The old covenant, however, did serve a purpose, a very good purpose. It had to pass away and be replaced by the new. The old covenant, in and of itself, was not complete. It isn't that they are opposed to each other. It isn't that the old covenant and new covenant are opposites. Or better stated, that people will understand the transition from the old covenant to the new.
So in dealing with this in Corinth, Paul writes in this section a concern that people understand the difference between the new covenant and the old.
It never were intended to minister spiritual life, but only to be pictures of that which could and would do that. It never were intended to minister grace. It not only rejects the reality of the gospel but perverts the purpose and meaning of the symbol. Going back and exalting the symbols is pointless. They were demanding a return to old-covenant symbols which were now obsolete since the reality had come. They needed to make sure they followed through on washings and ceremonies and sacrifices and et cetera. Coming along and demanding that the people who were already redeemed in Christ, in order to validate their redemption and to assure their redemption, needed to keep the ceremonial Law of Moses. But always, always, whether in Paul's day or our day, there are those who want to come along with what we call symbolic religion, a kind of a sacramental religion, sacerdotal religion, that puts into some symbolic kind of behavior spiritual meaning, spiritual reality, and saving grace. We're depending on the reality of Jesus Christ. We're not depending on symbols for our salvation.
That is why, in a truly Christian church where the gospel is understood in a truly new-covenant environment, we don't have ceremony and symbols but rather the clear explanation of the reality in Jesus Christ. There is no ceremony that is a part of it. And God, on the basis of what Jesus Christ has done to satisfy His own justice and to provide an atonement for that sinner, forgives, embraces the sinner, covers the sinner in the righteousness of Christ, and gives him the promise of eternal life. A sinner, broken and contrite, and humbled over His own inequity or her own inequity, realizing there's no way out of judgment and inequity, comes to God, pleads grace, pleads mercy, pleads forgiveness. There is no ceremony and there are no human works. It has no necessary ritual that contributes to salvation. We always say that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. The gospel of Jesus Christ is sufficient to save. Unfortunately, however, Paul had His steps dogged by some people who were preaching the old covenant also, trying to confuse the issue of salvation. It is the new covenant that is the heart of the Christian gospel that Jesus died, rose again to provide forgiveness of sin, a covering righteousness, and eternal life. That is the promise of salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have reminded you in the weeks past that the new covenant is the covenant in Christ's blood. And as we are in chapter 3, looking at Verses 6 through 18, we're considering the subject, The Glory of the New Covenant, the new covenant. LaSalle Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL 60602-3902, or Team Kevin Courageous Heart Scholarship Fund, 's been our privilege over the last several weeks, and will again this morning, to be looking at Second Corinthians chapter 3, Paul's rich, heartfelt letter to His beloved Corinthian church. In lieu of flowers, donations to JDRF Illinois Chapter, 1 N. Stephen Deacon & Martyr Church, Mass 10:00 am 151st Street, Orland Park, IL.įuneral Monday 9:15 am to St. Visitation Sunday 2:00 to 8:00 pm at the Robert J. Proud grandmother of Elliot (fiancé Alison), Vanessa (Dave), Dave, Justin (Katie), Matthew (Stephanie), the late Kevin, Angela (Matt), Jason, Alexander (fiancé Kelsey), Steven Renderman, Timothy Zintak, Scott Zintak, Grace Zintak and Keith Renderman RENDERMAN, GLORIA, (nee Langevin), Age 90īeloved wife of 68 years to Harry Fred Rendermanĭevoted mother of Wayne (Linda), Mark (Barbara), Gerard (Melinda)(late Pong Chu), Carol (Paul) Zintak, Michael (Nancy) and James (Irma) Renderman
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