Hello everyone, Pastor Steve here. Hope you're doing well this week. A lot of students are having winter break right now, so I hope they're having a great time and looking forward to getting back to the classroom next week. It's great to see everyone. Welcome to your scatter group and welcome to all those who are watching or viewing from home themselves or with their family. We're going to go to the Lord in prayer, then have our Bible study in 2 Corinthians chapter 3. 2 Corinthians chapter 3. We do have our men's Bible study resuming this Saturday. And then another message about the Day of the Lord on Sunday. And then in two weeks we have our missions conference. And so we're looking forward to that and hope that you'll pray and plan to participate in attending and also in making promises for the Lord to missions and so that's coming up. In addition there's a lot of things that we need help with around the property and so if you want to help with blowing off the pavement this is something that I like to do but it really affects my allergies and throats and I get into coughing for a couple days afterwards. I tried it last week. I blew off all the salt. But if you want to help with that project in particular, then we'll give you the key, the backpack blower, and you can just blow off all the pavement. That would really be a big help. We need someone to do that each week, especially once we start mowing the lawn. And so if you're interested, please reach out and I'll connect you to the resources we have to get that done. All right, let's go ahead and pray, and we'll go to 2 Corinthians. Lord, we thank you for this day. It's time to gather. We thank you for students who've been able to take a week off of school. We pray they'd have safe trips or a good time with their families at home this week. We do pray for all of our college students and all those who are working their jobs and going to the office or getting on the floor and doing things and some working outdoors. We thank you for those who also may be hurting right now, that you would encourage them Maybe some are battling sickness. We pray you revive and restore them as well Lord Thank you for this time to open the scriptures and we pray you teach us more about you and your word We pray in Christ's name. Amen Alright, so 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 years ago up in Mount Sinai the Lord gave to Moses the Ten Commandments, He gave him the Law. And some people believe when it comes to the Law, we know that the Bible describes God's finger, He wrote in the passage we're about to read, He etched into stone these words, And think about the language that he used. Now, we know the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, so this would be Hebrew. But where did language come from? Many people believe the Phoenicians. The Phoenicians are Semitic, they're related to the Jewish people. They believe the Phoenicians are the ones who derived the first letter or alphabetic type language. Hebrew is very similar. But it's believed also, it's possible that early Hebrew was actually developed before the Phoenician language. So think about when God wrote the Ten Commandments, Moses was able to read it. It's possible God gave us language with the Ten Commandments, but it's believed that those Hebrews who lived in Egypt, in Avaris, in the Bible it's is called Goshen, but they were able to read. So before Hebrew or Phoenician, and I really tend to believe it's the early form of Hebrew, not the modern form of Hebrew, but a very early, early form of Hebrew, that those living in Egypt, they had that developed. Now the film series, Patterns of Evidence. I encourage everyone if you get a chance to view the film series, Patterns of Evidence, I have put a link to one of the short segments about early Hebrew in the description of this posting here for this message. And they have compelling evidence that many history books are not correct about language, especially when it comes to the Phoenician being the first or early Hebrew being the first language. The first five books of the Bible are written by Moses in Hebrew. The explorer Timothy Mahoney, here's a picture of him looking at the earliest form of letter writing or alphabetic type writing in the world. This was found in Mount Sinai region. The invention, here's what he said, the invention of the alphabet was sheer genius. It took writing which previously had been extremely complex and reduced it to a very small set of letters that each stood for something. Now before that would have been cuneiform and a type of writing on wall with images. So a very small set of letters that each stood for different sounds in language. Different arrangements of these letters could represent every word in a language. The simplicity and flexibility made the alphabet a powerful tool that was easy for common people to learn. So there's a strong pattern of evidence that's pointing to the reality that the world's oldest alphabet was a form of Hebrew invented by the people of Israel while they were in Egypt. So this is Tim Mahoney and David Rohl who are explaining in this video that would be called the proto-Sinaitic text, basically. So proto-Sinaitic, so early form Hebrew. So that's very compelling. I really tend to lean towards that. It's something I'm continuing to study. So the Lord gives Moses the law, and the law speaks of death and condemns mankind because of their sin. Now, last time in our study, in the book of 2 Corinthians chapter 3, we read, and left off in verse 6, that God, who hath also 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. That word grammah is the letter. talking about writing. But then, let's read our text for today, verses 7-18. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven with stones, so he's talking about when God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses, was glorious, if that was glorious, So that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance. Remember his face shone so brightly as he come down off the mountain. His face was really glowing because of his being with the Lord. for the glory of his countenance, which glory was to be done away." The phrase, done away, or to be done away, those are all connected to one word, a word done, which means come to an end, or fade away. So the glory that God revealed to Moses, that was shining on his face, was slowly fading in the next several days and weeks. How shall not this ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? The word ministration is used two more times here, and it's the word diakonai, and eventually you get the word deacon from that as well. It means serving and service. So shall not the ministry or service or ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? So what the Spirit of God does is even greater, more glorious than the experience that Moses had in receiving the Ten