2020-10-16 “Seeing that – hope”

II Corinthians 3:12  “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:

Seeing then that we have such hope”; that is, “hope” in the “glorious” “ministration of the spirit” and “ministration of righteousness” (II Corinthians 3:8-9).  The “ministration of the spirit” is the work of the Holy Spirit ministering to the Children of God “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  23  Meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23); often even in the very face of opposition, rejection, ridicule, and hatred.  Specifically, in context, the Apostles were made Apostles and empowered by the “glorious” “ministration of the spirit”.  The “ministration of righteousness” declares the blessed truth that our Lord does only “right” things according to His Will and Purpose, ministering (serving out) “righteousness” to His beloved Church and people in every generation, even serving out the “right” Gospel Message to His ministers, who are to deliver that same “right” message to the Lord’s people.  This “hope” is the joyous anticipation of living day by day being ministered to by the Holy Spirit, always pointing our minds to the sweet mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ who saved us from our sins (Matthew 1:21).  It is with the strength of this blessed “hope” that we confidently proclaim, “I can do all things” (in my Lord’s service) “through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13).  “Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech”; that is, because we are so wonderfully equipped and empowered, we stand up and declare and live the “glorious” Gospel-truth of our Lord, even as “the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things” (Acts 4:25) as they still do in our day!