The ministers of the new covenant qualified by God are multi-faceted life workers
2 Corinthians 3:6 "Who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
1 Corinthians 9:11 "If we have sown spiritual things to you, is it a great thing if we shall reap your fleshly things?"
1 Corinthians 3:6 "I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth."
1 Corinthians 3:9 "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's cultivated land, God's building."
1 Corinthians 4:15 "For though you have ten thousand guides in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."
1 Corinthians 3:2 "I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,"
1 Corinthians 3:12 "But if anyone builds upon the foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, grass, stubble,"
|
Role |
Description |
Purpose |
Explanation |
Example |
Related Scripture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Sower |
One who sows spiritual seeds |
To impart life |
Imparting life in and through our spirit |
Jesus sowed Himself as the seed of life into humanity |
1 Cor. 9:11, Matt. 13:3,37 |
|
Planter |
One who plants Christ into God's people |
To make people God's cultivated land in the new creation |
Requires genuine experience of Christ as life in our spirit |
Paul said, "I planted" |
1 Cor. 3:6,9 |
|
Waterer |
One who waters people with Christ |
To help people grow in life |
Like a divine irrigation system, supplying others with the water of life |
Apollos watered |
1 Cor. 3:6, John 4:14, 7:37-39 |
|
Begetter |
A father who imparts life to his begotten children |
To produce spiritual children |
Needs the divine "life germ" |
Paul said, "I have begotten you through the gospel" |
1 Cor. 4:15 |
|
Feeder |
One who gives milk or food to eat |
To nourish believers |
Supplies life through healthy teaching |
The apostles supplied milk to the Corinthian believers |
1 Cor. 3:2, 1 Tim. 1:10, 6:3, 2 Tim. 1:13, Titus 1:9 |
|
Builder |
One who builds with gold, silver, and precious stones |
To build up the Body of Christ |
Builds with the Father's nature, Christ's redemption, and the Spirit's transforming work |
Perfecting Christ-seekers in proper church life |
1 Cor. 3:12, Song of Songs 1:10-11, Rev. 21:18-21 |
Summary:
- The ministers of the new covenant qualified by God are multi-faceted life workers, whose work revolves around imparting and nurturing divine life.
- These ministers need to personally experience Christ as life and be able to practically impart this life to others.
- Their work is progressive, starting from sowing, through planting, watering, begetting, feeding, and ultimately to building.
- The goal of all this work is to build up the church as the organic Body of Christ, and ultimately to complete the New Jerusalem, fulfilling God's eternal economy.
Key Scripture:
2 Corinthians 3:6 "Who has made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
This verse emphasizes that the essence of the ministers of the new covenant is of the Spirit, able to bring life, rather than merely conveying letters or knowledge. This aligns perfectly with the six roles described in the table, each role imparting and nurturing spiritual life in different ways.
*Please refer to the 2024 Memorial Day Conference - The Christian Life, Week 5: Enjoying the Flow of Life with the Supply of Life, out of and for God's House of Rest, to Live the Christian Life
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