Romans 9:31-33
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
That's the 10 commandments. The Letter that was written on Stone.
They had not attained to the law of righteousness because they sought it not by Faith.
The Word; the Commandments contained in the Book of the Law; that which was written with ink and on Tables of stone .
These are through and of Christ. If Christ is in the heart and mouth they are in our heart and mouth;
THIS IS the
FAITH IN WHICH WE PREACH; this the New Covenant. . This is the contrast that is being brought out by Paul when he paraphrased Deut 30:12-14 in Romans 10:4-8.
If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to
keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this commandment
,which I command thee this day, (
hearken unto the voice of the LORD; keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart) it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word (
his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law,) is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
(Deu 30:10-14 KJV)
For Christ (
the Word; his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law in the heart and mouth; THE FAITH IN WHICH WE PREACH); is the end of the law (
that which is written with ink on parchment and on Tables of Stone) for righteousness to every one that believeth. For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ (
the Word; his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law but now is in the heart and mouth; THE FAITH IN WHICH WE PREACH) down from above) Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ (
the Word; his commandments and his statutes which are written in the book of the law but now is in the heart and mouth; THE FAITH IN WHICH WE PREACH)again from the dead.) But what saith it? The word (
Christ; His commandments and his statutes which are written in the book of the law is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
(Rom 10:4-8 KJV)
2 Corinthians 3:7-9
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
Christ cannot possibly be the 10 commandments, the ministration of death and condemnation and simultaneously promise rest and no condemnation.
How is the ministration of the spirit more glorious than Christ Himself. Which for you is the 10 commandments, the ministration of death and condemnation??
How does the ministration of righteousness exceed Christ in glory?
2 Corinthians 3 speaks of the ministration changing. How GOD'S will is to be proclaimed and lived; Not how we are to live but how we are to proclaim it. These text proclaim the same truth that is revealed in Romans 10:6-8
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared (
shown to be) to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone,
but in fleshy tables of the heart ( Christ; the Word in the the heart and mouth. The Law written in the heart and mind; the Faith in which we preach; Christ in us the hope of Glory). And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God (
for it is GOD that works in us both to will and do HIS good pleasure); Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament (through the
fleshy tables of the heart ( Christ; the Word in the the heart and mouth. The Law written in the heart and mind; the Faith in which we preach; Christ in us the hope of Glory). ; not of the letter, but of the spirit (
the Word; the Law through Christ in the heart, mind and mouth): for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
(2Co 3:3-6 KJV)