2Co 3:1  Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles (letter) of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?

2Co 3:2  You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:

2Co 3:3  Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle (letter) of (the) Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God (God The Father); not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.

2Co 3:4  And such trust have we through (the) Christ to God-ward:

2Co 3:5  Not that we are sufficient (good enough) of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God (The Father - His Holy Spirit);

2Co 3:6  Who also has made us able ministers of the New Testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit (His Spirit) gives life.

2Co 3:7  But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away (fading):

2Co 3:8  How shall not the ministration of the spirit (His Spirit) be rather glorious?

2Co 3:9  For if the ministration of condemnation (requirement of the Law - death) be glory, much more does the ministration of righteousness (give Life) exceed in glory.

2Co 3:10  For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excellence. (surpassed, exceeded).

2Co 3:11  For if that which is done away (set aside penalty) was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious (penalty set aside, that without penalty remains).

2Co 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

2Co 3:13  And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished (being set aside - the penalty is abolished -- unable to see it, as it fads away):

2Co 3:14  But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same veil untaken (not removed) away in the reading of the Old Testament; which vail is done away (removed) in The Christ (The Anointed One).

2Co 3:15  But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.

2Co 3:16  Nevertheless when it (they, their Heart) shall turn to the Lord (YaHshua), the veil shall be taken away.

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is that Spirit (Holy Spirit): and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2Co 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord (YaHshua), are changed into the same image from glory to glory (from our glory to His glory), even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

                    

2Co 3:1  Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? (Circular proofs? Proofs from you or your sources, that we are, who we say we are -- one quoting the other?)

2Co 3:2  You yourselves are our letter (proof), written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.

2Co 3:3  You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. (Those outside His spirit, His Holy Spirit, read you, by your actions your words, your conduct - repeating us, our message)

2Co 3:4  Such confidence as this is ours through (the) Christ (The Anointed) before God.

2Co 3:5  Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God (the Father).

2Co 3:6  He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant--not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2Co 3:7  Now if the ministry that brought death (ministry of Moses), which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was,

2Co 3:8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?

2Co 3:9  If the ministry that condemns men is glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness!

2Co 3:10  For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.

2Co 3:11  And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

2Co 3:12  Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.

2Co 3:13  We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away.

2Co 3:14  But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in (the) Christ (the Anointed One) is it taken away.

2Co 3:15  Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

2Co 3:16  But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

2Co 3:17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (released from the chains of doctrine, not only from Moses, but from all penalty or imprisonment by other religious doctrine, save the Doctrine of the Christ, YaHshua -- 2 John 1:9-10).

2Co 3:18  And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (Holy Spirit - Matthew 11:27).

2Co 3:1  Are we starting to recommend ourselves again? Or do we, like some, need letters of recommendation either to you or from you?

2Co 3:2  You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.

2Co 3:3  You make it clear that you are a letter from the Messiah placed in our care, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on stone tablets but on human hearts.

2Co 3:4  Such is the confidence we have through the Messiah toward God.

2Co 3:5  It is not that we are competent in ourselves to count anything as having come from us; on the contrary, our competence is from God.

2Co 3:6  He has even made us competent to be workers serving a New Covenant, the essence of which is not a written text but the Spirit. For the written text brings death, but the Spirit gives life.

2Co 3:7  Now if that which worked death, by means of a written text engraved on stone tablets, came with glory - such glory that the people of Isra'el could not stand to look at Moshe's face because of its brightness, even though that brightness was already fading away -

2Co 3:8  won't the working of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater glory?

2Co 3:9  For if there was glory in what worked to declare people guilty, how much more must the glory abound in what works to declare people innocent!

2Co 3:10  In fact, by comparison with this greater glory, what was made glorious before has no glory now.

2Co 3:11  For if there was glory in what faded away, how much more glory must there be in what lasts.

2Co 3:12  Therefore, with a hope like this, we are very open -

2Co 3:13  unlike Moshe, who put a veil over his face, so that the people of Isra'el would not see the fading brightness come to an end.

2Co 3:14  What is more, their minds were made stone-like; for to this day the same veil remains over them when they read the Old Covenant; it has not been unveiled, because only by the Messiah is the veil taken away.

2Co 3:15  Yes, till today, whenever Moshe is read, a veil lies over their heart.

2Co 3:16  "But," says the Torah, "whenever someone turns to ADONAI, the veil is taken away."a

2Co 3:17  Now, "ADONAI" in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of ADONAI is, there is freedom.

2Co 3:18  So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by ADONAI the Spirit.

Zec 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.  KJV

Jer 31:31  Behold, the days come, says the LORD (YaHWeH), that I will make a New Covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Jer 31:32  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which My covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, says the LORD (YaHWeH):

Jer 31:33  But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be My people.