Commandments of receiving the law. For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth." Excelleth here is the word huper, balo, and I like that word. Balo kind of sounds like a ball to me. It means to throw or to exceed or to excel, to go beyond. And so the glory that excelleth, it goes beyond. For if that which is done away, there's that word done away again, coming to an end, fading away, was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious, something that remains constant and remains with someone. seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech. Not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished." Basically his glory, that shining light, that reflection, was fading away. But their minds were blinded. for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament, which veil is done away in Christ." The veil is removed in Christ. But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their hearts. So the Hebrew people, when they read Moses, they still have a covering over their eyes. But it's different because as a Christian, it's different for us because in Christ the veil is lifted away. We can see then and understand in a new and different capacity. Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. So when a person's heart is turned to the Lord, it shall be taken away. 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, that's the word metamorphosis, transformation, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. Friends, we can reflect the glory of God. The Lord gave Moses the law, and the law spoke of death and condemnation for mankind. The Ten Commandments spoke of death and offered no hope. That's why James could explain, For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." when coming off the mountain, Moses wore this veil, but the glow started to fade away. Moses reflected God's light, kind of like the moon reflects the light of the sun. Moses reflected God's glory. But he wore the veil so people would not notice how it faded away. and he would open up the veil when he would speak God's Word, when he would deliver the Ten Commandments, and he spoke out, of course, the Pentateuch, and he would give them the law and descriptions, but then he put the veil back on. This is one of the original cover-ups in Scripture for real. One person wrote, In the New Testament we read of another man whose face similarly shown. That was Stephen, the first Christian martyr. He was arrested and arraigned by the Sanhedrin, which hired false accusers to witness against him, and accused him of blaspheming Moses and of preaching that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place. and shall change the custom which Moses delivered us." The members of the council suddenly noticed something about Stephen, and it arrested all of them. They were looking steadfastly on him, and Luke tells us in Acts 16 that his face shone as it had been the face of an angel. Matthew tells us what an angel's face looks like. The angel who rolled back the stone from Christ's tomb had a countenance that was like lightning. Unlike Moses, whose brightness faded, Stephen went out in a blaze of glory. And so we know that angels' faces are lit up, reflecting God's glory. Stephen's face, when he was looking up to heaven, reflected God's glory. Moses, coming down from the mountain, he reflected God's glory, but in his case, he wasn't going towards the Lord, like Stephen was, going to heaven. He was walking down off the mountain, and eventually his glow, this shine, this reflection faded away. After Stephen, the Lord appeared to Saul and Jesus was so bright that Saul, who eventually becomes the Apostle Paul, he was actually blinded by the brightness of Christ. Christians, we can reflect the glory of God. We can reflect the glory of God. There's something greater than what Moses received. and it has something to do with the Spirits and the Word of God. We're talking about a change from the Old Covenant or Old Testament that this chapter is speaking of and the New Testament which we're living in and living by and with today. The Spirit within a Christian, the Spirit of God within you, does not fade away. You have all of Him in your heart and life. Now you may not always be responding to Him like you should or like I should, but He is all in us and we can follow Him and reflect the light of God in us. in even more amazing ways. So here's that word, metamorphosis, metamorpho, and it means to change into another form, to transfigure, or to transform. And Romans chapter 12 gives some insight to this, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world, But be you transformed, that's the same word, metamorphosis, metamorpho, be transformed or changed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Can I suggest to you from glory, the glory of the Old Testament law to the glory of the New Testament spirit, the Lord transforms us. He changes us. And seeing God's glory, that changes us. If you and I would see God more glorious and lived it up high in our lives, that definitely would change us. So what is more glorious, and what is it about God's glory that changes us? three areas in this chapter. First is the ministry of the Spirit, then the righteousness of Christ, then the reading of scripture. Number one, the ministry of the Spirit. That's in verses seven through eight. Notice if you would here, as the scripture tells us, that the ministration of death was written and engraved with stones was glorious so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance which glory was to be done away that was going to come to an end how much How shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? How much more glorious is the Spirit of God in our lives? The ministry of the Spirit. The Spirit of God is serving you as a Christian. He's serving God as God Himself, and He's serving you. God is serving you by dwelling in your life. The Spirit remains with the Christian. And so Moses comes down from the mount. He left where God was. But the Spirit of God always remains in you. This is an amazing thing. That's why it's more glorious. The New Testament is more glorious. How the Spirit of God works is more glorious than how the Law would work. The Spirit directs the Christian. In John chapter 14, verses 16 through 18, Jesus said, I will pray the Father, he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you forever. Even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him, but ye know him, for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you. And so we have the Spirit of God in John 16. How be it when he the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth. For he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come. God will show us the future through the scripture. He shows us and gives us understanding of the Bible. We have Bible comprehension because of the Spirit of