Our Adequacy is From God

“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:4-6).

When we are serving the Lord Jesus with our lives in ministry, in doing whatever it is that God has called us to do, our confidence should be in the Lord and in what he is doing in us and through us, and not in ourselves, not in our own abilities. For if it is Christ we are truly serving, then our confidence in what we do and why we do it will rest in God and not in human flesh. We will readily realize and acknowledge that it all comes from him and not from ourselves. For if it is spiritual, it is of God, not of the flesh.

I love this quote from Barnes Notes on the Bible:

“Paul had no success which he did not trace to him; he had no joy of which he was not the source; he had no confidence, or trust in God of which Christ was not the author; he had no hope of success in his ministry which did not depend on him.”

Amen! Yet, if we know that we are serving in the flesh, and that what we are doing is of our flesh, and not of God, and of our own choosing, and not of God’s calling, then we should give credit where credit is due. And this doesn’t have to mean something sinful, but just something we do because we want to do it as empowered by us and not by God. And that can be good or bad. An example of this might be something we draw or cook or write that is of our own creative minds and not necessarily as led by the Spirit.

And yes, I know that God gives us the abilities to do what we do, and he gives us our talents and creativity, too, but there is a difference between things that we do in our natural selves and things that we do as specifically directed and empowered of the Spirit of God. There is a difference between us doing what is good, because it is the right thing to do, and us doing something specifically led by the Holy Spirit which is of the Spirit and not of the flesh, again as directed and empowered by God.

I remember here that Paul, in one of his letters, stated clearly that one of the instructions he was giving was of him and not of God, not that it was against God, but that it was not given by God to Paul to speak, but it was more Paul’s personal opinion (see 1 Corinthians 7:6,12). So, there are things that we will do which are good things, and even things which give honor and glory to God, but they are not necessarily led and empowered of God, even though we are only able to do them because God makes us able.

But if we know that we are being led by the Spirit of God in what to write or speak or do or sing, or whatever he would have us to do, then the glory should go to the Lord and not to ourselves. And I believe that is what Paul is expressing here. For we all have natural gifts and talents, but then each of us is also given spiritual gifts, of the Spirit of God, which may also incorporate our natural gifts and talents, but which are Spirit led and Spirit empowered. But even the ability to endure unjust suffering comes from God.

But I just love this phrase, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God.” Amen! I believe all of us who are followers of Christ should have this point of view. Even the breath that we breathe each day is a gift from God. Life itself is a gift from God. Yet, there is a natural difference between things we speak, which are just a matter of human opinion, and when we speak as being led by the Spirit of God in words in line with the words of God.

So, then he said that he and his fellow ministers were also, of God, made adequate as servants of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. And that is another subject and one which causes a lot of confusion in human minds. But let me just say here that there is a difference between the Old Covenant liturgical, ceremonial, sacrificial, purification, and dietary laws and restrictions (the letter of the law) and God’s moral laws (of the Spirit of God).

All the old liturgical and ceremonial laws and customs and traditions have all been done away with, but God’s moral laws have always remained. For the one is all external, where the other is internal, of the heart of man, and of the Spirit of God. One can be ceremonial only, while the other impacts the human heart and life and conduct and how we treat God and other people, and it impacts our salvation and where we will spend eternity. So Paul did not teach lawlessness, but he taught obedience to our Lord’s commands.

[Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 15:1-11; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; 2 Tim 1:8-9; 2 Tim 2:10-13; Tit 2:11-14]  

Behold Our God

By Jonathan Baird / Meghan Baird / Ryan Baird / Stephen Altrogge

Who has held the oceans in his hands?

Who has numbered every grain of sand?

Kings and nations tremble at his voice

All creation rises to rejoice

Who has given counsel to the Lord?

Who can question any of his words?

Who can teach, the one who knows all things?

Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds?

Who has felt the nails upon his hands?

Bearing all the guilt of sinful man

God eternal, humbled to the grave

Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign

Behold our God, seated on his throne

Come, let us adore him

Behold our king, nothing can compare

Come, let us adore him

You will reign forever (let Your glory fill the Earth)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCwb1vEXyv4

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