Confrontational Representation

Confrontational Representation

2 Corinthians 7:2-9

Take your Bibles and turn to 2 Corinthians chapter seven. This morning we will be studying verses two through ten.

In our text we find Paul dealing with conflict. In fact, both of his letters that we have in the Bible are confrontational.

Therefore, what we have in our text is a spiritual leader dealing with conflict. As Paul appeals for reconciliation with the Corinthian believers, we will find from his example some biblical principles to apply when we deal with conflict, biblical principles that will help us deal with conflict in a way that is honoring to the Lord.

I want you to think very broadly on where we apply these principles. They apply to every relationship. These principles apply to marriage, parent-child relations, work, and our involvement in the community and nation.

The question that I have been wrestling with is this: How can Christians give confrontational representation in a Christ-honoring way in all of our relationships? We learn from Paul’s example that confrontational representation is truthful in its appeal.

Confrontational representation is…

1. Truthful in its appeal

In verses thirteen through eighteen of chapter six, and verses two through four of chapter seven, Paul is dealing with conflict by practicing the love of Christ. Notice verse eleven of chapter six, “We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open.” Now look at verse two of chapter seven, “Make room in your hearts for us.” Paul takes a small excursion about holiness in verses fourteen through eighteen of chapter six, and then comes picks up where he left off in verse two concerning reconciliation.

Paul defends himself from some of the false accusations that were being made about him in verse two of chapter seven, “Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, and we have taken advantage of no one.” Needless to say, the conflict between Paul and the church was intense, to the point that Paul became depressed. Even so, Paul did not allow the intensity of the conflict keep him from confrontation, nor did it keep him from being truthful in his appeal to the church.

Verse thirteen of chapter six Paul says, “We have spoken freely to you.” Most of us hate confrontation; therefore we never say what needs to be said. Paul, on the other hand, teaches us that brave confrontational representation will not show away from honest, and sometimes painful confrontation.

We must be truthful in all of our relationships. We must be straightforward and candid. For Paul, in dealing with the Corinthians, he spoke truthful about God.

a. About God

When it came to the truth about God’s word and standards, Paul did not hold back. He spoke freely, straightforward and candid. Likewise we must do the same.

When we speak to the truth of God’s word, we need to understand that it is always profitable, not harmful.

Turn back to chapter four and look at verse two, “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by open statement of the truth.” Paul did not add, or subtract from the truth, but openly communicated the truth of God’s word.

There is a good reason why we need to be truthful in our appeal. Look at verse thirteen of chapter four, “Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe and so we speak.” If we really believe the truth we should speak the truth.

Turn to chapter thirteen and notice verse eight, “For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.” We must live for the truth, and not against the truth. Therefore, we have the responsibility to speak truthful about God’s word, which means we also speak truthful about sin.

b. About Sin

When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians, he confronted their sin of disunity, sexual immorality, and list of other sins found in 1 Corinthians. Paul didn’t shrink back about speaking honestly about sin. He also spoke freely about salvation.

c. About Salvation

Paul preached the gospel to the Corinthians. He told them in his first letter that he purposely preached only Christ crucified. You wee when you preach about sin, you must preach about the gospel. When you preach about sin you must accompany it with the good news of God’s righteousness found in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let me warn you now. When you speak truthfully about what God’s word says and sin, expect people to respond to you with Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that you may not be judged.” This verse is more popular than John 3:16. People use it all the time when confronted with the truth of sin found in scripture. Speaking the truth is not being judgmental.

Of course, some believe that being truthful about God and sin is unloving. That is why when we are truthful in our appeal; we must link the truth with love and grace. Confrontational representation is loving in its approach.

2. Loving in its approach

Paul linked truth with love. In verse two of chapter seven, “Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted now 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 live together.” What a statement of love.

Paul was not confronting with the truth to condemn them. The Greek word that we translate “condemn” means to “pass final judgment.” The same word is used back in verse nine of chapter three were it speaks of the Law’s work of condemning sinners. Paul was not giving up on the Corinthians. He was not angry with them. He was not consigning them to final judgment. To live and die together is further affirmation of his love and loyalty for the Corinthian believers.

