Repentance and Reconciliation

17 “Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. 18 “And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” Says the Lord Almighty.

2 Corinthians 7:1 NASB95

1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Marvelous promises lead to marvelous actions with marvelous results.

Promise: I will receive you (v.17)

Promise: I will be a Father to you (.18)

Promise: you shall be My sons (v.18)

Action: Come out and be separate (v.17)

Action: Do not touch that which is unclean (v.17)

Action: Cleanse yourself of all filthiness of flesh and spirit (v.1)

Results: perfected holiness in fear of God (v.1)

(Transition) As we look at our passage today the word repentance will stick out, and it should in our lives today too, not just leading to salvation but from salvation too. Paul addresses this kind of repentance in our passage today, in some cases it can be translated regret . You should be able to see that in our passage too.

After such trials Paul had been through in Asia and Troas (2Cor1:8-10; 2:12-13). There is some great encouragements found in our passage here in Paul’s appeal for reconciliation (a restored relationship) (vv.2-16)

Appeal for restored relationship (reconciliation)

Paul is making an serious urgent request (definition of appeal) to the Corinthians for a restored relationship. So that they could have a close fellowship with him again.

Let me paint a scripture picture for you and then we will look at our passage.

“Open wide your hearts to us! (2Cor6:13) “Receive us!” (2Cor7:2); “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amo3:3)”

Paul wanted them to clean up (cleanse) their lives and their church fellowship and God would restore relationship with them (2Cor6:17) and they would have a restored (reconciled) relationship with him. In our passage Paul gives a threefold encouragement to the church.

Paul encouraged the church (2Cor7:2-4)

Titus encouraged the church (2Cor7:5-10)

And, the Corinthians encouraged Titus (2Cor7:11-16)

Paul encouraged by the church (2Cor7:2-4)

2 Corinthians 7:2–3 NASB95

2 Make room for us in your hearts; we wronged no one, we corrupted no one, we took advantage of no one. 3 I do not speak to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

2 Corinthians 7:4 NASB95

4 Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture

Question: What was Paul’s instructions to the church (v.2)?

Make room for us in your hearts

Question: He then tells them why to make room (vv.2-3), can you see why?

We wronged no one, corrupted no one, took advantage of no one, I do not condemn you, for you are in our hearts.

Question: Look carefully at (v.4) what did Paul have great confidence in?

He had great confidence in them, boasting of them and overflowing with joy, even in all affliction.

Paul had been concerned about how were they going to receive the hard letter (painful letter) brought by Titus. They had received it well, now it was time to mend fences with Paul and they to openly receive him. Paul asked for them to make room for him, to trust him for he had not wronged them.

Question: Have you ever had a difficult time assuring people of your love for them?

Paul was willing to die for them, for they were in his heart and he was boasting of them to others, but they were criticizing and condemning him. The word from Titus was a great encouragement for his reception by them was well received now it is time to restore fellowship (reconcile) with each other.

Titus encouraged Paul (2Cor7:5-10)

2 Corinthians 7:5–6 NASB95

5 For even when we came into Macedonia our flesh had no rest, but we were afflicted on every side: conflicts without, fears within. 6 But God, who comforts the depressed, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

2 Corinthians 7:7–8 NASB95

7 and not only by his coming, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, as he reported to us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 NASB95

9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. 10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: Look at (v.6) it says God comforts, how did God comfort here?

By the coming of Titus.

Question: What was Paul’s reaction when he learned about how they felt about him (v.7)?

Paul rejoiced even more!

Question: You find sorrow located in (vv.7-10) look and see what was the result of the sorrow (v.9-10)?

Sorrow brought repentance

Sorrow leading to salvation

Paul had sent Titus with the painful letter and they arranged to meet each other and Titus was not there when and where expected and Paul had been worried. By God’s providence they did catch up with each other and the report was good.

They received Titus and Paul’s “painful” letter and they did repent (v.8, 10) and discipled those who created the problems.

Interesting the repent used is two Greek words used differently in these verses (v.8) it means regret and in (v.10) it means to be regretted.

Let me give you a picture, a bible illustration of the difference.

Judas and Peter. Judas repented and was full of regret, he repented himself, and then went on in regret and committed suicide. Then Peter wept and repented of his fall (Mt26:75-27:5)

Question: As Christians, do you think we need to repent?

