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 3:5b-6]
as followers of Christ we are ministers of a new covenant. a covenant that declares the glory of God through need, reliance, and provision of Christ through the Spirit. not a covenant that is reliant on the law, but that is reliant on the Spirit to bring life.
what makes you sufficient to be a minister of the new covenant?
there are a lot of things that come to mind when we ask this question. of course, the correct answer is God through Christ makes us sufficient; that’s what this text says. but if we really examine our thoughts, i imagine we would also add in things like, …
“my knowledge of scripture makes me sufficient to be a minister of the new covenant.”
“righteous living makes me sufficient.”
“the way i love people makes me sufficient.”
“my ability to argue the apologetics of creation and God’s existence make me sufficient.”
“the absence of this specific sin from my life makes me sufficient.”
“people seeing me as holy/righteous/good enough makes me sufficient.”
but if we really stop and think about it, those things could never make us sufficient to convey the gospel message of the new covenant. because, those thoughts are completely counter to the gospel itself. the new covenant declares the glory of God by our complete reliance on Christ alone. so, the thought that i must have a certain level of knowledge, or certain actions, or respect, before i can be a minister of the gospel would be placing my reliance on those things over, or in addition to, Christ – which is completely opposite of the new covenant!
what makes you sufficient to be a minister of the new covenant?
God through Christ.
i encourage you to spend time today answering the question, “what else besides Christ do i think makes me sufficient to minister the new covenant?” bring those things before the Lord, lay them down, and turn from them, towards Christ, who alone is your savior; the one who makes you sufficient.
~ keith kozlowski