THE FIRST WILL BE LAST AND THE LAST WILL BE FIRST
2 Corinthians 3:7-18
The Jews were first to get the Word of God and will be the last to understand
The Word. The Jews were the first to see the power of God destroy their
Enemies (Egypt) and the last to recognize that power worked for them.
The Jews were the first to get the prophecy of the Messiah and will be the last
To accept the Messiah.
The Gospel was first preached to the Jews and they will be the last to accept the Gospel.
The Jews were the first to see Jesus in the flesh and the last to accept His spirit.
THE GLORY OF THE GOSPEL FAR EXCEEDS THE LAW
V:7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!
- The 10 commandments written by God in stone were judgment to
The people of Israel. They could not and would not adhere to
Them. Therefore, the law brought death.
Exodus 34:29-31
29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord. 30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.
Exodus 34:34-35
And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, 35 they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.
- Because the people of Israel could not stand to look at the glory of
God was shown on Moses’ face, they were blinded to the spirit of the
Law.
- The law condemns, but the spirit of the Law saves.
- The law is the righteousness of God and His love for creation.
- The Jews were the first to get the Law and the first to reject the Law.
- The Spirit is the fulfillment of the Law through Jesus Christ.
- I believe that if we cannot see the glory of the Lord
Shown constantly over the face of the earth, we will never know
Love of God.
- Everything we see, as far as we can see is the glory of God.
- The grass, the trees, the birds, the clouds, the sun, the moon and
The stars are all His creation by His unlimited power.
- If we cannot glory in the Lord for what we see, how can we
Glory in the heavens we cannot see.
- The Israelites knowing that Moses had been with God and
Spoke the Word of God could not stand to see the glory in
His face.
- Because of their actions, the Israelites were blinded to the
Spirit of God.
- When we blind ourselves to the Word of God, we blind ourselves
To the blessings of God.
- Instead of glorifying God’s blessings, we complain about His judgment.
- We need the law which is the glory of the Lord to tutor us to
To understand the spirit which provides salvation from the judgment of the law.
- The Law was a foreshadow of the grace of GOD.
THE UNENDING GLORY OF GRACE
V:10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
- The law was given as a tutor until grace came.
Galatians 3:24-25
24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.
- The Law is necessary for our education in God’s righteousness.
- The law in all its glory with all its rules and procedures cannot save.
Hebrews 10:3-4
But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
- We should glory in the Lord Jesus, who shed blood on the cross
Is the payment for the sins of the entire world, past, present, and, future.
- The glory of the Law was given for a time and a season.
- Grace is the fulfillment of the Law for all times.
- We are no longer under the Law but under Grace.
- The glory of the Lord should shine on the face of all believers.
- It is the grace of God through the sacrifice of His Son that is
Foundation of our hope in eternal life.
BLINDED BY THE LAW, ENLIGHTED BY GRACE
V:12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away.
- Our faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus gives us access to the full
Knowledge of the promises of God.
- Our hope is born of God’s promises.
- Our confidence in the Glory of God is built each day in His works.
- Since we know the creator and His works, we are confident in His
Power and authority over our lives.
- Those who live by the Law have the veil of ignorance covering their minds.
- Not being able to see past the Law, they cannot see the grace of our
Lord Jesus.
- Though the Temple in Jerusalem and the veil in the temple no longer
Exist, the Israelites are governed by the darkness of their own
Self-righteousness
- The Israelites believe in the Law but not the atoning sacrifices of the law
Which gave them temporary payment for previous sins but not salvation.
- The veil in their minds still exists and cannot be removed until Jesus
Becomes their salvation.
FREEDOM COMES THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS
V:15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord\’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
A. The reading of the Law keeps the Israelites tied to all the judgment of the law.
1. Since the law cannot save they condemn themselves.
2. All the requirements of the law have been fulfilled but Israelites
Are ignorant of the salvation in Jesus Christ.
- Because they cannot see Jesus, they cannot participate in
His Glory.
- The Israelites are a God-chosen nation and will not be left without
Salvation
- As a nation, the Israelites will be the last to receive salvation.
Romans 11:25-27
Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
\”The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins.\”
- This will not take place until after the second coming of Christ
During His 1000-year reign on earth. Revelations 20:3-6
- We who believe in the death and resurrection of Christ are
Unveiled and live in the glory of Christ.
- The old man in us has died and a new man in Christ has been
Borne.
- Our hope in His second coming is renewed each day by the
Renewing of our minds.
- The first will be last and the last will be first. Revelations 20:3-6
THANK GOD FOR MAKING US THE FIRST