Jesus said we need to repent (Lk17:3-4)

Hey if your brother sins against you and repents forgive him

Paul speaks of necessity of repentance too in (2Cor12:21)

BELOW SCRIPTURE NOT ON SCREEN

2 Corinthians 12:21 NASB95

21 I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.

How about in John’s revelation (Rev2:5, 16, 21, 3:19)

You can look up the revelation passages each one tells the church to repent.

Christians who are disobedient need to repent, not for salvation but in order to restore fellowship with God.

Paul wanted a reconciled relationship with them upon the good report from Titus. The good report that showed their concern and zeal to Look how Paul addresses the results of their repentance

2 Corinthians 7:11 NASB95

11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

Question: Look at the describers Paul uses in that verse.

They did it with earnestness, godly sorrow, vindication, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, avenging wrong, they showed themselves to be innocent.

Some of the reasons for the hard letter was to rebuke the offender, help the offended and prove his love for the church. The letter accomplished what he desired and the problem seems to have been solved.

Question: Have you ever tried to rebuild a shattered, broken relationship?

Paul wanted to do that, you can see his heart in chapter 6 and 7 here. There are so many broken, shattered people, relationships even within the church that can only be reconciled when they are honestly looked at and addressed biblically and lovingly seeking to get right with God and with each other.

(Transition) now having said all that textually from our passage I would like to take some time today and look at true repentance and the call for it that can stem from our passage too.

True repentance

We have looked at repentance a change of mind and direction, repentance meaning regret and also repentance meaning having regretted now may we continue on the subject a little bit more.

2 Corinthians 7:9–10 ESV

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

2 Corinthians 7:11 ESV

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.

I think we can agree that repentance is a great part of the gospel message.

Repentance is a part of the gospel message:

Jesus wanted repentance preached (Lk24:46-47)

Luke 24:46–47 NASB95

46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Peter proclaimed it (Act2:36-38, 3:19)

Acts 2:36–37 NASB95

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

Acts 2:38 NASB95

38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So you have repentance leading to salvation in those and then there is repent leading to restoration.

Acts 3:19 NASB95

19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

Paul spoke to philosophers and kings about it (Act17:30-31, 26:19-20)

Acts 17:30–31 NASB95

30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

We cannot should not be ignorant of the necessity of repentance for salvation, there are no excuses, the times of ignorance are done.

Acts 26:19–20 NASB95

19 “So, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.

Repentance was demanded of all, Jerusalem, Judea and even to the Gentiles.

I think we can also agree that there are many who preach the gospel and do not mention repentance and only mention faith, or others that emphasis baptism. Repentance is needed as a part of our conversion leading to salvation.

Acts 3:19 NKJV

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 like how it says it here in Act3:19. Repentance transpires prior to conversion. When you look at our passage this morning you can see the progression

Sorrow that is Godly (v.9)

Godly sorrow leads to repentance without regret (v.10)

Repentance leads to salvation (v.10)

Salvation has signs of true repentance (v.11)

Godly sorrow leads to salvation, worldly sorrow leads to death (v.11) - that is sorrow because of guilt of getting caught or because it hurt your image, in other words makes you look bad.

Worldly sorrow produces regret, godly sorrow suffers loss in nothing (vv.9-10)

Biblical illustration of sorrow leading to repentance (2Sam12:7-12; Ps51:1-4, 7-12)

2 Samuel 12:7–8 NASB95

7 Nathan then said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. 8 ‘I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these!

2 Samuel 12:9–10 NASB95

9 ‘Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon. 10 ‘Now therefore, the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

2 Samuel 12:11–12 NASB95

11 “Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. 12 ‘Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun.’ ”

The awareness of sin, brought sorrow, godly sorrow leading to repentance

Psalm 51:1–2 NASB95

1 Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

Psalm 51:3–4 NASB95

3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

So we have Nathan calling David out, David being convicted in the heart brought about confession of it. He accepted responsibility for his sin and the consequences of his sin too. Then he makes his appeal to God.

Psalm 51:7–8 NASB95

7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice.

Psalm 51:9–11 NASB95

9 Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

Our repentance today today is a an appeal to Gods love as a basis for repentance

Romans 2:4 NASB95

4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

Because we acknowledge sin

Romans 3:23 NASB95

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

and the consequences of sin

Romans 6:23 NASB95

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Our baptism is an appeal to God for a clear conscience

1 Peter 3:21 NASB95

21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

True repentance brings about salvation, and it also can restore a broken relationship with God due to sinful actions in our Christianity that are contrary to God’s will for us.

The end result was repentance and reconciliation! That is some good results.

Let’s thank God for those results

(Prayer) (Exit)

Related Media

Related Sermons