What happened to the ministration of condemnation in verse 7, and what replaced it?

In verse 7 the ministration of condemnation—the law that condemned the individual and brought death—was done away. In its place came the whole concept of grace. Verse 9 identifies the replacement as the ministration of righteousness, which exceeds the former system in glory far more.

Les explains that the law, the ministration of condemnation, could only condemn the individual, and if condemned, death was the only alternative. Since that system was going to be done away in verse 7, grace now takes its place. Les points to verse 9, where the ministration of righteousness exceeds in glory. As glorious as the law was while operating in Israel, it is nothing compared with the operation of grace. Legalism, God’s mandated way for Israel under law, has no glory by comparison. Les notes that millions today turn from grace to keep commandments instead, which he calls a sad commentary.

2 Corinthians 3:7

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:

What took the place of the ministration of condemnation that was done away?

The ministration of righteousness, which is grace, took the place of the ministration of condemnation that was done away. The law could only condemn and bring death, but grace now operates instead, and the ministration of righteousness exceeds the former glory.