The Glory That Excels
If you’re a married man, think back to when you were dating. Back then, you gave compliments to your girlfriend for her neatness, her quiet spirit, her cooking skills, or some other quality. When was the last time you gave your wife a compliment in any of those areas?
And ladies, your man was number one. You complimented him on his spiritual leadership, you admired his physical strength, and you thanked him for the courtesy and respect he showed you. Have you complimented him in any of these areas recently?
No, this isn’t a sermon on marriage. So, why do I ask you those questions? To prove that the more familiar we are with something the less likely we are to appreciate it.
Is it dangerous to become accustomed to the things that we use every day? Yes and no. The problem arises when we become so familiar with things of the Lord, that we lose our wonder, our awe, and our appreciation for them. We don’t verbalize it. We don’t say, “I’m just not very much impressed with that anymore.” But what do our lives reveal?
If you and I would’ve lived under the Old Covenant, we would be amazed at the revelation of God in Jesus. Imagine living under the law. It told you what you could and couldn’t do but it gave you no internal power to obey. Think about the annual reminders of your sin on the Day of Atonement and knowing you could never keep the law well enough to be accepted by God.
Then, think about the freedom you received in the coming of the Savior. Think about the joy, hope, and peace rising from within you because now there’s a power that makes it possible for you to live above the law. Think of the newness, the excitement, the desire to tell everyone about this new way of living.
Go with me to II Corinthians 3. In this text, Paul talks about two things, the glory of the old covenant and the glory of the new. And he clearly demonstrates that the glory of the new covenant is “The Glory That Excels.” Listen as I read II Corinthians 3:4-18.
Let’s observe three CONTRASTS that demonstrate “The Glory That Excels.”
I. The Contrast of Letter and Spirit
Paul says God has made us able ministers or competent servants of the new covenant. That competency, that ability doesn’t come f...
