WHAT IS THE "MINISTRATION OF DEATH?"
Updated 05/07/2008: Next text added
in blue!
It was the ministration of death naturally to all who broke it. What are we talking about? The Ten Commandments!
2 Corinthians 3:7, 8 says:
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious,
so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for
the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
This passage debunked the arguments being pushed on the internet by the Jesuits who were saying there is no difference between the Law of Moses and other rules and precepts of the Jews with the Ten Commandments and that they were all inseparable. This particular scriptural passage is only referring to the Ten Commandments as it mentions that it is engraven in stone.
The wages of SIN (transgression of the law) is death. Each one of its precepts spells death to anyone who disobeys. Why then did Jesus die for us?
Because the people were sinners, there was a separation. They could not go in God's presence, BUT MOSES COULD. God charged that not even the priests should come close lest He break forth upon them. (Exodus 19:22, 24)
If holiness was glorious as shown in the face of Moses, which did not always remain, how much moreso would it be if the law and holiness was written in the hearts of all the people?
The very shining of Moses's face was bad news for the people. It was a means to incite jealousy among them, for what Moses enjoyed was denied the rest of the people. If they dared attempt to go close to the Lord and see Him face-to-face as Moses did, they knew what would be ministered to them: DEATH!
What was ministered on Moses's face was death to the people. It was indeed glorious, but the shine on Moses's face did not last for long. What was done away with was the glory on Moses's countenance. Through Christ however, with the law written in our hearts, the result would be much more glorious and there would be the ultimate same communion that Moses had with the Lord with no threat of death upon approach. Paul therefore speaks and equates what it was to be a Pharisee and then to see Jesus in His true character to compare therewith:
Rom. 7:7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not
known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said,
Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of
concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
[There was no knowledge of sin nor RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT before the law came and edified. The law didn't make Paul nor anyone else sinful. It has no power to control anything. It merely points out. We were already sinful or doing wrong things, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW IT!! Paul:]
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin
revived, and I died.
10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
[I was a Pharisee and looked at the letters of how the law was worded. I was comforted seeing that my life was ordered according to it. This, I supposed, guaranteed me life.
The Ministration of DEATH!
Jesus then met me and showed me the true and deep nature of the law. I saw how I didn't love all men. I saw that I was selfish, I desired the uppermost seats at gatherings and strove to show how holy I was. I then found out that I cannot approach our Maker and can have no part in His eternal kingdom because of how I naturally am.]
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
[It is not just a bunch of Commandments. It goes deep into the very heart and thoughts. Looking at it makes me think it is much easier to keep than the actual requirements and height that it demands. There are issues about it that go far beyond what the mere superficial letters say.
The more I learn about it--the more I study the depths of the testimonies, see the Savior and begin to walk the walk is the more I realize what I always was is nothing. Me entering heaven is like granting me admission if I can be hurled at a thousand miles per hour into a six-foot brick wall, and that, if I can live beyond that, I would live and reign with Christ in heaven forever. I can tell this is 100% impossible. If I even made it and were yet alive, I would still die once looking upon the beautiful face of a holy God! None of this can work. There has to be a new ME!]
12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? [Ministration of Death?] God
forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good;
that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
END