Jer 31:34  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD (YaHWeH): for they shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD (YaHWeH): for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (To nit pick: YHWH = YHUUH, not YHVH.  Pronouncing YaHWeH -- like -- YaHuueh, not YaHway, as so many do -- even though, the repeating, or sounding out does sound very similar)

Verse #34 sets the timing of this prophecy -- everyone will have the same consent and the same knowledge about our Savior, and our Heavenly Father.  No more need for teachers and preachers -- just imagine a time like that.  That is certainly not today, and is still future.  This puts this Covenant to be made with both Israel and Judah, still a future event.  Possibly, if Israel/Judah had accepted YaHshua as Messiah and Savior, thing would have faulted into the actual presence of the Kingdom of God the Father.  However, if that had happened, then you and I and all of the millions between us and the Cross would not be here, but for our sake, then and own to now, the Jews rejected their King, following in the same path they had chosen from their march out of Egypt to now.  Yes, for us, those who do not identify with Israel, or Judah -- by their rejection the way was opened up to those called Gentiles.  Gentiles, anyone not an Israeli, and that is everyone, no matter how holy they may think they are -- Gentiles are all other peoples and religions.  But, because of the Chosen People's refusing their eternal King, and then killing Him, the way was opened for the rest of humanity to claim YaHshua as Savior, by the confession of their own tongue --

Rom 10:9  That if you shall confess with you mouth the Lord YaHshua, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

Rom 11:11-12  I ask then, did they stumble that they might fall? May it never be! But by their fall salvation has come to the Gentiles, to provoke them to jealousy.  Now if their fall is the riches of the world, and their loss the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?

Make no mistake, all Israel will be saved.  What has been happening to the House of Israel, for the past couple of millennial will end, and a true restoration will take place.  Why?  Because our Creator has pick them as a people, a nation, among nations to be his personal, chosen property.  What they have lost, for a time, is our gain, but they are to be restore -- Revelation 7:4-9.   The Covenant of the Promised (Eternal Life), not just to the House of Israel, but to us too.  Because of Israel's rejection, this Covenant is made available to anyone, Jew or Gentile, becoming a different Covenant.  in the near future, however, another, original Covenant is going to be offered to all Israel, again, with the Whole House of Israel.

Many years ago, back to WWI and II, there was no Israel, no nation of Israel, only a people known to the world as Jews.  Prior to that time the criticism against the Hebrew/Christian Bible was its lack of prophetic accuracy.  It was easy to point to the fact that there was no nation of Israel -- simple as that.  Those claiming the Christian message as their own made adjustments.  Some, like the Roman Church, and others, would claim that they had replaced Israel, so the prophetic messages were all New Testament Based and had to do with the Return of the Christ and all Christians, under the Roman Church, would rule the Earth.  Others disagreed, of course, and saw the Roman Church as the Beast of prophecy.  Still, even those of a different opinion would class themselves as the replacements for all Israel.  This was known as "Replacement Theology", something very few talk about today, or at least, not since the Nation of Israel came back into being, among other nations, May 1948, and has been with us, now, among the nations, reconstituted, literally reviving the Prophetic Word, and making it clear -- all Prophecy center around the people, the nation of Israel.

Do you want Eternal Life?  If not, then this message is not for you.  If, however, you are called, you may have not choice in seeing what  you do not see now.  If that happens, find a place to commit, to confess, and by your own mouth declare yourself to and in YaHshua, son of the Living God of all things, the cause and reason for that exists.  Baptism?  Anyone can baptize you -- the act of baptism is a signing of the Testament you enter with Him, and has nothing to do with the one helping in the baptism other than being a witness.  Yes, there is the laying on of hands, but that is only for special gifts and finding anyone who you know to be a true Believer, in this last days, could be very difficult.  Especially when we consider the fact that once you believe, or are brought to belief -- that is awakened -- your next step is baptism.  Any preacher, teacher, minister of the Holy Book will do.  Just do not allow them to get you to swear to anything other than hearing your confess in Him.  

More on the Gospel Message -- the Good News!

Col 1:3-8  We give thanks to God the FATHER of our Lord YaHshua the messiah, praying always for you, having heard of your faith in the messiah YaHshua, and of the love which you have toward all the saints, 5  because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the Good News (Gospel), which has come to you; even as it is in all the world and is bearing fruit and growing, as it does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of the FATHER in truth; even as you learned of Epaphras our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful servant of the messiah on our behalf, who also declared to us your love in the Spirit.

Col 1:9-15 For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of the FATHER; strengthened with all power, according to the might of His (The Father's) glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy; giving thanks to the FATHER, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light (Not living in the darkness - Romans 8:17; 2 Cor 3:6); who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; who is the image of the invisible the FATHER, the Firstborn of all creation (John 1:1-3, 14, 18 -- YaHshua, the son, the First Born, was and is the Word, which was and is from the Beginning with the Father of all origins).

Col 1:16-20 For by Him (The Father, Through and by the Son -- the Word) all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him (The Son) , and for Him (The Son).

He (The Father) is before all things, and in Him (The Father) all things are held together.

He (The Son) is the head of the body, the assembly (eccelsia, or, church) who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He (The Son) might have the preeminence (First over all -- First Born from the Flesh into the Spirit of the Father -- He, being the FIRST, indicates the obvious, that others are to follow -- also the First from the Beginning.  If there is to be a beginning, it would have been when the Father first spoke -- the Word, and the Word became flesh and lived among men- John 1:4-5, 10, and 14).

For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in Him (The Father); and through Him (The Son) to reconcile all things to Himself (The Father), by Him (The Son), whether things on the earth, or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of His (the Son's) cross.

John 1:12-14 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become the FATHER's children, to those who believe in His Name: 13  who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of the FATHER. 14  The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw His glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the FATHER, full of grace and truth.

John 1:18  No one has seen the FATHER at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the FATHER, He has declared Him.

wwy@servantsofyahshua.com