We Really Need Repentance
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Intro:
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Tonight as we continue our series on 2 Corinthians, entitled, [Matters of the Heart], I want to speak on the subject of [We Really Need Repentance].
If you are like me and you were raised in church, you have a lifetime of memories, many that formed us into the people we are today. Until I was eight, we attended a Pentecostal Holiness Church on the south-side of Oklahoma City.
The name of th
Our church was named, The Central Church. While we attended this church I was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit. Even though we lived twenty minutes from the church, it seems we were always there, Sunday morning, night, and on Wednesday.
As long as I can remember, I either sat by my friends, my friends sat by me, or I would sit with the old people because they would give me unlimited amounts of candy, (although I think some of it was as old as they were).
But it was an unwritten rule that my brother would NEVER let me sit with his friends, but for some reason I have one memory of being allowed the privilege.
Stephen’s friend Cogan passed a note to us in church. The top of the note said: Rules for the House of God. What followed was a list of dos and don’ts:
Do worship God
Do pray
Do listen
Do be quiet
Do not talk while the pastor is preaching
Do not
Do not chew gum
Do not chew gum
Do not eat candy
Do not run and play
Do not curse
It went without saying, as a six or seven year old, if I followed the dos and abstained from the don’ts, I would be okay. I confess the only don’t I have obeyed is cursing, I made sure not to do that!
It is interesting, as children, we developed a list of what was appropriate and what was inappropriate. Sadly, the act of keeping lists of rules and regulations follows many people into adulthood.
Christians are good at keeping lists. Often these lists will be lorded over others. The lists are used to get people to act right. Many times we think, if we follow the list of rights and wrongs, we will look good on the outside and everything will be okay.
While people may be sincere in their desire to do right and shun the wrong, if we leave repentance out of the mix, we fail to fulfill our aim.
In our text, Paul looks back to the promises of the last part of chapter six:
I will dwell with them
I will walk among them
I will be their God
They shall be my people
I will welcome you
and I will be a Father to you!
Knowing this, we must be cleans ourselves from anything that might defile our body or spirit. Then we can work toward complete holiness.
Holiness and sanctification are not often discussed. There are many who associate these terms with lists or dos and don’ts. Some have a bad taste in their mouth because of legalistic requirements that have little basis in scripture.
However, God does not exempt us from our responsibility to be HOLY because of a bad experience or personal desires.
Paul emphasized in:
17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
2 Corinthians
16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
14 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
To be Holy is to be set apart. God has called us to separate from the world, refusing to participate in anything that is displeasing to God. Our activities need to be Holy, our attitude needs to be holy, our relationships need to be holy, even our thinking needs to be holy.
To refuse holiness is to allow filthiness of the flesh to become a fixture in our bodies and spirit. How then do we attain holiness? How do we live a holy life?
It does not come through Rules for the House of God passed between religious adolescence. It does not come through manmade rules or regulations.
No, if we want to be holy people, what we really need is repentance! I want to look at three points, [Relationship and Repentance], [Remorse and Repentance], and [Rejoicing and Repentance].
14-15
Let’s begin
1. Relationship and Repentance
1. Relationship and Repentance
2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.
It is difficult when we are in relationship with someone who know right, but is choosing to do wrong. Paul felt this with the church in Corinth.
Reading these verses reminded me that Paul wrote more to the church in Corinth than to any other church. One reason is that they had a lot of problems, but the other reason is Paul loved them.
Paul’s enemies attempted to discredit him, so Paul reminded them, they did no wrong, they never led anyone astray, and they never took advantage of anyone.
Furthermore, Paul never once condemned the church in Corinth. Remember:
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
God does not condemn, instead, He convicts. Though Paul was disappointed in the actions of the Corinthians, he did not condemn them, instead he prevailed on their relationship to lead them to repentance.
He was bold and honest with them, even though it caused him great heartache. He explained, on the outside we had conflict, on the inside we had fear.
Why did Paul have these myriad of emotions?
Because of his relationship with the Corinthians. He was emotionally vested in their success as followers of Christ. It pained him to confront the Corinthians.
However, because of his relationship with them, he knew he had no option but to speak the truth in love and await their response.
6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.
Paul was encouraged through his relationship with Titus. When the Corinthians were in rebellion and sin, Paul sent Titus to speak to them and deliver his letter.
Paul was encouraged through his relationship with Titus. When the Corinthians were in rebellion and sin, Paul sent Titus to speak to them and deliver his letter.
As we’ve discussed, Paul wrote a letter in between 1 and 2 Corinthians. The letter has been lost to history, but it was brief, severe, and blunt on their need to repent.
How could Paul speak so strong on the need to repent? Because he was in relationship with them. He knew his words would sting, but he also know if they repented, they could realign their focus and get right with God.
