Righteousness Ministry VS Ministry of Justification

 

Righteousness Ministry VS Ministry of Justification

2 Corinthians 3:8 How much more shall the ministry of the Spirit be glorious?

2 Corinthians 3:9 For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, the ministry of justification is much more glorious.

Romans 3:24 But being justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

Ro 4:5 But to him who does not work but trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness. 

Item	Righteousness Ministry	Ministry of Justification
Meaning	The Spirit living, moving, and working within believers, making them right with God, with others, and with themselves, manifesting God's image.	Declaring sinners righteous before God in a judicial sense, resolving the legal position of humans before God.
Distinction	It is a work of life, focusing on the internal life transformation of believers to live out the reality of righteousness.	It is a change of position, focusing on the believer's legal standing before God, changing from sinner to righteous.
Examples	When believers are filled with the Holy Spirit, they naturally know God's heart, act according to God's will, and maintain correct relationships with God and others.	When sinners trust in Jesus Christ, their sins are forgiven, they are counted as righteous by God, and their position is transformed.
Application	Believers become sober according to righteousness, no longer intoxicated or asleep, restoring right relationships with God and others, doing God's will.	Believers know they have been justified, stand in God's grace, and no longer fear condemnation.
Interrelationship	It is the life experience after justification; justification is the foundation of the righteousness ministry; the righteousness ministry is the extension and realization of justification in practical life.	It is the prerequisite and foundation of the righteousness ministry; without justification, there can be no practical righteous living.
Related Scripture	2 Cor 3:8-9 "the ministry of the Spirit... the ministry of righteousness" 1 Cor 15:34 "Awake to righteousness, and do not sin" Rom 8:4 "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit"	Rom 3:24 "being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" Rom 4:5 "But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness" Rom 5:1 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"

 

In 2 Corinthians 3, Paul mentions the "ministry of righteousness" rather than the "ministry of justification," indicating that the New Testament ministry not only justifies people legally but also, through the work of the Holy Spirit, enables believers to live out righteousness in their daily lives. Righteousness is not merely having a relationship with God and others without fault, but acting entirely according to God's heart and will, allowing God to be manifested. When the Holy Spirit truly operates within believers, they can naturally live a righteous life, becoming the image and manifestation of God.

 

*Please refer to Life-study of 2 Corinthians, Chapter 27, The Ministry of the Spirit (as the life supply) and the Ministry of Righteousness (as the expression of God) (I)