Kress Biblical Resources :: A Christ-Sufficient Ministry Promotes Spirit-Enabled, New Covenant Worship and Liberty—Not Legalism (2Co 2:12-17; 3)

Detailed Outline of 2 Corinthians

Defending the New Covenant Gospel Ministry of Grace and the Sufficiency of Christ

II. Gospel ministry and the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 1:3-7:16)

B. A Christ-Sufficient ministry explained and defended (2Co 2:12-17; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7)

1. A Christ-Sufficient ministry promotes Spirit-Enabled, New Covenant worship and liberty—not legalism (2Co 2:12-17; 2Co 3)
   1. The Lord’s sovereign grace that triumphs through the ministry of frail men (2Co 2:12-17)
      1. The unlocked/open door for ministry in the Lord (2Co 2:12)
      2. The unsettled spirit in the minister and the concern over a ministry partner (2Co 2:13ab)
      3. The unexpected change in ministry location (2Co 2:13c)
      4. The undeserved grace of God manifested to and through frail men (2Co 2:14-16)
         1. The triumph of God’s sovereign grace (2Co 2:14a)
         2. The truth of Christ honors God regardless of man’s response (2Co 2:14b-16)
            • The apostolic proclamation of Christ (2Co 2:14b-15)
            • The aroma of death to the perishing (2Co 2:16a)
            • The aroma of life to the believing (2Co 2:16b)
            • The adequacy is in the message not men (2Co 2:16c)
      5. The untainted motives of those who minister for God—not mammon (2Co 2:17)
   2. The life change that comes from the sufficiency of Christ and the ministry of the Spirit (2Co 3:1-6)
      1. Letters of commendation written in ink are limited in scope (2Co 3:1)
      2. Lives changed are living letters that reveal the commendation of the Spirit of God (2Co 3:2-3)
         1. The life-change in the Corinthians themselves is the living letter of recommendation (2Co 3:2)
         2. The life-giving Spirit is the author and the Apostle was its courier (2Co 3:3)
      3. Life comes from the Holy Spirit and the ministry of the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 3:4-6)
         1. Confidence in ministry is rooted in the sufficiency of Christ (2Co 3:4-5)
         2. Confidence in ministry is found in the superiority of the New Covenant and the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit (2Co 3:6)
   3. The liberty that comes from the Spirit-enabled, New Covenant ministry of glory (2Co 3:7-18)
      1. The glory of the New Covenant far exceeds that of the Old Covenant (2Co 3:7-11)
         1. The Mosaic covenant was glorious as a ministry of death (2Co 3:7)
         2. The ministry of the Spirit cannot fail to exceed in glory [as a ministry of life] (2Co 3:8)
         3. The Mosaic covenant was glorious as a ministry of condemnation (2Co 3:9a)
         4. The ministry of the Spirit far exceeds in glory as a ministry of righteousness (2Co 3:9b)
         5. The Mosaic covenant’s glory cannot even begin to be compared to the glory of the New Covenant (2Co 3:10)
         6. The Mosaic covenant and its glory has faded away, but the New Covenant and its glory is forever (2Co 3:11)
      2. The glory of the New Covenant frees and is forever transforming those who turn to the Lord in faith (2Co 3:12-18)
         1. The glory of the New Covenant is accessible (2Co 3:12)
         2. The glory of the Old Covenant is veiled and fading away (2Co 3:13-15)
            • The glory was fading (2Co 3:13)
            • The glory is veiled by unbelief (2Co 3:14-15)
         3. The glory of the New Covenant is accessed by turning to the Lord (2Co 3: 16)
         4. The glory of the New Covenant frees from bondage (2Co 3:17)
         5. The glory of the New Covenant is forever transforming those who have turned to the Lord in faith (2Co 3:18)