The Letter and The Spirit

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 
2 Corinthians 3:6



 

The Letter and the Spirit

The Word of God

 

These two terms are two tremendous statements that tell of the will of God.   The great Apostle Paul mentioned both terms in the same verse with their purpose.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

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:  How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?  For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.  For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious. 2 Corinthians 3:6-11  

So let's talk about the Letter and the Spirit.  Both are part of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.   Of the two, the Letter is the most misunderstood in how it is used to bring a person to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  The Letter or the commandments of God have two primary purposes.   One it teaches us that we have sinned and guilty before Almighty God.  Two, the law guides us in our service for the Lord God.   The Spirit is the power of God unto salvation.   I love what that great Apostle said;

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  Ephesians 2:1-7

There is another definition for the term "The Letter that Killeth" that we will discuss thirdly.  

The First purpose:

In Romans 7, Paul said that when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.  This commandment he was talking about was the Law of God.   Paul explains so well, here is his explanation:

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. But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Was then that which is good made death unto me? 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. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.  Romans 7:7-14

 

A phase we say today, "we have to get them lost before we can get them saved".  A very true saying.   What Paul above is talking about is getting them lost and it is the gospel of our Lord that does this.

 

The Second purpose:

The Lord make it simple for us to live for our Lord.  On Mount Sinai He gave us the Ten Commandments but He also gave us the "Moral Law".   Laws on how to live righteously before Him.  Exodus 19 thru 23.  

When a person is saved by the grace of Jesus Christ, we are given a portion of the faith of Jesus Christ.  Therefore Habakkuk said, "the just shall live by His faith" (Habakkuk 2:4; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38).

Thirdly "The Letter that Killeth":

Our service for the Lord, what is it based on?   Our desire for rewards or our love for our Lord and Saviour.  
 

Praying, preaching, teaching, singing and witnessing by the direction and power of the Holy Ghost is what pleases the Lord God!   It brings people to salvation.  It edifies the church, the body of Christ.   Hear what Paul is telling us:

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.  For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?  even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God:  for they are foolishness unto him:  neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?  But we have the mind of Christ.  1 Corinthians 2:1-16 

 God Bless each and everyone of you who seek to know Jesus better!!