Dear Student of the Word,
I apologize that this week's study is a few days late. My travel schedule kept me from finishing on time. I hope this didn't inconvenience you in any way. This week we continue with Paul's second letter to Corinth, in which he continued some of the themes that were introduced in his first letter.
One of the major battles that Paul fought was the issue of the Law in the life of the Gentile believer. He mentioned it in almost every one of his letters and he continued this theme in this second Corinthian letter. About this I wrote:
vs. 9-11 – The Law was holy but it condemned men to bondage because there was no way out of their sin. The Law was given to make us conscious of our sin. Now the new covenant has arrived in the person and name of Jesus and it is much more glorious than the previous covenant. Yet we see many who prefer to live under new covenant terms but act like the old covenant is still in existence. Rather than have me comment, read what Paul wrote to the Colossians:
Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize. Such a person goes into great detail about what he has seen, and his unspiritual mind puffs him up with idle notions. He has lost connection with the Head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow. Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: "Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (Colossians 2:16-23).
So which do you prefer? The former glory of the old covenant or the present, greater glory of the new? Don’t answer too quickly.
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