We really need repentance, and our relationship with other could lead them there. When repentance comes we will find...
2. Remorse and Repentance
2. Remorse and Repentance
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
When Paul recieved word from Titus that the Corinthians had genuine remorse for their sin, it encouraged Paul. He knew he did the right thing in the relationship.
Paul shows a Godly pattern that should come with repentance:
Sorrow led to repentance
Repentance led to living in a Godly manner
So Godly sorrow produces repentance.
Remorse is defined, deep regret or guilt for a wrong committed.But remorse is not enough. There are plenty of people who have felt bad because of their sin.
However, feeling bad means nothing if it is not followed by a sincere apology and a commitment to turn from the poor behavior.
Paul showed that should we sin and we feel bad, we have to do something with the feeling. We have to go to God and repent. When we repent a few things should follow:
diligence- a sincerity of heart
earnestness
indignation- a distaste and dissatisfaction with sin
concern to clear
ind
fear- a new reverence and respect for God
vehement desire- a hunger for righteousness
zeal- an enthusiasm to do right
vindication- a readiness to see justice done
In essence when true repentance comes, our remorse will be followed with a desire to NOT RETURN to the sin God forgave.
12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
Though it was uncomfortable for Paul to do what he did, he knew it was necessary to get the Corinthians to return to God. He did not write to them to make them feel guilty or to scold them.
No, he had a sincere desire to see the Corinthians restored to God. For Paul, his relationship with the Corinthians was so deep he allowed himself to face the discomfort to be honest with the church he loved so deeply.
The result of his honesty was remorse followed by genuine repentance. When this occurs, we have...
3. Rejoicing and Repentance
3. Rejoicing and Repentance
13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
Imagine how Paul felt. He was physically ill from the stress of how the Corinthians were living and if they would repent. He committed a year-and-a-half of ministry in Corinth.
At first he did not want to go there. God had to speak to him in a vision to get him to stay. He stayed and developed a deep love for them.
Paul told Titus of their folly and sent him to bring correction. In part he was worried about Titus. He gave Titus a monumental task.
Paul knew the conflict in the church and he felt the fear inside. But Titus showed up and told him, I have been refreshed while I was in Corinth.
Think of that, there were some churches where I felt refreshed after I finished a revival with them. Then there were churches where I felt like I had worked hard with little result.
Normally, the churches that were on fire for God where the refreshing ones. The churches that were in conflict where draining. The interesting thing about the churches in conflict, no one had to tell me there was disunity or problems.
Paul likely worried about Titus going into the situation. But something happened. Titus read the letter and the people responded. They repented because someone in relationship with them loved them enough to speak to them about their sinful condition.
They felt genuine remorse and a time of refreshing swept across the church. Therefore, Titus was refreshed and the church in Corinth was refreshed.
Hearing this made Paul rejoice. He rejoiced because he was faithful and God honored his faithfulness. But he also rejoiced because the people he loved repented and were restored to right relationship with the Father.
10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
He joined all of heaven knowing that God’s people were right with Him once again!
Close:
There are many people who are gifted in knowing what is needed. They can look at a family and say, well what they need to do is...
They can look at a parent and say, well what they need to do with that child is...
They can look at a business or school and think, well what they really need to do is...
And some can even look at the church and have all the answers thinking, what they really need is...
A wise man once told me, if you want to know whats wrong with the church, talk to someone who never goes! They normally know everything that is wrong with the church!
But that is our nature, saved or unsaved, we tend to focus outward. However, what really need FIRST is personal repentance. We ought to repent everyday.
We need to listen to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. That is part of walking in the Spirit. Just today I prayed in my office, if there is ANYTHING I do that does not please you, show me and remove it from my life.
For if we are to be an effective witness in leading people to the Lord, it flows from a personal relationship with the Lord. Then we can help those with whom we have a relationship.
I think this is vital. There are times the Lord may lead us to speak to a total stranger about coming to Jesus. We need to follow that prompting.
But we should also ask the Lord to speak to us about those in our lives. If we are in relationship with someone who is not living for the Lord, we have to speak to the truth in love.
Sometimes it is easy to turn a blind eye to those we love. But if we really love them we should be honest and speak to them about their relationship with the Lord.
However it starts prayer. Long before we confront the individual we had better repent first and then pray God will lead them to repentance!
Something that comes with this is the sadness of watching a close friend or loved one pull away from us as they backslide. When this happens, intercede and trust God to bring them home!
When we speak to them we must remind them remorse is not enough. Repentance is not a change of mood it is a change of mind.
Then when true repentance has come, we will rejoice and celebrate!
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
I pray that a revival of repentance will sweep across our church. There is not better feeling than knowing we are in right relationship with God!
Living for Jesus is more than a list of dos and don’ts. It is living a life of holiness, separating from the sins of this world by habitual repentance!
