CONFIDENT IN GOD: The
Basis of Real Ministry
Repentance that results in joy
2 Corinthians 7:2-16
3/28/10
Jerry A Collins
SCC
v Does God hold us responsible for
each other’s sp welfare?
v Why is discipline of another’s sin
necessary?
v What is the essence of repentance?
You
have experienced pain in relationships due to the fact that the other person is
responsible for the poor relationship. The hurt is compounded from the refusal
of the other person to acknowledge the hurt they are causing. The relationship
wanders. Sometimes hard things need to be communicated—the truth is shared and
further alienation results. You hope that over time the other person may see
the light and attempt to make amends. This can go in for years, the distance
increasing between both of you. You try to shake it off and go on with your
business. But you value the relationship enough to try to reconcile again.
Maybe it will work, maybe not. Our passage is a story of one person wanting a
relationship with another responsible for the poor one it has become. This
passage resumes Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians our heart is opened wide…open wide to us also 6:11, 13. He is
arguing that the Corinthians, not he, are responsible
for their poor relationship at this point. The central idea is that the power
of God is seen at its best when a relationship between two parties is restored.
AN APPEAL 2
He
demands they make room for or provide a place for him presumably in their
hearts. The argument?
1.
We wronged no one. In his mind he is completely innocent. Not a single instance
when he wronged or harmed anyone in any way. Three times he repeats ‘no one’
emphasizing on his part there is no reason to be alienated from him.
2.
We corrupted no one. Or ruined anyone in any way. People usually put wrong
assumptions or interpretations on some actions he did and it carried the day.
But from his standpoint he did not ruin.
3.
We took advantage of no one. There was no exploitation whatsoever of anyone. We
can assume that these and other accusations were floating around and gained
credence among some. But none of this is true and so the appeal to let us back
in. There is no basis for the fractured relationship. Please welcome us back.
A CLARIFICATION 3
Word
had gotten back to Paul via Titus (7-16) of the Corinthian believers deep
concern for him. They had hurt him but he does not consider them his enemies.
For I have said before
that you are in our hearts His
deep affection is clear.
To die together and to
live together His
commitment to them, even to death, refers to his own physical death and his
life. Don’t get me wrong as I appeal to you.
CONFIDENCE 4
Great is my confidence
in you Hearing the
report from Titus, Paul now had confidence they were doing the right
thing—repenting and following God.
Great is my boasting
on your behalf and
he told others they would do the rite thing. I am filled with comfort hearing this good news especially of one
repenting brings incredible comfort. I am
overflowing with joy in all our affliction evidently
suffering form something yet he was overflowing with joy in its midst. The
weight is lifted and joy floods in.
Significance: is that reconciled relationships are the greatest source of joy in the
human experience. Estranged and hurt, the power of reconciliation is life
giving!
BUT GOD 5-6
God
did something. For even when we were in
Macedonia—connect to 2:13—(I had no rest in my spirit)—our flesh had no rest he was tired with the need for physical rest.
Until Titus arrived and explained how the Corinthians had received Paul’s
‘painful’ letter (vs 8). Afflicted on every side conflicts without battles and quarrels with
people in Macedonia. Fears within wondering
how the Corinthian believers responded to his ‘painful’ letter and possibly
fear as to why Titus had not shown up yet. But
God who comforts the depressed or downcast God gives comfort and he uses
people to do so. Here comforted by the
coming of Titus now the Corinthians could rest easy knowing that Titus did
arrive with the news of their change of heart to Paul.
Significance: If we are comforted it is because
God has comforted us. He comforted Abraham when he was about to sacrifice his
son; Joshua as he was about to take Israel into the land; Elijah as he lay
under the juniper tree. (1:3-4).
CAUSE FOR JOY 7
And not only…but also
comforted Titus
actual presence was a source of joy and the response of the Corinthian
believers to Paul’s painful letter was a source of comfort to Titus. That they
repented and turned to God and received Paul’s apostolic ministry was good
news. It is always stressful when you have to deal with sin and bad news. But what a comfort and joy when the outcome is good. Reported your longing desire to see Paul
again, your mourning Possibly for the grief they had caused Paul, your zeal for me an enthusiasm for Paul
and his apostleship—rejecting the false apostles. So that I rejoiced even more great news!
OUTCOME OF REPENTANCE
8-10
1. No one wants to cause sorrow in and
of itself but often sorrow or pain re necessary to produce a better result vs 8. A vaccination shot cause pain but
it is for the better result of avoiding disease. Here Paul caused the
Corinthians pain for the better result of their repentance.
2. Godly grief or sorrow is a grief
that leads individuals to view their conduct as God does vs 9. It leads to repentance. Paul rejoices then that the pain had
the right consequence—it lead to their repentance—a change of mind. So they
would not continue to lose something—the consequences—possibly the relationship
they had with Paul.
3. Repentance is changing your mind
and changing the direction you are heading vs 10. Repentance without regret leads to life. But the sorrow of the world produces death is usually
the result of the unwelcome consequences of sin. There is no remorse toward
God. If the only effect is sorrow over consequences the only outcome is death
alienation from God not repent toward God.
Significance: Compare the sorrow of Esau (Gen
27:38; Heb 12:16,17) and the sorrow of David (Psa 51:1-19). Contrast the sorrow of Judas and Peter (Matt
21:30, 32; Luke 22:31-34).
RECONCILIATION 11-13
1.
Eagerness to restore the relationship prompts admission of guilt vs 11. Earnestness, vindication, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, avenging
wrong reveal their desire to be
innocent in the matter. And
indeed they are now.
2.
Repentance and reconciliation is for God before it is for us vs 12. Vertical before it is horizontal. This ‘painful’
letter was not for the sake of the offender—the false prophets, or the
offended—Paul, but to motivate the Corinthians to see their loyalty toward Paul
the apostle and the deteriorated relationship that had been caused. It is God
who wants to see the reconciliation.
3.
A relationship can become stronger when a person causing sorrow in the
relationship repents and reconciles vs 13-16. The
superlatives, tell us of the joy and comfort and restoration and strength of
the renewed relationship.
A.
God holds us responsible for the spiritual welfare of one another 4b.
B.
A lack of discipline and encountering sin in another’s life implies compliance
and approval of the wrong 7:11b. It sends the wrong message from God’s
viewpoint.
3.
We must not be sorry only because of the consequences but because of the sin
itself. It is the sin against God that must be confronted.