2 Corinthians 7:2-16

Introduction

You will remember that last week, Paul was making the argument that there can be no intermingling of the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.

You can live in the world, but you cannot be of the world.

In other words, your affections, what you love, what you desire are not in accord with worldly desires. They align with kingdom principles, kingdom desires, and the king of that kingdom - Jesus Christ.

So what is the connection between last week and this week?

Paul is telling the church in Corinth that there should be no room in their hearts for competing authorities - competing loves - competing affections.

But what should there be room for?

Vs 2-4

2 Corinthians 7:2–4 “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.”

(V2) Paul says there shouldn’t be room in your hearts for these competing desires, but there should be room in your hearts for us.

We have wronged no one

We have corrupted no one

We have taken advantage of no one

Everything that we have done for you, we’ve done in accordance with the Gospel

If you were to go back through that list in Chapter 6, which side do you think we fall on? Christ or Belial?

It is without doubt, Christ. Because of that, you should feel an affection, an affinity for us. The same God that promised to dwell in you is dwelling in me. We are united through Christ.

Piney Grove Baptist

Calvary Chapel New Orleans

Bat Cave Baptist

Redeemer Community Church, Dearborn

First Presbyterian Church, Trenton, MI

Everywhere Mandy and I have gone, we have felt a bond with the believers there because we are brothers and sisters in Christ. We are united to each other BECAUSE we are united to Christ.

So how then should you treat your Christian brothers and sisters?

(V3) 2 Corinthians 7:3 “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.”

Paul’s goal is not to shame them, or guilt them into accepting them. His goal is to encourage them.

You are in our hearts already - we love you!

I would live with you in all that you do

I would die with you if it comes to that

This Christian pilgrimage that we’re on - we’re on together

(V4) 2 Corinthians 7:4 “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.”

I can say what I’m saying with great confidence. I know that my labor is not in vain and I find comfort in our relationship with each other.

Even in my affliction, I can’t help but rejoice!

Do you feel that way about your brothers and sisters in Christ?

That even in the midst of hardship, you thank God for your friendship, for the bond that you have with your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Vs 5-7

2 Corinthians 7:5–7 “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.”

Here, I believe we find a case study in what Paul is talking about.

He doesn’t just tell the believers at Corinth, “do as I say, not as I do…”

He says, let me show you how I have been encouraged by someone else - and even by you.

2 Corinthians 7:5 “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.”

(V5) My rejoicing, and my comfort didn't come when I was living on the mountain top. They didn’t come when life was peachy.

My rejoicing came when our bodies had no rest.

My comfort came when we were afflicted at every turn.

So we have to ask, where do we turn for comfort when our bodies have no rest and we are afflicted at every turn?

Where do we find rest and comfort?

Is it in the Lord - is it in his bride, the church - or is it in temporal things that don’t last - tv, scrolling facebook, gossip?

(V6) Where did Paul find his comfort in his affliction?

2 Corinthians 7:6 “6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,”

Comfort in the presence of a brother in the Lord

Sometimes it’s just being in the presence of another believer that can lift your spirits. It doesn’t take the pain away, but it’s someone that you know is with you in the pain.

2 Corinthians 7:7 “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.”

Comfort in the stories of other believers

(V7) - I could tell you of story after story of the trials and the tribulations of other believers in the path that I have walked as a Christian - and everyone of them has served to bring me comfort in my own affliction.

Can you think of a story of another believer going through something difficult that brings you comfort?

Vs 8-9

2 Corinthians 7:8–9 “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.”

(V8-9) - What letter is Paul talking about?

The first letter to the Corinthians

In that letter, he was calling them to repentance

Paul is saying, it hurt me to make you feel the grief that you did.

Have you as a parent ever said, “This hurts me more than it hurts you?”

I remember hearing my dad say that right before he spanked me and I thought…. You’re a liar!

But I know what he means.

It breaks our hearts to call someone to repentance - it grieves us, but we do not regret it because we know that it is what must be done.

This is the natural outflow of being in community with one another.

So much of what we have talked about up to this point has been:

Making room in your heart for someone

Rejoicing in their presence

Finding comfort in their stories

But it also means, being called to repentance, right?

My wife is the one that will do this most often, because she knows me the best…

There are men in this building right now that I have that kind of relationship with as well

Vs 10-13a

2 Corinthians 7:8–9 “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.”

Now what is the difference between Godly grief and worldly grief?

(V10) - 2 Corinthians 7:10 “10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.”

Godly Grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret

Worldly grief produces death

This is a sorrow that you got caught

This is a sorrow that your comforts are uprooted

This is a sorrow that your lifestyle has to change

This is a sorrow that is inconvenient

You’re not really sorry over your sin

You’re inconvenienced by the consequences of your sin

But Godly grief produces repentance (a turning from sin - a changing of one’s mind) and that repentance leads to salvation WITHOUT REGRET.

This is so important.

There is no regret.

Repentance is hard and has consequences, but there is no regret

2 Corinthians 7:11 “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.”

(V11) - Is it easy to be called to repentance by someone close to you?

No, but you know it’s a genuine repentance when there is a longing to clear your name with fear, longing, zeal, and willing to face the consequences or punishments of your sin.

“At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”

This is what you want to hear when you are walking though repentance, or when you are walking with someone who is walking through repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:12 “12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.”

(V12) - Now there is a translational question here. Some versions will say, “but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.”

Others translate this, “but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.”

So one says, that the purpose of the letter was to reveal earnestness in the Corinthians for Paul and his people.

The other says that the purpose of the letter was to show the care of Paul and his people to the Corinthians.

Either way, the point remains the same.

There is a deeper purpose to this letter than simple accusation and justice.

It was to reveal a love and care that was not seen on the surface.

(V13a) - That’s why we’re comforted.

God is using the words and the actions of his people to minister so much more deeply than we ever imagined.

Vs 13b-16

2 Corinthians 7:13 “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.”

(13b) It wasn’t just our comfort - this wasn’t all about me (Paul says)

I rejoice when someone else is comforted!

Are there people in your life that you have a hard time rejoicing when things go well for them?

Does it just irk you when certain people seem like they are always needing something or always asking for something?

Paul calls us to the mat - He rejoiced when others were comforted.

His joy was increased when others’ joy was increased.

Paul wants the church in Corinth to feel joy because they refreshed Titus. They participated in his spiritual rejuvenation.

Can I tell you that First Pres was instrumental in my (and my wife’s) spiritual rejuvenation? You all have been an incredible blessing to us for 6 years now.

(V14) - 2 Corinthians 7:14 “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.”

Have you ever said something about a person or a company - “You should meet this guy, or You should talk to this plumber - they’re great!” - only to have them have a bad experience with that person?

It makes you look bad - It makes you out to be a liar.

But this wasn’t the case for Paul concerning the Corinthians church.

Timothy was told - you’re going to love the church in Corinth. They have a mighty love for God and a love for his servants. They will be beneficial to your walk with Christ.

Whatever Paul said, was true.

2 Corinthians 7:14 “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.”

(V15) - 2 Corinthians 7:15 “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.”

The way you welcome someone into the community of the church is remembered.

Whether it is good or bad.