Ministry of the Spirit vs. Ministry of Righteousness
2 Corinthians 3:6 He has
qualified us 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 3:8 How much
more glorious is the ministry of the Spirit?
2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministry of
condemnation was glorious, the ministry of justification is much more glorious.
Analysis
Item |
Ministry
of the Spirit |
Ministry
of Righteousness |
Core Meaning |
The ministry of
the Spirit as life and life supply |
The ministry
that makes people right with God, with others, and with themselves |
Essential
Character |
Inner life
supply |
Outer
manifestation of God |
Main Function |
Gives life (life-giving) |
Makes people
righteous (manifests God) |
Focus |
Life supply and
growth |
Proper
relationships and manifestation |
Direction of
Work |
From within
outward (supplying life from within) |
From within
outward (manifesting
from within outward) |
Level of
Experience |
Feelings of
life, peace, joy, vitality |
Proper
relationships, appropriate behavior, alignment with God |
Main Biblical
Basis |
• 2 Cor 3:6 "The Spirit gives life" • Phil 1:19 "The bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ" • 2 Cor 3:17 "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" • John 6:63 "It is the Spirit who gives life" |
• 2 Cor 3:9 "The ministry of righteousness" • 1 Cor 15:34 "Awake righteously" • Rom 1:17 "The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel" • 2 Cor 5:21 "Become the righteousness of God in Him" |
Contrast with
Old Testament |
Opposed to the
ministry of the letter that kills |
Opposed to the
ministry of condemnation |
New Testament
Character |
Not of the
letter but of the Spirit |
Not
condemnation but justification and living out righteousness |
Common
Misconceptions |
Mistaken as
ministry of power, miracles, gifts (e.g.,
being slain in the spirit, gold teeth fillings, etc.) |
Mistaken as
merely justification or external moral behavior (shallow
concept of not doing wrong things) |
Correct
Understanding |
Life supply
that makes people alive, not power or impact |
Makes people
aligned with God in all aspects, not just external behavior |
Personal Life
Application |
• Having
living, real feelings within •
Inner restraint when wanting to quarrel • Growth
of tree of life, flowing of river of life • Experience
of peace, joy, rest |
• Harmonious
relationships with spouse and children • Knowing
the Lord's mind and will • Being
right in all matters big and small • Knowing
how to treat people and handle affairs |
Church Life
Application |
• Being
infused with the Spirit in meetings • Life-giving
Spirit supplied through ministry • Receiving
supply unconsciously •
Longing to attend meetings to receive supply |
• Awakening
from spiritual slumber • Being
right with all saints and the church • Manifesting
God's image • Having
proper function in the church |
Criteria for
Judgment |
Whether there
is life supply and growth Whether the
inner life is living and real |
Whether one is
right with God, with others, and with oneself Whether God's
image is manifested |
Specific
Experience Description |
• Something
working within after meetings • Life
within even when outwardly unhappy • Negative
emotions swallowed up when turning to the Lord • Inner
transparency like crystal purity |
• Awakening
righteously, no longer intoxicated and asleep • Whole
person in the Lord's will • Conduct
according to the Lord's mind • Becoming
a righteous person, manifesting God |
Relationship
with God |
God's Spirit
dwelling within, supplying life |
Proper
relationship with God, doing God's will |
Relationship
with Others |
Proper
interpersonal relationships through life supply |
Being right and
appropriate in all relationships |
Relationship
with Self |
Having life's
feeling and guidance within |
Whole person in
God's will |
Ultimate Goal |
Making people
completely alive with abundant life |
Making people
completely manifest God, becoming God's image |
Mutual
Relationship |
Inner supply,
laying foundation for ministry of righteousness |
Outer
manifestation, showing the effect of the Spirit's ministry |
Coordination
Principle |
First having
the Spirit as life supply |
Then having
righteousness as God's manifestation |
Inseparability |
Both are
essential components of New Testament ministry, indispensable |
Both are
essential components of New Testament ministry, indispensable |
Practical
Result |
Inner life
supply, people come alive |
Outer
manifestation of righteousness, God gains manifestation |
Ultimate
Significance |
Making people
gain divine life |
Making people
become God's manifestation |
Summary:
The New Testament ministry is the ministry of both the Spirit and righteousness,
these two aspects are inseparable:
- Ministry of the Spirit: Supplies us with life, makes us alive (inner)
- Ministry of Righteousness: Makes us right with God, with others, and with
ourselves, becoming God's manifestation (outer)
When we experience the Spirit as life supply
within us, we naturally become righteous,
aligned with God in all aspects, and this is the
manifestation of God's image. The two
complement each other, together constituting the complete New Testament
ministry.
*Please refer to the 2025
Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride.
Chapter 5: Righteousness of the Bride.
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