory abides forever.” The Jews have passed down from generation to generation the Old Mosaic system to this very day and this is what keeps a veil or covering over their spiritual eyes and keeps them from seeing Jesus Christ as the God (YAHWEH) of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob whom they reverence and worship but not according to knowledge (Romans 10:1-13) because YAHWEH can only be worshiped truthfully through Christ who is YAHWEH. The Jews worship the right God, for the oracles of God were first made known to the Jews (Romans 3:1-2) but they do not worship Him the right and only way through Christ Jesus our Lord as Paul also declared in (Romans 3:3-4) their hearts are covered or blinded as Paul declares here and in (Romans 11:25).

“Paul does not deny that it had an honor and majesty such, in some respects, as the Jews claimed for it. It was glorious in the manner in which it was given; it was glorious in the purity of the Law itself; and it was glorious, or splendid in the magnificent and imposing ritual in which the worship of God was celebrated. But all this was surpassed in the brighter glory of the gospel.” Albert Barnes

“We speak not only with all confidence, but with all imaginable plainness; keeping back nothing; disguising nothing; concealing nothing: and here we differ greatly from the Jewish doctors, and from the Gentile philosophers, who affect obscurity, and endeavor, by figures, metaphors, and allegories, to hide everything from the vulgar. But we wish that all may hear; and we speak so that all may understand.” Adam Clarke

“For indeed was the Old Testament glorious because it came from God to sinful man by way of His Righteous and Holy Law, but the New Covenant is exceedingly more glorious because God did not send any written law again but instead He came Himself “in the person of Jesus Christ the Word became a Man” and therefore, we now don’t need to look to a written code but look to Christ as He has abolished sin through the death of His flesh (Colossians 2:9-15).” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

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