Letter and Spirit

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 28, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 42.

Letter and Spirit.

'Who hath 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.' 2 Cor. 3:6. Note that the apostle does not say, 'not of the letter of the old testament, but of the spirit of the new;' that is not the thought of the text; but, 'able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter [of the new testament]; but of the spirit [of the new testament]; for the letter [of the new testament] killeth, but the spirit giveth life.' The letter of truth is its mere form. The mightiest and most blessed truth of God's Word in its mere form or letter will not save; for wherever the Bible has gone, unsaved men hold it in the letter. It only condemns them. To partake of the Lord's supper, to go through a form of baptism, to rest on the seventh day, will save no one. The truth must be received in the heart, in the love of it, and thus become a very part of the being, changing the man to the glory of God.

It was of this mighty truth that Paul was minister. If men rejected it, he did not put them to death, nor did Christ, nor has he given that commission to any of his servants. The words rejected, or held only in the letter, will condemn in the last day. John 12:48; 2 Cor. 2:16.