“Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”
2 Corinthians 3:6
We are the people of the new covenant
Established by Apostle Paul, the Church of Corinth was divided. Christians of Jewish origin challenged the Apostle’s authority and insisted on following the Law of Moses. Some of them distorted the preaching of the word to their advantage (2 Cor 2:17).
Paul defends himself by explaining that he is a minister of the new covenant. His mission is to proclaim the gospel, not the Law of Moses. Christ did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it—He fulfilled God’s will perfectly (Mt 5:17). The Law of Moses (the letter) is primarily focused on earthly life. The gospel is given to us for eternal life and fellowship with God in His kingdom.
The letter kills
The Law of Moses is good because it was given by God. But humankind’s sinful nature makes it impossible for them to keep it perfectly. Therefore no one can be made righteous by obeying the law (Gal 2:16; 3:10). Not following the law causes spiritual death and separation from God.
In the old covenant, God is portrayed as a judge bound by strict adherence to a set of rules and precepts. He blesses those who follow them and rejects those who do not. Jesus Christ revealed God’s true nature: He is a God of love, grace and mercy.
Some pious Jews were convinced that they did not need Christ to be saved. They thought they could earn their salvation by their strict obedience to the law. Paul said to them, “You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace” (Gal 5:4).
Those who focus on following the law do not evolve. Attached to tradition, they are content to do the same work over and over again. There is no life in it.
The pious Jews severely judged those who did not follow the law and even thought they were pleasing God by killing them (see the adulterous woman or Saul).
The Spirit gives life
The new covenant gives us access to eternal life. The Holy Spirit reveals that Jesus Christ is our Saviour. Having conquered sin and death, He can deliver us from them and lead us to God.
Jesus said: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (Jn 17:3). The Spirit gives us life by revealing God’s true will. God does not just look at works, He also looks at the heart. Offering (Mt 5:23-24), following the rules (Lk 18:10-14) and working hard (Mt 7:22-23) have no salvific effect if the heart is ill-disposed.
The Spirit, and He alone, is capable of sanctifying and transforming us so that we can attain eternal life (2 Cor 3:18).
The godly life that was placed in us produces a spiritual evolution. If we allow the Spirit to unfold within us, He brings about profound changes. Our relationship with Christ becomes more important than our material well-being. Our behavior is no longer dictated by fear of punishment or the prospect of reward but by love. We no longer obey God as slaves, but because His will has become our will.
The Spirit reveals to us that the whole law is fulfilled in a single phrase: you shall love your neighbour as yourself (Gal 5:14). Guided by Him, we want for others what we want for ourselves—forgiveness, mercy and salvation.
Like the Apostle Paul, today’s Apostles are ministers of the new covenant. Christ did not send them to enforce a set of behavioral rules, but to proclaim His gospel. Every child of God is called to be a true disciple of Christ, a servant of the new covenant. Let us be guided by the Holy Spirit!
No one can be made righteous by following rules. Our salvation comes from Christ. The Holy Spirit teaches us. He makes us grow in love for God and our neighbor. This development has visible repercussions on our behavior.