The Ministry of the New Testament vs. The Spirit and Righteousness

 

The Ministry of the New Testament vs. The Spirit and Righteousness

2 Cor. 3:6 "Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."

1 Cor. 15:45 "So also it is written, 'The first man, Adam, became a living soul'; the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit."

1 Pet. 2:24 "Who Himself bore up our sins in His body on the tree, in order that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose bruise you were healed."

 

Analysis Item	The Ministry of the New Testament	The Spirit	Righteousness
Basic Meaning	To supply the all-inclusive Spirit of the processed Triune God into people and to dispense Christ into believers as their righteousness	Christ as the life-giving Spirit, being the life supply within people	Christ as the outward manifestation of God, making everything orderly and subordinated under the Head
Functional Position	The channel of supply and dispensing	The inner life supply	The outward manifestation of order
Ultimate Goal	To make believers manifest God and establish God's kingdom	To be the life supply	To be God's image and manifestation
Scope of Work	The entire supply system	The inner life of man	The outward behavior and order of man
Mode of Operation	Supply and dispensing	Indwelling and being life	Outward manifestation and governance
Temporal Aspect	Ongoing in the present	Presently within believers	Partially manifested now, fully realized in the future
Spatial Aspect	Through the channel of ministry	Within man	Outside man and in the environment
Degree of Manifestation	Medium and channel	The reality of life	Visible order
Personal Level Example	Executing the ministry, supplying Christ to people	Living and walking by the Spirit, receiving life supply	Manifesting God's image, having the appearance of righteousness
Church Level Example	Establishing God's kingdom filled with righteousness	Living meetings with many functioning	No complaints or criticism, only forbearance and praise, orderly
Family Level Example	Executing the ministry in the family	Living by the Lord's mercy	Righteousness dwelling in family life
Universal Level Example	Preparing the bride's garment	Joy in the Holy Spirit	The new heavens and new earth with righteousness dwelling therein
Goal Scripture	2 Cor. 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not out of us."	Gal. 5:25 "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."	2 Pet. 3:13 "But according to His promise we are expecting new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells."
Process Scripture	2 Cor. 3:18 "But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord Spirit."	Rom. 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."	Rom. 5:17 "For if by the offense of the one death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ."
Result Scripture	2 Cor. 6:4 "But in everything commending ourselves as ministers of God."	Rom. 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."	Rev. 19:8 "And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints."
Bride Stage	Preparing the bride's garment	Joy in the Holy Spirit	Having the appearance of righteousness
New Jerusalem	The ultimate completion of the ministry	Eternal life supply	The appearance of jasper, the same manifestation as God
Universal Order	The supply system of the universe	Eternal life	Everything subordinated under the Head, orderly
Personal Practice	Supplying Christ to people, not arguing about doctrines	Living and walking by the Spirit, receiving life supply	Manifesting God's image, living out righteousness
Church Practice	Establishing living, orderly meetings	Many functioning, filled with the Spirit	No complaints or criticism, only forbearance and praise
Daily Life	Executing the ministry in various environments	Living by the Lord's mercy	Living out righteousness in family and work
Avoiding Deviation	Not dividing God's people, not arguing about rituals	Not according to the flesh, only according to the Spirit	Not chaos and disorder, everything subordinated under the Head
Special Significance	The channel and medium of supply	The inner reality of life	The outward divine order
Present Manifestation	Through the supply of ministers	Believers living by the Spirit	The harmonious order of the church
Ultimate Completion	The supply system of the universe	The eternal source of life	The divine governance of the new heavens and new earth
Mutual Relationship	Supplying the Spirit and righteousness to people	Being supplied by the ministry, producing righteousness	Being due to the Spirit, dispensed through the ministry

 

Summary Points:

The ministry of the New Testament is the channel of supply, the Spirit is the inner life supply, and righteousness is the outward manifestation of order. These three work together to enable believers to manifest God, establish God's kingdom, and prepare to become the New Jerusalem, in which righteousness dwells, with everything subordinated under Christ the Head.

 

*Please refer to the 2025 Memorial Day Blending Conference. General Topic: Preparation of the Bride. Chapter 5: Righteousness of the Bride.