"for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life."

2 Corinthians 3:5-6 "Not that we are sufficient of oursselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit; for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life"

According to the notes regarding these verses in my Bible, "The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" means that trying to be saved by keeping the Old Testament laws ends in death. Only by trusting in God can a person receive eternal life through Christ. No one but Jesus has ever fulfilled the Law perfectly. The Law makes people realize their sin, but it cannot give life. Eternal life comes through Christ..and a new life is given to all who put their trust in Him.
I read something interesting recently. To the Jews, the feast of Pentecost is a celebration of the giving of God's law. It takes place 50 days after the Passover feast. When God gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, it was 50 days after they had celebrated their first Passover, and come out of slavery in Egypt.

But what happened after God gave them the law on the first Pentecost? Three thousand people died. (Exodus 32:28) Contrast this with another Pentecost in the New Testament. In the book of Acts, it says that when Pentecost had fully come, God gave the Holy Spirit, and three thousand people got saved! (Acts 2:41)..which goes to show that the letter (the law) kills, but the Spirit gives life.

The law, which was "written and engraved on stones" ministered death. This is why the Apostle Paul called it the "ministry of death" (2 Cor. 3:7-9) . On the other hand, the Spirit ministers life!
When we come under the law by trying to keep God's commandments in order to be blessed, it leads to death.. lack of joy, discouragement, condemnation, depression, frustration, hopelessness. But when we rely on the Spirit, it brings life into every situation. We have a sense of hope, courage in the midst of adversity, a deep sense of joy, breakthroughs and new ideas, and a sense of being led..peace and wonder, and manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 3:5)

The law was given on Mount Sinai...but the Spirit on Mount Zion. This is why the Bible says that "you have not come to the mountain (Sinai) that may be touched and that burned with fire, and to blackness and darkness and tempest..But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels" (Heb.12:18,22). The Lord blesses you out of Zion (Psalm 128:5).

Beloved, He has given you His Spirit. He has made you a new creation. Today, thank Him for all that He has done. You are truly blessed.