Sorrow, Repentance, Salvation

2 Corinthians 7

Verse 1 is a continuation of chapter 6.....so let’s go back and read verses 14-18 of ch. 6.

The teaching here is not engaging in union or in agreement with anything that is ungodly, idol worship, uncleanness, etc....

We are the temple of God and do not belong in idol worship or in filthiness/defilement.

God will be our Father and we will be His children.....

Now, because of that powerful promise, let us cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and the spirit......

Yes the spirit, too......the mind, the inward person.

Our pride, our legalism, our self-focus, our self-righteousness, our bitterness, and our hatred can all be far worse to deal with than the more obvious sins of the flesh. “There is a defilement of the spirit which is independent of the defilement of the flesh. The spirit can be defiled in many ways. I sometimes think that the sins of the spirit are more deadly than the sins of the flesh.” (Morgan)

“I suppose that, the nearer we get to heaven, the more conscious we shall be of our imperfections. The more light we get, the more we discover our own darkness. That which is scarcely accounted sin by some men, will be a grievous defilement to a tender conscience. It is not that we are greater sinners as we grow older, but that we have a finer sensibility of sin, and see that to be sin which we winked at in the days of our ignorance.” (Spurgeon)

But we must take care that we cleanse ourselves and not concern ourselves with cleansing others. Most of the time we are more concerned with the holiness of others than our own holiness! “It were more in accordance with our tastes to cleanse other people, and attempt a moral reformation among our neighbors. Oh! it is easy to find out other men’s faults, and to bring the whole force of our mind to inveigh against them.”

Perfecting holiness in the fear of God............Perfecting means to finish or completing.

To separate ourselves from all that would defile both the body and the mind.

Jesus was the only One perfect.....we should pursue that.

Careful......“I remember hearing a man say that he had lived for six years without having sinned in either thought, or word, or deed. I apprehended that he committed a sin then, if he had never done so before, in uttering such a proud, boastful speech.” (Spurgeon)

Verses 2-3......Again, as in ch. 6 vs. 13......Make room for us.....is what Paul is saying....Open your hearts to us.....

They had not treated anyone unjustly, nor purposely set out to injure anyone. That was not Paul’s purpose.

They had not corrupted anyone....either by false teaching, or by corrupting one’s morals.

The very heart of Paul was for the hard letters to be a correction, for things to get better.

His desire is not to condemn, but for their betterment.

They were in his heart....He loves them......

To die together or live together.....

Denying the flesh and the worldly and following Jesus was severely dangerous in those days, so this was a very vivid statement that he made.

Verses 4-7.....Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf: Yes, Paul has been bold in his criticism to the Corinthians, but he was also bold in his boasting about them.

I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation… when he told us of your earnest desire, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more: Despite the many trials Paul faced (from both within and without), he found joy, and part of that joy was good news from the Corinthian Christians.

When Paul speaks of the coming of Titus, he actually picks up where he left off in 2 Corinthians 2:13. In a sense, 2 Corinthians 2:14 to 7:4 is one long digression — led by God of course and containing some of the richest treasure of the New Testament.

Our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side: Paul had a hard time in Macedonia, but Titus came to Paul when he was in Macedonia and he brought a good report of how the Corinthian Christians were turning back to Jesus and to Paul.

Going back to chapter 4......Paul’s life was full of outward conflicts but hope always overcome outward pain/trouble.....especially when he would hear of folks repenting and turning to Jesus.

Verses 8-12.....For even if I made you sorry with my letter: What letter? This probably is not the letter of 1 Corinthians but a letter that Paul wrote in between 1 and 2 Corinthians.

It helps if we remember the sequence of events.

Things were going badly among the Christians in Corinth, and in an attempt to get them on track, Paul made a quick, unplanned visit that only seemed to make things worse (the “sorrowful visit” mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:1).

After the failure of this visit, Paul decided not to visit Corinth again in person at the time but instead sent Titus to them with a strong letter of rebuke. Paul was very worried about how the Corinthians would receive the letter and whether it would turn them to Jesus or just make them angry. When Titus came back with good news from the Corinthian Christians, Paul was greatly relieved.

I do not regret it; though I did regret it: When Paul first wrote the “sorrowful letter” carried by Titus, he didn’t enjoy the idea of being so confrontational with the Corinthian Christians, even though they deserved it.

