GOD'S GLORY REVEALED IN TWO COVENANTS
Key verse: 9
NIV
The Greater Glory of the New Covenant
7 Now if the ministry that brought death,(A) which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory,(B) transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation(C) was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!(D) 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
7 Now if (A)the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory (B)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 (C)the ministry of condemnation, (D)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.
Read full chapterThe Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. God's glory in Moses' face (7-8)
When he came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments (Ex 34:29-35), Moses' face was shining with God's glory so that the people couldn't even look at him. But the glory soon faded away. How much more glorious is the work of the Spirit of God in the life of a believer; the Spirit transforms him more and more into the image of Christ!
2. The ministry that brings righteousness (9-11)
The Law which Moses received from God was a blessing to the people of Israel. God used it to train a slave nation to become a kingdom of priests. But the Law can't make sinners righteous; it only condemns them. The new covenant in Jesus' blood is the foundation of a ministry that brings righteousness. Sinners condemned by the law can come to God through Jesus and be forgiven and, by faith, through God's grace alone, be made righteous.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the new covenant, your promise to cleanse me in the blood of Jesus and make me righteous.
One Word: The glorious new covenant
