In the religious world, many believers are taught to treasure the Ten Commandments as their primary guide for living a holy life. However, the Apostle Paul uses a startling and provocative term to describe the Law written on stones; he calls it the “ministry of death.” This is not an insult to God’s character, but a revelation of the Law’s function.
To reign in life and walk in the power of the New Covenant, you must understand why the Law produces death and how to abide in the “ministry of the Spirit” that produces life.
What is the Ministry of Death?
Many people are shocked to find that 2 Corinthians 3 refers specifically to the Ten Commandments when it mentions the “ministry of death, written and engraved on stones.” Paul is not talking about the ceremonial laws or dietary restrictions; he is talking about the moral Law given at Sinai.
- The Letter Kills: 2 Corinthians 3-6 (NKJV) states: “For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” The Law is a “letter” that demands perfection but offers no power to achieve it.
- The Ministry of Condemnation: Verse 9 calls the Law the “ministry of condemnation.” Its job is to point out your flaws, declare you guilty, and sentence you to death.
- A Passing Glory: While the Law had a certain glory (represented by the veil on Moses’ face), it was a glory that was designed to be “done away with” to make room for a much greater glory.
Why the Law Kills
The Law is holy, just, and good; but it is “weak through the flesh.” It is like a mirror: it can show you the dirt on your face, but it has no hands to wash you.
- Exposing Inability: The Law reveals your absolute inability to please God in your own strength. It was given to “stop every mouth” and prove our need for a Savior.
- Reviving Sin: As we have explored, the Law is the strength of sin. When you try to keep the “ministry of death,” you actually revive the very sinful passions you are trying to overcome.
- The Veil on the Heart: When people read the Old Testament through the lens of Law-based performance, a “veil” remains on their heart, preventing them from seeing the true beauty of Jesus and the Finished Work.
Stepping Into the Ministry of the Spirit
The New Covenant is called the “ministry of the Spirit” and the “ministry of righteousness.” This is a completely different system of relating to God.
- From Stones to Hearts: God no longer writes His requirements on external tablets of stone. He writes His nature and His desires directly onto your heart by the Holy Spirit.
- Righteousness as a Gift: In the ministry of death, righteousness was something you had to earn (and always failed to do). In the ministry of the Spirit, righteousness is something you possess as a gift.
- The Spirit of Liberty: 2 Corinthians 3-17 (NKJV) declares: “Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” You are free from the pressure to perform and free to be who God says you are.
Beholding the Glory
The secret to transformation in the New Covenant is not “trying harder” to keep the rules; it is “beholding” the Person of Jesus.
- Mirroring His Image: 2 Corinthians 3-18 (NKJV) explains that as we behold the glory of the Lord with an unveiled face, we are being “transformed into the same image from glory to glory.”
- Effortless Change: You don’t change by focusing on your sins (the ministry of death); you change by focusing on His glory (the ministry of life). Transformation is the work of the Spirit, not the work of your willpower.
Conclusion
To avoid the “ministry of death,” you must stop trying to use the Law to produce holiness. The Law was a “schoolmaster” designed to lead you to Christ, but now that Christ has come, the schoolmaster has been discharged. You are a son of the Spirit, not a slave to the stone. When you unveil your face and rest in the Finished Work, the “ministry of righteousness” will produce a level of fruit in your life that the Law could never achieve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Law “evil” if it is called a ministry of death?
Absolutely not; the Law is holy. It is called a “ministry of death” because it was designed to “kill” your self-righteousness and show you your need for Grace. It is a “good” thing that does a “painful” job.
Do we ignore the Ten Commandments then?
We don’t ignore them; it was fulfilled in and through Christ. When you walk in the Spirit, you naturally do not steal or murder; but you are doing it because of your New Nature, not because of a fear of the Law.
How do I know if I am under the “ministry of condemnation”?
If you feel heavy, guilty, and “not enough” after a sermon or a time of prayer, you are likely under the ministry of death. The ministry of the Spirit always leaves you feeling empowered, loved, and righteous.
What does it mean that the “veil is taken away”?
The veil is the Old Covenant mindset. It is taken away when you turn to the Lord and realize that Jesus has fulfilled every requirement of the Law for you.
This article is part of a series answering difficult questions about grace and the New Covenant.