Renewed Relationships

2 Corinthians 7 ESV

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 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. 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. For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 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. 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. 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. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 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. 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. 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. 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. And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

Intro:

I. THE RESOLUTION (7:1):

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Paul urges the Corinthians to turn from the unclean and to seek God’s holiness.

The Promises

He mentions are the OT promises he quoted in 2 Cor 6:16-18

2 Corinthians 6:16–18 ESV

What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

The Performance:

In light of God’s promises and instructions, Paul calls on us to

cleanse ourselves from defilement

each of us must do this in our lives

Defilement- GK word used only here in NT

IN Septuagint is appears 3 times

Means religious defilement

unholy alliances with idols, idol feasts, temple prostitutes, sacrifices, etc.

False religion and its emphasis on flesh is still a defiling influence.

Just this week, I again saw alleged Christian pastors embracing sin and saying our faith is only about loving everyone.

Ignoring sin isn’t loving! It is withholding life saving information!

we must cleanse OUR defilement

repent

reject the sensual lies of false religion

Turn back to the ageless truth of God’s word.

confess

bring holiness to completion

perfecting holiness

complete the process of separating from the all that would defile mind and body.

II. THE REQUEST (7:2–4)

2 Corinthians 7:2–4 ESV

Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 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. 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.

A. What the apostle asks (7:2a):

He asks that they make room for him in their hearts

He desires their affection

He seeks a restored relationship with them.

Their relationship had been strained by false teachers, tolerance of sin, and Paul’s letters confronting and instructing them.

B. Why the apostle asks (7:2b–4)

1. He has never wronged them (7:2b).

wrong: treat unjustly, injure, or cause to fall into sin

Paul said he had never been that way.

He had spoken only the truth

He had faithfully recorded what GOD had inspired.

Their issue was with GOD.

That is still the same

People may attack us or our message

Their issue is with God.

They reject His standard.

2. He has them in his heart (7:3–4).

Paul truly loved them

Because of that, he spoke/wrote truth to them and he was ready to forgive them

III. THE RELIEF (7:5–7):

2 Corinthians 7:5–7 ESV

For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 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.

Paul expresses a twofold relief.

A. Upon seeing Titus the man (7:5–7):

Paul picks up an earlier narrative from 2 Cor 2:13

2 Corinthians 2:13 ESV

my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

Paul faced many conflicts

No rest from them in fact

He was beset by enemies and conflict, but was relieved when Titus came.

Christian fellowship brought encouragement

B. Upon hearing Titus the messenger (7:7):

Titus not only joined Paul, but had brought good news!

The Corinthians had received Titus well

Titus had brought them a controversial letter rebuking them for their sin.

They had still received him

Paul is overjoyed to hear from Titus that the Corinthians warmly received both Titus himself and Paul’s rebuke, which resulted in their repentance.

Their repentance brought Paul joy!

They had 3 displays:

longing- they were eager to see Paul again

mourning- they were sorrowful over their sin

zeal- they were zealous to defend Paul against false teachers

IV. THE REPENTANCE (7:8–11):

2 Corinthians 7:8–11 ESV

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. 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. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 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.

Paul contrasts godly repentance with worldly repentance.

A. The first is brought about by genuine sorrow over one’s sin and leads to salvation (7:8–10a, 11).

Knowing we have sinned is a sorrowful thing

It leads to mourning

But sorrow is not enough

It led to repentance

turning from sin, changing directions

That led to salvation and forgiveness

B. The second is false and leads to death (7:10b).

Guilt and anger are the result

today, we see more ‘editing’ of Scripture based on culture’s demands rather than changing our lives based on Scripture

V. THE REAFFIRMATION (7:12–16):

2 Corinthians 7:12–16 ESV

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. 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. 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. And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.

Paul’s faith in the Corinthian church is reaffirmed by two factors.

A. They received Titus (7:13b–16).

They had warmly embraced Titus and ministered to him

B. They repented of their sin (7:12–13a).

They renewed their walk of faith and adjusted to God’s word

C. His confidence in them was fulfilled and remained strong

Conclusion: