O problema de viata si de moarte

(W.W. Wirsbe)

Death—Life (2 Cor. 3:4-6 )

Paul was quick to give the glory to God and not to himself. His confidence (“trust”) was in God, and his sufficiency came from God. Paul was a brilliant and well-educated man; yet he did not depend on his own adequacy. He depended on the Lord.

The legalists, of course, told people that any person could obey the Law and become spiritual. A legalistic ministry has a way of inflating the egos of people. When you emphasize the grace of God, you must tell people that they are lost sinners who cannot save themselves. Paul’s testimony was, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Cor. 15:10 ). No one is sufficient of himself to minister to the hearts of people. That sufficiency can only come from God.

As you read this chapter, note the different names that Paul used for the Old Covenant and the New Covenant as he contrasted them. In 2 Corinthians 3:6 , “the letter” refers to the Old Covenant Law, while “the spirit” refers to the New Covenant message of grace. Paul was not contrasting two approaches to the Bible, a “literal interpretation” and a “spiritual interpretation.” He was reminding his readers that the Old Covenant Law could not give life; it was a ministry of death (see Gal. 3:21 ). The Gospel gives life to those who believe because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Paul was not suggesting that the Law was a mistake or that its ministry was unimportant. Far from it! Paul knew that the lost sinner must be slain by the Law and left helplessly condemned before he can be saved by God’s grace. John the Baptist came with a message of judgment, preparing the way for Jesus and His message of saving grace.

A legalistic ministry brings death. Preachers who major on rules and regulations keep their congregations under a dark cloud of guilt, and

Candidaţii pentru botez

(Petrica Antonesei)

Text: Romani 6:1-23

Ca oameni pe pămînt tînjim dupa ,,ceva nou’’. Ne place sa auzim ceva nou , sa vizităm un loc nou , să avem lucruri noi ( o maşină nouă , o casă nouă etc.) Cred că lui Dumnezeu îi plac cel mai mult ,,oamenii noi’’, acei oameni ce au răspuns pozitiv Evangheliei si au experimentat o radicală înoire în viaţa lor.Ce spune Romani 6 despre astfel de oameni ?

1.Oameni ce trăiesc o viaţă nouă : v.3-4

2.Oameni ce slujesc un stăpîn nou : v.16-18, 22

3.Oameni ce au roade de o natură nouă : v.20-21

4.Oameni cu un destin nou : v.22b-23

Cînd aceasta e realitatea despre cei ce vin să fie botezaţi , atunci avem garanţia că cei ce se botează sunt candidaţi autentici şi nu impostori.