Few Christian self-identify as a legalist. It’s hard to find anyone who boldly professes, “I am approved by God based upon what I do and how I obey!” No, legalism is wrapped in subtlety, at least at first. We smuggle it into our lives to erase unatoned shame or to boost our stock when we fall short of standards. When the gospel is tiny, we default to the law as an expedient way to improve our standing and feel better about our performance. We look to the law for things only the gospel can supply.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul is helping his readers understand the limitations of the law. Under the new covenant, Spirit replaces tablets. The anchor of our approval, according to Paul, is grounded in what Christ accomplished for us. When it comes to flourishing lives and joyful ministry, the gospel is more glorious than the law.
But what exactly limits the law? Or to ask it differently, why is the law less glorious than the gospel? While there are many reasons, let’s explore four together.
Reason # 1 – The Law Only Reveals What’s Wrong
The law cannot power the leader’s ministry or the message. Why? The short answer is, according to Paul, because there are substantial limitations to the law. The law arrived with a lesser glory.
For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. (2 Corinthians 3:9)
Paul indicates that though the law was glorious, it brought condemnation. No one could keep it. “The law is holy,” Paul writes elsewhere, “and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12). The law was holy, righteous and good at revealing what’s wrong; at telling us what not to do. The law could condemn, but it could not produce righteousness.
Posted speed limit signs inform you of a standard. “No-parking” laws only tell you what is forbidden. They do nothing to help you obey it. Believe me, I was reminded of it four days ago.
The law held up a mirror and showed the people how unrighteous they were. It showed them God’s standard of righteousness. The law kills, not because it is destructive, but because no sinner can ever fully satisfy it. We can never attain the law’s ideal.
Reason # 2 – The Gospel Announces Power and Life
The new covenant is superior because it delivers life.
Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus become the power of God unto salvation. God sent the Spirit to both regenerate and empower his people.
God says, “No, you can’t do it. You can’t save yourself, no matter how hard you try to keep the law. So I’m going to do it for you. I’m going to send my Son. He will keep the law perfectly, and then he’ll pay the penalty required due to your failure to keep the law. He will accept the punishment for your failure and then rise from the dead to prove the whole plan worked.
Think about it. If the condemning work of the law was still glorious, how much more glorious is the life-giving work of the Spirit? Why is this true? Because, unlike the law, the Spirit gives power and life. He works to turn hearts of stone into hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26). He plants faith in the hearts of God’s people so we trust in Christ for forgiveness from the very sins which once condemned us.
But there’s even more. “God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4–5).
God continues, Through the work of my Son, I’ll make you my children. I’ll put my Spirit in you. You will get my Son’s righteousness. I will kindle within you desires for me and give you the power to obey me!”
Do you see the difference? Where the old covenant ministered death, the new covenant ministers life. Where the old covenant brings condemnation, the new covenant brings righteousness. Life is more glorious than death. Righteousness is more glorious than condemnation. And in all of it, God is shown to be the wise and gracious and glorious God who works to preserve a people for his own possession to the praise of his glorious grace.
But that’s not all.
Reason # 3: The Gospel is Permanent
Paul’s final argument is to explain that something permanent is far better than something temporary.
Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. (2 Corinthians 3:10–11).
The law was given only for a time. It was a temporary guardian, given until the time when Christ came to fulfill it and take over the care of his sheep (Galatians 3:24). It was never designed to be more than a guardian. The law was not an end. It was intended to point beyond itself to the greater event to come.
If you’ve ever been to a fireworks show, you understand this concept. The powerful blasts and bright flashes of the fireworks are wonderful and awe-inspiring. But they are merely the build-up leading to the finale. At the finale, the switch is thrown and the sound and light increase exponentially, ultimately overwhelming the former glory of the show.
Christ has come and overwhelmed the glory of the old covenant. The old covenant is both fulfilled and superseded by the glory of the new covenant.
Reason #4 – The Gospel Grants Freedom
The Corinthians were in danger of leaving behind the glorious riches of the new covenant and turning to the dull and faded stones of the old. It’s like they popped open a treasure chest of gleaming jewels, but decided they preferred the sand dollars they could find in the shallows. Or, to use a timeless illustration from C. S. Lewis, they were turning away from the joys of a vacation at the seashore to go and muck about in mud puddles.1
Paul’s concern for them reaches forward to us as well. We are prone to turn from the riches of the new covenant—righteousness and life freely given—and seek to earn our way to God. We can be quick to forget the free gift and turn to works of the law as the means to our justification. “You foolish Christians,” Paul writes. “Who has bewitched you? . . . Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:1, 3).
This is not one of those blogs calling you to go now and “do”. No, stop right now and savor what has been done. The work of Christ is done. The debt for our law-breaking is canceled. Our justification stands secure and our adoption has been sealed by an unbreakable covenant.
You may not feel it, but that does not diminish it. I wake up each morning as a husband even when I don’t feel that way or when I don’t feel great about how I am performing. My feelings don’t alter my status. My marriage was established upon a covenant that exists regardless of how I feel.
Rest in that today. Rejoice in Christ’s unshakeable bond with you. Walk in the Spirit that gives life and enjoy this day as a child of God.
Photo by Tingey Injury Law Firm on Unsplash
- Lewis, C. S. The Weight of Glory. ↩︎
