Ministry of the Spirit vs. Ministry of Righteousness

 

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.