Scripture Reading : 2 Corinthians 3
Theme : Superiority of the New Covenant
False teachers have infiltrated the Corinthian church, teaching that rituals and ceremonies of the old covenant were prerequisites for salvation. To boost their own credibility with the Corinthians, they not only attacked Paul’s integrity, but also his competency as a minister.
- The Competent Minister (3:1-6). Unlike the false apostles who had to rely on deceptive letters of commendation to gain acceptance by the Corinthians, Paul does not need these to prove his credibility because the Corinthians already had firsthand knowledge of his virtuous, godly, sincere life and powerful preaching (cf. Acts 18:11). His authenticity as a true servant of Jesus Christ was evident in the transformed life of the Corinthians through his ministry. The confidence that God had called him to ministry and his humble dependence on God’s power also distinguished him from the false apostles who were self-confident and arrogant, fully trusting in their own cleverness.
- The Glory of the New Covenant (3:6-18). The false teachers affirmed that salvation was through faith in Christ plus keeping the Mosaic Law. True ministers, however, are servants of a new covenant, which is far more superior than the old covenant because it gives life (v.6), produces righteousness (v.7-9), is permanent (v.10-11), brings hope (v.12), make truth clear (v.13-14a), is Christ-centered (v.14b-16), is energized by the Spirit (v.17), and is transforming (v.18). Though the Law had the glory of God by revealing His holiness and justice, the new covenant reveals God’s glory in a fuller manner because it not only reveals His holy nature, but also manifests His compassion, mercy, grace and forgiveness (cf. Ex. 34:6-7).
Praying the Scripture
- God does not look for the mighty and the noble according to human standards when He chooses men for the ministry (cf. 1 Cor. 1:26). As advised by the godly Scottish pastor, Robert Murray McCheyne, to a young minister, “It is not great talents God bless so much as great likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God.” Let’s pray that we will not rely on our natural abilities to carry out any ministry in church, but to rely on the Spirit’s power to make us effective.
- The Christian life is a continual process of growing into the image of the Lord Jesus Christ, ascending from one level of glory to another. That is also our goal in this life – to be like the Lord. The process of being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ will culminate in believers’ glorification, which is only possible through the new covenant. Let’s pray that we will not depend on rituals and ceremonies to be sanctified, but look to Scriptures for the glory of God reflected in the face of Jesus and be transformed into His image through the powerful internal work of the Spirit (cf. Eph. 3:16).
经文：哥林多后书3
主题：新约的优势
假教师已潜入哥林多教会，并教导他们守旧约的礼仪和仪式是得救的必要条件。为要在哥林多人面前显出自己是可信的，他们不但冤枉保罗不诚实，还质疑他作执事的资格。
- 有资格的执事（3:1-6）。为得到哥林多教会的接纳，假使徒必须依赖虚拟的推荐书，但保罗不需多此一举，因为哥林多人与他敬虔、有品德、真诚的生活和强而有力的教导有亲身经历（参：徒18:11）。藉着他的事工，哥林多人的生命有了转变，而那就是他身为耶稣基督真实仆人的最佳凭据。保罗有神呼召他作执事的信心，并常常谦卑依靠神的大能；假使徒却是自以为是，骄傲自大，完全依靠自己的智慧行事。
- 新约的荣耀（3:6-18）。假教师一再强调救恩是同时靠基督里的信心及守摩西律法。属实的执事则是新约的仆人；新约远超越旧约，因为它给予生命（6节），叫人称义（7-9节），是永恒的（10-11节），带来盼望（12节），阐明真理（13-14节），是围绕基督的（14-16节），是由圣灵发动的（17节），并能使人转变（18节）。虽然律法因显示神的圣洁与公义而有荣耀，新约更能展示神的荣耀，因为它不仅启示了神的圣洁，还彰显神的慈悲、怜悯、恩惠与饶恕的性情（参：出24:6-7）。
用经文祷告
- 当神拣选人作祂的执事时，祂并不根据人的标准选择有能力及有尊贵的（参：林前1:26）。如一位敬虔的苏格兰牧师麦进益（Robert Murray McCheyne）劝诫一位年轻执事时说：“神所祝福的不是大才能，而是有耶稣的大样式。一个圣洁的执事在神的手里是个极大的器皿。”让我们祷告我们不会依靠自己的天赋执行教会里的事工，而是依靠圣灵的力量使我们有效行事。
- 基督徒生命是个延续的成长过程，叫我们更能有主耶稣基督的样式，使我们荣上加荣。这也就是我们这一生中的目标：要像主。转变成耶稣基督样式的过程，高潮就在信徒的荣耀日里， 而这也只能是藉着新约才能有的。让我们祷告我们不会依靠仪式或礼仪成圣，而是钻进经文寻找神反映在耶稣颜面上的荣耀，并藉着圣灵在内心的有力工作，转变成耶稣的样式（参：弗3:16）。
