How would you respond to someone who used 2 Cor. 3 (such as vss. 3, 7-12) to argue that the Ten Commandments as a code are gone - they were a ministry of death. (And they recognize that most have been repeated in the NT and are binding for that reason).

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Scott Roberts
Ruling Elder, Lakeside Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Southlake, Texas

For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. (Rom 3:20)

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Rom 3:28)

Many Israelites attempted to find favor in the Lord's sight by adhering to the Law better than others, self-righteousness, etc. This was not the purpose of the Law. The Law became, for many, a ministry of death. They were simply made aware of sin, and rather than repenting and having faith in the promise of Abraham, they had faith in themselves and were doomed. I think.

Gabriel is right. You could also respond with this:

Gal 3:21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.
Gal 3:22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Verse 22 explains the concept of the law being a ministry of death.

__________________
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greatness of his misery by the greatness of the remedy which he required.
~ Pascal, Pensees 526

John 8:31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, "œIf you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."� 33 They answered him, "œWe are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, "˜You will become free´?"�

34 Jesus answered them, "œTruly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Through the Law, the self-righteous Jews became slaves to sin, rather than righteousness. As believers in Christ, we have the Law as a pattern for our righteousness, not our condemnation, since we are in Christ Jesus.

Those are good thoughts. How would you guys respond to the contrast in 2 Cor. 3 of the ministry of death written on stone to the ministry of the Spirit, not written on stone? The Ministry of the Spirit is part of the glory of the New Covenant, indicating it was not present under the old.

2 Corinthians 3:7 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.


The ministry of the Old Covenant had "glory" just like the New Covenant, but not AS MUCH as the New Covenant. The New Covenant is more glorious, being a better covenant with better promises, etc.

I'd be inclined to agree. It is gone as a "code", but the moral law is not the written code that is against us. It is simply the pattern that the Spirit leads us in in perfect freedom.

Following the Spirit is not the same concept as trying to conform to a written code.

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Paul Duggan
Tenth Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia
Philadelphia Pennsylvania
<a href="http://mysite.verizon.net/~vze2tmhh/">My blog</a>

The Ten Commandments have not gone.
Old Testament saints and those in the New Covenant have the law written on their hearts (Jer 31:33; Ezek 36:26-27; 2Cor 3:3; Heb 9:14 ). They are not under the law as something that condemns them (Rom 8:1 ), but instead they love God's laws and seek to obey it out of a full heart (Psalm 1:2; 119:97 etc; Rom 7:22 ).

1st Baptist Confession of Faith, 1646. Art XXIX.
Martin



[Edited on 12-6-2005 by Martin Marprelate]

Most of these replies are well done. This is addition, not correction...

The "ministry of death" cannot be taken in an absolute sense, for it plainly served a saving (life-giving) purpose--holy, just, good--in many lives under the Old Covenant. In its very nature, however, it was designed to highlight the fact that death hung over all. No one could really keep the Law perfectly. Death: in the form of endless sacrifices, as represented by captial crimes, and excommunication, IOW the curse of Eden was constantly represented to the people.

As to the matter of law, I would add that Rom. 8:13 (and other passages) speak to the issue of living according to the flesh, and mortification of sin. How does anyone know what constitutes sin apart from the Law? (Rom. 7:7). He doesn't, and so the law is proved necessary to continue to convict of sin. If we are not convicted, then we will not be puting sin to death, and "the righteous requirements of the law" will not be fully met in us (Rom. 8:4).

The "ministry of death" cannot be taken absolutely, as neither can the ministry of the Spirit be taken in an absolute sense. The ministry of the New Covenant gospel is a savor of "death unto death" unto those who are perishing. Not everyone unto whom Christ is preached appreciates the "aroma" (2 Cor. 2:16).

[Edited on 12-6-2005 by Contra_Mundum]

__________________
Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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None of those texts speak of 'obeying' it as if it were a code. We fulfil the law, not obeying its jots and tittles.

All good -

One verse I think is very helpful - the original intention of the Law (the perfect statement of the character of God's being) is here:

Romans 7:10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death.

This was a result of depravity. The Law brings life to those who use it lawfully (Christ).

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There are more functions of the Decalogue than the ministry of death.

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Richard C. Barcellos
M.Div., 1989, The Master's Seminary
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