Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
“In a past life, I did this and that and so and so.” It is totally unbiblical to say this but it is how people talk about the way they used to be. If Paul were to say this, it would be in the form of these verses to the church in Corinth. Paul wrote this second letter to clarify who he was and is now. They had gotten it in their heads that Paul needed to prove himself to them. In a “past life”, Paul would have proudly exclaimed his credentials as he laid them out. Pharisee of Pharisees is how Paul described himself. None of that mattered anymore as he placed his confidence, not in his ability which was considerable, but in Christ’s which is interminable.
This would be well memorized by many in our pulpits, that our confidence comes not from our speaking ability, charisma, or organizational talents, be they considerable, but because of the boundless and eternal power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who displayed humility in relinquishing that power for a time so we could live with him for all time. May we not be the “Pharisee of Pharisees”, but the follower of the King. Then we can move about in a dark world in confidence knowing the light of the world goes on before…
In this life and the life to come.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church