God. He directs us. This is so much better than the law. The law was a temporary thing. The law condemned us to death, and the law pointed us to the need of Jesus Christ. But that glory faded away, and here comes the blazing glory of Christ and His Spirit, who constantly and consistently remains in us, guiding us, comforting us, and giving us direction. That's the ministry of the Spirit. Number two, the righteousness of Christ. Verses 9 through 11 for if the ministration of condemnation be glory Alright, so we're condemned to death the law tells us that but what a glorious thing in that moment The law was just amazing and it was shining brightly, but then it fades away much more does the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory and for even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth." The glory of the Old Testament is nothing compared to the glory of the Spirit who constantly dwells with us and the righteousness that we obtain through and in Christ. It's so much greater. Remember, if we offend in one point, we're guilty of all. Alright, we're all going to fall short, then, of the glory of God. But we can have the righteousness of Christ. And this is how it excelleth. It's how it exceeded the glory of the Old Testament. The righteousness of Christ. The Law condemns us, but the righteousness of Christ restores us. The Law fades away, but we grow in sanctification. We call this progressive sanctification. We grow in sanctification and righteousness. It's the righteousness of Christ that excelleth. Huperbalo, to overthrow or go beyond, to run beyond, to surpass. Romans 10, verses 3-5 tell us. For they, being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them." So Jesus supersedes and the righteousness of Christ goes far beyond the righteousness that one could find in attempting to obey the Ten Commandments. Philippians 3, 9 says, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God, by faith." And so, friend, put on the righteousness of Christ. If you've never believed the gospel, trust Him today. Romans 5, verse 1 says, "...be justified by faith." Justified means declared righteous and you put on the righteousness of Christ, so therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. So trust Christ today, put on the righteousness of Jesus. It far exceeds any of your own self-righteousness or righteousness you could try to obtain by obeying the Ten Commandments. The ministry of the Spirit, the righteousness of Christ, and the reading of Scripture. In verses 12 through 18, we have these words in verse 14, their minds were blinded. Moses put a veil on his face in verse 13, but there is some great hope according to verse 12. And even though this veil is put on whenever people are reading the Old Testament without eyes of faith, without having faith in Christ, when someone puts on Christ, when they trust the Lord, the Spirit of God, and dwells within them, and they have the righteousness of Christ, therefore, they can understand the Bible more plainly, more easily, more readily. You can understand the Scripture more than someone who does not live and know Jesus by faith. And so the reading of Scripture liberty is described through where the Spirit is where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Years ago I pastored a church in West Virginia. It was called the Liberty Baptist Church and sometimes we would use this verse on letterhead and things like that. It's a really great idea and this is an awesome thing. There's freedom or liberty that we have in Christ. And it comes upon us when we trust Christ for our salvation. Paul did not mean that believers were free from all obligation to obey God, but rather they are free from sin. Sin does not have to control them or dictate to them. They are not slaves to sin. They are slaves or servants to righteousness. And that's what he's speaking of. Now he wasn't thinking about the slavery of the Roman era, but rather when the children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt, and then God delivered them, and then God gave them the Ten Commandments. And so that's the analogy, and that's how he's pictured us here in this passage. You see, the Bible gives us hope, verse 12. The Bible can be understood. The veil is gone for the Christian. Our blinders are removed because of our faith in Christ. And our hearts have been turned to the Lord. And the Bible, in verse 17, frees us from sinful living. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way, by taking heed thereto according to thy word." James 1, verses 22-25, 22 Be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is likened to a man beholding his natural face in a glass. 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth. what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he shall not be a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. And in Romans 8, 2, For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. Friends, the spirit of God is always a spirit of liberty. The spirit is not that of a spirit of bondage, the spirit of oppression or depression. The spirit of God convicts vividly, intensely, but He's always the spirit of liberty. God who made the birds never made bird cages. You see, he wants us to live freely. I love that quote. God who made the birds never made bird cages. It is men who make bird cages. And after a while, we become cramped in and can do nothing but chirp and stand on one leg. When we get out into God's great free will of life, we discover that it is the way God meant us to live, the glorious liberty as the children of God. So what is it about glory, this glory that changes us? It's the ministry of the Spirit, the righteousness of Christ, and the reading of Scripture. Just like the sun is reflected in the moon, the moon is reflecting the sun, we can reflect the glory of God in our life as we're changing. And that glory, if we see God high and lifted up, then that will change us. It will change us in our daily living. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, from glory to glory, today and tomorrow and forevermore then, we are being changed. So let God change you today. Don't let stubbornness and pride and our sinful flesh get in the way. It does, it gets in the way sometimes, but keep looking into the mirror of God's Word, because seeing God's glory changes us. I like that old song, He's Still Working on Me. to make me what I ought to be. It took him just a week to make the moon and stars, the sun, the earth, and Jupiter and Mars, how loving and patient he must be, cause he's still working on me. In the mirror of his word, reflections that I see, makes me wonder why he never gave up on me. But he loves me as I am, and helps me when I pray. Remember, he's the potter, I'm the clay. Thanks for listening and watching today. Please participate with your group in these questions and then pray. God bless.