Paul is exhibiting the love of Christ. He is linking truth and love together. Jesus came in grace in truth. He perfectly linked love and truth together that he was able to speak truthful about sin, and do it in such away that the people knew that he loved them.

I believe this is one of the greatest challenges that we have in the American church today; linking love and truth together. We must be truthful in our appeal, and do it in love.

I can’t say that I have mastered the ability to link the two together, but I am learning. My first course on how link love and truth was a crash course, and I emphasize crash.

It was twenty years ago last January that the Lord led me to begin a sermon series on purity in the church in the second church I pastured. My first two sermons in the series came from the first sixteen verses of chapter five. In those verses you have the record of a married couple that brought sin into the church. In my sermon, I showed from the text, the sin that they brought into the church, which as hypocrisy. Here is my manuscript from that sermon. Listen to what I said to the congregation.

“Hypocrisy is one of the greatest sin that prevents fruitfulness in the work of God today. The church is full of people who talk about commitment, who give a hardy amen to commitment, but are unwilling to make the sacrifice for commitment…How many of you have promised to give, teach, help with Awana, or even raised your hand in support of a ministry in the church, and then broke your commitment and promise to God? You either lied to God about your commitment, or you are being disobedient to your commitment. In either case, you have sinned.”

What I said to the congregation was truthful, but how I said it was angry. Emotionally, I was angry with some in the church, and I conveyed that anger with I presented the truth. 4 months later the church split. During the split I was described as an unloving dictator. I was shocked. Me? Unloving? That is when the Lord hit me upside the head with this truth, “You must be truthful in your appeal, but always be loving in your approach.

I’m still learning how to link the two, and discovered that it is only possible in the strength and power that Christ gives. Lastly, confrontational representation is redemptive in its aim.

3. Redemptive in its aim

Paul sent the letter to the church through Titus. He was discouraged and depressed about the conflict and waited to hear how they would respond. Fortunately, the report that Titus brought back was a good report. Notice verse eight, “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.” In other words, they fell under conviction about their sins, and repented. That is why Paul was so joyful, because his aim in the confrontation was redemptive.

The Greek word for “repentance” is “metanoia.” It literally means “a change of mind,” or “turning back.” When it is used in the New Testament is speaks of turning from sin and turning to God, turning from dead idols, and turning to the living God. That was Paul’s aim in this confrontation, for the Corinthian believers to turn back to Jesus. Our aim as confrontational representatives needs to be redemptive. Why? Repentance means salvation for the unbeliever.

a. Salvation for the unbeliever

Notice the first part of verse ten, “For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret.” The only way we can come to Christ is through repentance and faith; two sides of one coin. To repent we must admit that we are sinners in need of a savior, be mournful over our sinful condition, and turn from our sin and place our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Repentance means salvation for the unbelievers. It also means restoration to the believer.

b. Restoration for the believer

Repentance is not a one-time act. When you come to Christ you come repenting; and once you are in Christ; you remain repenting. Repentance in our entrance into the Christian life, and repentance is how we stay in intimate fellowship with the Lord on an ongoing basis. As Christians, we should constantly be crying out to God, “Create in my a clean heart, O Lord, and renew steadfast spirit within me. Restore unto me, the joy of my salvation. One more thing that happens when repentance happens; there is a celebration in heaven.

c. Celebration in heaven

Luke 15:10 tells us that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels when one sinner repents. The one who is doing the rejoicing is God. God rejoices when an unbeliever or a believer repents and turns to him. I don’t know about you, but that helps me put confrontational representation in a new perspective. It makes God happy when people turn to him for salvation and restoration.

Relationships will have conflict and demand confrontation. I want to challenge you to apply these principles in your relationships, in your marriage, in your parenting, in your family. Be truthful in your appeal, loving in your approach, and redemptive in your aim.

As it relates to the culture clash that is taking place in our nation, let’s not forget that we are citizens of heaven; therefore, represent Christ well. And always remember this:

“The gospel is for sinners. Christ loves sinners. God forgives sinners. The good news is for sinners. There is no gospel, there is no grace, there is no Savior, there is no cleansing, there is no forgiveness, there is no redemption, there is no restoration, and there is no salvation where there is no sin.

Be truthful! Be loving! Be redemptive!