It was truly a sorrowful letter, it had to be done but there was no enjoyment in writing it.

The same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while: “In sin, the pleasure passeth, the sorrow remaineth; but in repentance, the sorrow passeth, the pleasure abideth for ever. God soon poureth the oil of gladness into broken hearts.” (Trapp)

Paul says I rejoice now, not because you felt bad, but because your sorrow moved you to repentance.....

You were made sorry in a godly manner: Paul made the Corinthian Christians feel bad for their sin, but he did it in a godly way. He used the truth, not lies or exaggeration. He was honest, not using hidden agendas and manipulation. He simply told the truth in love. Not every preacher or every person can say they do the same as Paul did and it isn’t right to try to make someone sorry in an ungodly manner.

That you might suffer loss from us in nothing shows why it is important to only make others sorrow in a godly manner......

It is easy to get mad at folks and just say what you think needs to be said and let the rough end drag........Paul did not do this in this way, although there was “tough talk” it was undeniable the Word of God, the truth revealed in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ!

Today it would be straight from God’s Word.....Ephesians 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”

Verse 10 reveals to us, I believe the necessary steps to salvation........

Godly sorrow.....some say that means sorrow that God creates within us.....maybe??

I like what Jesus said about the prodigal son......He came to himself, whilst in the pig sty!

The realization of the reality of God and man

The publican....Luke 18:13 “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.”

My thoughts on this in order to get to the place of Godly sorrow, we must come to a true understanding of God.....

Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: A good understanding have all they that do his commandments: His praise endureth for ever.”

Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: And the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”

Repentance......Once that wisdom of God, knowledge of God begins then you will see how you measure up with your Creator and fallenness will soon rush in leading to sorrow, which should cause you to abandon the way you were going and find the right path to God......

Jesus Christ....John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

The Word of the Lord is clear repent, in a since that is what Jesus is telling us when He says “Follow Me!”

Salvation........“In repentance there is a bitter sweetness, or a sweet bitterness — which shall I call it? — of which, the more you have, the better it is for you. I can truly say that I hardly know a diviner joy than to lay my head in my Heavenly Father’s bosom and to say, ‘Father, I have sinned, but thou hast forgiven me; and, oh, I do love thee!’” (Spurgeon)

The sorrow of the world..... Worldly sorrow is not a product of putting God in His rightful place, it is human derived. It’s remorse is not unto God it is motivated by human desires and lusts. It has no redemptive power.

It is nothing more than the “wounded pride” of getting caught in a sin and/or having one’s lusts go unfulfilled.

That kind of sorrow leads only to guilt, shame, despair, depression, self-pity, and hopelessness. People will die from such sorrow! Matthew 27:3 “Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,”

Vs. 11......True repentance is revealed in this way

Carefulness......earnestness

Vindication....Clearing of yourselves

Indignation.....I read one writer said that we become angry at the devil, another said that is angry at oneself for their own sin. I can see both! Mostly, me!!!

Fear......Reverence of the Lord

Vehement desire.....Longing for God’s way.

Zeal.....devotion’

Revenge.....avenging of wrong

Vs. 12 ........Paul again specifically mentions the severe letter. His statement that “it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are” does not mean that he did not write to make sure that they discipline the one who did wrong and champion the one who was wronged. He is using a form of comparison that communicates that his greater purpose was the ultimate good of the church.

Verse 13-16........After finding out that the church did truly benefit, that comforted Paul.....that was probably torn up after having to be so strong with them.

Paul was not made ashamed of this church, what he thought about them was proven!

Titus was refreshed by what he saw....

His affections are great for you: Paul assures the Corinthian Christians that Titus loves them more than ever now. Probably Titus saw a lot of ugliness among the Corinthian Christians, and from this he may have had a “chip on his shoulder” against them. So Paul wants them to know that after he saw and reported their repentance, Titus loved them more than ever.

I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything: Is Paul being sarcastic here? Probably not. He is probably simply trying to encourage the Corinthians, showing them that he is convinced their repentance was genuine.

“Thus by praising them, he further winneth upon them, whom before he had more sharply handled. Sour and sweet make the best sauce.” (Trapp)