Dear Christian friends:

You know that God has commanded us to preach the gospel through mission work and evangelism. But often we are not eager about that work as we ought to be. Sometimes we are afraid. Some are ashamed to let others know that they are followers of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps we fail to remember and believe how wonderful the Gospel is. Paul in out text tells about the:


In our text St. Paul shows us how glorious and wonderful the Gospel ministry is. He says it is much more glorious that the Law ministry. Moses was the chief minister of the Law or the Ten Commandments. When Moses came down from the mountain with the Ten Commandments His face shined with great glory. A reflection of God's glory. His face was so bright the people couldn't continue to look at him. He had to put a veil over his face.

By this God intended to impress the people that the Ten Commandments were very wonderful and good. God's idea, God's work for our blessing and protection. And the people were very impressed. Also, today almost everyone respects and honors the Ten Commandments. Many of our laws today by which we rule our state, city, and nation are made from the Ten Commandments.

Today we honor and respect law-makers, our legislators and congressmen. We honor and respect our lawyers and judges and police. If you have a brother or uncle who is a lawyer or judge or legislator you are very proud of that and let your friends know about. Yes, as Paul says here the law has much glory. We all respect and honor the Law and the people connected with it.

But now Paul says the Gospel ministry has much more glory than the law ministry. If we feel proud about the law and law servants, we ought to feel much more proud about the Gospel and the gospel-servants. Why? He answers in verse six: "The Law kills, but the Spirit makes alive."

The Law judges and condemns everyone. Even Moses, the greatest Law-man broke the law. He became angry and fed up with God's people at the rock and cursed the people before he struck it to make water for them in the desert. And because of that sin God did not let him go into the promised land.

Because we are all born with a sinful nature we cannot perfectly obey the Law and the idea or spirit of the Law. The idea or spirit of the Law is love. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. Who has done that? Who can do that? Can you? No.

We often don't love God. We do not worship Him, thank Him or praise Him. Pray before etc.? Go to church with an eager, glad heart? Do not love our neighbor and are often jealous of him. We often hate and quarrel with each other.

The Law is good and fine. God made it and gave it through Moses, and meant it for our good and blessing. But because we have a sinful nature and bad heart we break it all the time. So it condemns us to suffer God's anger and displeasure. "The Law kills." But the Gospel or as Paul says here the Spirit makes us alive. How? It tells us that God is merciful. He has pity on us sinners.

God gave His Son Jesus to obey the Law for us and then to suffer His anger and punishment for us. "God had made Him who had no sin to be sin for us that we might become righteous in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

By the Gospel the Holy Spirit offers us forgiveness of sins and urges us to not doubt or fear about our sins, but to believe in Jesus and find peace, comfort and joy in him.

So when we serve the Gospel to people we bring life and salvation to condemned prisoners. For ourselves, and for family, neighbors and friends and through world missions. We should never be ashamed of our Jesus and His name. But be very proud of Him and eager to talk of him. Paul said in Romans 1:16-17, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

You and I should be glad and proud to let others know that we are servants of Jesus Christ. Some people wear a fish hook like this in their lapel. (Show it and explain.) Or a cross: Pictures on your walls. How you act and talk to other deaf. All these things let people know that you are proud of Jesus Christ and His servant.

The Gospel is very glorious. It can change you and change others for salvation and life.

Amen.