Joy In Grief
Lessons From 2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
As we continue looking at our series “Lessons From 2 Corinthians” we find ourselves today looking at 2 Corinthians 7:2-16.
There is no way to read this section of scripture without seeing Paul’s great love for the church in Corinth and his deep joy knowing they had repented and correct their sin.
2 Corinthians 7:2–4 (ESV)
2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
2 Corinthians 7:5–7 (ESV)
5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more.
2 Corinthians 7:8–9 (ESV)
8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
The apostle Paul is “proud of them” and they now brought him comfort instead of affliction due to their repentance.
That is what Paul is really getting at in these passages that godly grief which leads to repentance always brings joy for those that repented and those that were praying and teaching on the need for that repentance.
So with that in mind let’s examine our lesson for this even.
Repentance
Repentance
Sin Turns Us Away From God.
Sin Turns Us Away From God.
When we sin and do not repent we find ourselves separated from God for breaking his law.
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
If allowed to exist in our lives long enough we will become numb to sin.
Psalm 119:70 (ESV)
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat, but I delight in your law.
This is when our conscience becomes seared.
1 Timothy 4:1–2 (ESV)
1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared
Because of the effects of sin when we wake up and want to get serious about living for God we realize we need to repent, but how does one do that?
They must first be…
Change Is Motivated By Heartbreak.
Change Is Motivated By Heartbreak.
When one of the 99 leaves the flock God goes after that one to bring them back into the fold.
God does this through disciplining us.
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
This is physically done through things that happen in our lives and through God sending his faithful to correct us such as Paul did in the 1 Corinthians letter.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
When we are afflicted it motivates us because of the heartbreak, sorrow, grief we have and disappointing our Creator.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.
2 Corinthians 7:10–11 (ESV)
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you…
Once motivated by heartbreak to change we must then realize that…
Change Is Fulfilled By Activity.
Change Is Fulfilled By Activity.
Or as Paul puts it in the later part of 2 Corinthians 7:11…
2 Corinthians 7:11 (ESV)
11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.
Actively changing our lives through repentance means…
Rededicating ourselves to him.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Being completely commited to God.
27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Not just stopping doing the wrong but actively seeking the right.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.
Summary
Summary
When we grasp the what sin does to our relationship between us and the Father, Son, and Spirit that heartbreak motivates us to change.
That deep godly sorrow for the pain and disappointment we caused God by our sin will trust us forward to action.
Those that are sorrowed and seek change will bear the fruit of repentance (Matthew 3:8) by actively seeking to not just stop doing the sin but seek the righteousness that keeps us on the straight and narrow.
When this is accomplished…
Joy Springs Out Of Sorrow
Joy Springs Out Of Sorrow
For The Repentant.
For The Repentant.
There is no greater feeling then knowing our Creator loves us so much that he is willing to wash away our sins once again even after we disappointed him as a child of God.
What joy there is in the prodigal son upon find this vital truth out.
20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
When we repent and confess we have those sins “completely removed from our account.”
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jeremiah 31:34 (ESV)
34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
How can we not rejoice at such.
However, in our text here in 2 Corinthians Paul is actually focused on “his joy” from hearing from Titus of their godly sorrow leading them to repentance.
This tells us how we ought to feel about those that repent and come back to God, because joy springs out of sorrow also…
For The Brethren.
For The Brethren.
It isn’t easy going to our brother or sister and reminding them of sin that they are caught up in.
It is could, if we are not careful, lead to us falling away as well.
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
But when when our brother or sister repents and turns their spiritual life around there should be rejoicing on our behalf.
In our text Paul talks about not only his joy at hearing of their current faithfulness but Titus’ as well.
13 Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.
Summary
Summary
If we do not have joy in one’s repentance then we do not have confidence in their repentance.
But as Jesus said, that is not our responsibility as many times as one repents we find joy in there turning back to righteousness (Matthew 18:22).
16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.
Conclusion
Conclusion
v
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
