True Repentance

2 Corinthians 7:2-12

Introduction:

What do you think of when you think of repentance?

Generally repentance is not used around our dinner tables, but is a word that is often used in religious type conversation.

Much has been written over the years and much has been argued in regards to repentance.

What is repentance and what does it mean to repent?

What it does not mean (it may include these things, but in and of themselves they are not repentance):

ð Repentance is not just feeling guilty: Some people feel a sense of guilt and yet never repent; some who need to repent do not feel guilt at all.

ð Repentance and confession are not the same thing: This is part of true repentance, but one can confess without repentance

ð Repentance is not rationalizing or giving reasons for ones sin: Remember back in the Garden of Eden when Eve said, “The serpent made me do it.” This gives the idea that the sin was wrong but the extenuating circumstances makes it ok.

ð Repentance is not penance: Penance = “An act of self-mortification or devotion performed voluntarily to show sorrow for a sin or other wrongdoing.” Just doing something to show our sorrow for sin does not mean that we have repented of it.

The message of repentance was certainly important in the New Testament

ð John the Baptist preached the need to repent

ð Jesus taught the need to repent

ð Acts 2:38 Peter said that repentance was necessary to have our sins forgiven

ð In our text today Paul is glad that his letter to the believers in Corinth led to their repentance

I. The Goal of Repentance v. 2

Paul’s example v. 2

His life was pure before them v. 2

Paul is concerned with living a pure life that is right before God and men v. 1

If Paul is going to minister that to others he knows that it needs to be true in him

We have wronged no one:

We have corrupted no one: Not led them in the wrong direction

We have cheated no one: Took advantage of: Unlike false teachers

Paul’s life is like an open book and he is inviting others to read the pages

It is not like Paul is just telling them this, he is inviting them to examine his life and see for themselves.

We need to be more concerned about this than we are as Christians today

We are good at telling other people how to live and not ourselves

Two weeks ago today I preached a message and shared how Paul did not want to be a stumbling block to others coming to Christ and shared how we needed to have the same desire. The very next day I sat across the table from a man who said, “I used to go to Church every Sunday, then I began to look at the lives of those who were attending and have not been back since.” Now you and I know that that is not a valid excuse, and yet do we realize how much our lives effect others and their own relationships with the Lord?!

Before Paul even began to minister about the need to repent, he invited them to look into his life and see his purity.

Ultimately that is the goal of repentance: a life that is right and pure before God

At its heart repentance is about finding what is not pure in our lives and seeking to make it right.

II. The desire for repentance

Paul had a great deal of care for the Corinthian believers

V. 3 They hold a special place in Paul’s heart

“I have said before” See 1:6-8, 2:4, 3:2

“To die together and to live together” One of strongest terms of affection

Paul puts them ahead of himself

If we are going to help others repent and live a pure lives then we need to show our love and concern for them. “People don’t care how much we know until they know how much we care!”

Because Paul cared he was able to:

Vv. 4-7

He was bold in speech toward them: Told them the way it was (truth)

He was boasting at what God had done in them

He was comforted and filled with joy even as he suffered because of them

These verses show Paul’s love and great concern for the believers in Corinth

Can almost see Paul pacing back and forth waiting to hear from Titus the response to his letter to Corinth. Paul desired repentance which led to a pure life.

God desires repentance today as well: A change of heart.

See Luke 13:34

III. The beginning of repentance vv. 8-10

a. Sorrow is to recognize that the sin is wrong

See David in Psalm 32:3-5

b. Sorrow is much deeper than being sorry we got caught

3. Sorrow does not make excuses for sin

“I know that what I did was wrong, but….”

When David thought about his sin with Bathsheba he didn’t say, “I should not have done that, but….”

4. Sorrow is lacking today

There is very little true repentance over sin today because there is very little sorrow for sin. We lie, cheat, take advantage of others, etc. and in our hearts realize that it is wrong, but in our minds justify it in some way.

5. Sorrow leads to a change in direction: What repentance means

IV. The Character of repentance vv. 11-12

1. Diligence: Serious about dealing with sin: “I will do whatever it takes, no matter what the cost ($$, friendships, etc.)

2. Clearing of yourself: To clear up sin; get it taken care of. True repentance does not wait to take care of sin, it does it now.

3. Indignation: Filled with indignation over sin, what it has done to us and to others

4. Fear: What we have lost, What harm has been done, consequences of sin.

5. Vehement desire: Earnest desire, longing to be free from sin, influence and effect of sin.

6. Zeal: Zealous not to sin again, zealous to stay away from situation that tempt.

7. Vindication: Readiness to see justice done, speaks of making it right.

V. The joy of repentance vv. 13-16

As the Church, body of Christ, we need to rejoice together when one of our members has victory over trials and difficulties.

We pray together and encourage each other in the things of God, we need to rejoice together in the victories!!