Chapter 7: 2 Corinthians 7:1-16, godly repentance
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray for You to minister to us by the living Word of eternal life and feed our weary souls with the Bread of Life. We pray for You to quench our thirst with the Living Water of the Holy Spirit. We pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
V 1, Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Paul admonished his audience not to walk in the flesh but encouraged them to walk in the Spirit and manifest the fruit of the Spirit.
VV 2-4, 2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
Paul urged his audience to open their hearts to him and his co-workers. They were honest with them. They had not wronged, corrupted, or cheated them. Paul loved (agape) them and was willing even to die for them. Paul minced no words. He was exceedingly joyful even when under intense persecutions and tribulations.
VV 5-7, 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me so that I rejoiced even more.
When Paul and his co-workers arrived at Corinth from Macedonia, they encountered troubles, conflicts, and fear. Paul was comforted, encouraged, and edified when he met Titus in Macedonia, and received favourable news regarding the Corinthians Christians.
VV 8-10, 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Paul apologised to his audience for his strongly worded letter. He was vindicated when this resulted in repentance, obedience, and change of hearts by his audience towards him. Godly sorrow resulted in godly repentance and salvation but worldly sorrow ends in death.
VV 11-12, 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner. What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
Paul commended the Corinthians Christians for their godly repentance in response to his strongly worded letter.
Paul’s letter was for the benefit of the Corinthian Christians, not for the false apostles and not for himself.
VV 13-16, 13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
Paul and Titus were comforted, encouraged, refreshed, and edified by the Corinthians Christian’s godly repentance and obedience. Speaking the truth in love, Paul commended Titus for his zeal, confidence, and boldness.
Application:
Memorise 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”
If we sinned, we should confess, repent, and claim the promise of 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us to remove all filthiness and works of the flesh. We pray for divine empowerment and grace to walk in the Spirit. We pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be displayed in us. You are the God of all comfort who comforts and rescues us out of difficult circumstances, so that we can comfort others in similar circumstances, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
