3234.—Ministration of the Spirit and of Righteousness
By Editor
Please explain what the ministration of the spirit and the ministration of righteousness are as compared to that of death and condemnation. What is it that "remaineth," mentioned in verse 11? 2 Cor. 3:7-11. For a full explanation of this scripture see Bible Students' Library No. 149, "What Is Done Away in Christ?" price 2 cents. As a brief explanation we would say, first, The letter kills, but the spirit gives life. The accepting of the letter of the law is simply taking it as it may come to us, a written code. The law then is without. We accept it simply as a theory, and it always condemns and never justifies. The spirit of the law is the very life and power of that law; and the receiving of the spirit is having that law written within our very being until it is a vital part of ourselves, and that always gives life, for the law in Christ Jesus is life. To go back to the illustration which the apostle gives of Israel and Moses, it is sufficient to remark that Israel accepted that law in the letter, and it brought to them condemnation; it condemned them to death on account of sin. That they did not love the law, is evident from the fact that they said, "Let not God speak to us any more." Read the account in Exodus 20. Not so with Moses. Moses not only saw himself condemned by that law, but he let the Spirit of God take away the condemnation, and write the great principles of that law in his heart. The law in that case was to him spirit and life. It became a part of his very being. The glory upon his face was the outshining of the glory within. To the sinner the law comes in condemnation and death. It condemns the transgressor to death. To him who has faith in the Lord Jesus Christ the law comes in Christ as spirit and as life, and therefore shines away the condemnation and the death. That which was done away in Moses was the condemnation; that which is done away in the Christian who steadfastly seeks God, even the condemned, is the condemnation and the death. And there come in its place the glorious righteousness and life and peace of God through Jesus Christ which remain. God would have sin ever done away from His people. He would not have them condemned by His law. He would have His Spirit write that law in their hearts (Heb. 8:10), so that they shall love His commandments and do them.