In its perfection, written on stone, the application of God’s Ten Commandment Law is unwavering. The application of it is firm in its course. The end of that course is death.

That makes sense when the law’s perfection is broken. After all, the Law is perfect life. It is the living, eternal source that is wholly comprised of God’s righteousness. If life is broken, and that can only be by unrighteousness, then death naturally is the result.

Such symmetry sparkles beautifully in its application of God’s Law. Because the Law is tended to in this way, it is the reason that the apostle Paul labels the process “glorious” in 2 Corinthians 3: 7…

“But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away…”

(Before going on, please take note that Paul said that the glory of Moses’ countenance was passing away; not the Law itself, as some want to do away with. Remember that God’s Law is eternally perfect and righteous.)

But then, Paul goes on to say in verse 8…

“How will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious?”

Was he saying that the Law had become inferior to the Spirit? No! The Law, like the Spirit, is in and of itself good (Romans 7: 12). It is not to be done away with (Romans 6: 15). Furthermore, the Law points out sin and points to the One who can save us from sin.

Paul is saying that although the Law retains its sentencing power, the way that the Law is now applied or ministered to the believer is different. For today’s believer, the Law is written not on stone, but in the heart; signaling a new approach.

Moreover, the law’s sentencing was carried out against humanity in Jesus. Therefore, rather than applying the Law’s rigidity to believers and those coming to Jesus, the Spirit now can minister the Law with forgiveness and the empowering grace to keep the Law.

In other words, it is now because of the added dimension of mercy trumping condemnation (James 2: 13) that the application of the Law is more glorious.