Effective Repentance: Corinthian Style

Thank you, Mr. Deema, and good morning, everyone! Happy Sabbath and Responsive Group! Wow, it's good! Beautiful view here, so keep your eyes this way. Okay? Yeah, wonderful spot that Tutku and Levent have chosen for out for three nights in a row, which is very nice. Kind of gets settled, unpack a bit, hang up your suit in the closet. You know, you can just relax a bit here today, so it's a very nice, wonderful location. It's been a great week, and so great to be here with you this morning. Of course, during this time of the year, we've been examining ourselves according to the standards of God's way. The theme of the Passover and Unleavened Bread, which has just concluded, we looked at Christ's sacrifice for our sins and the need for us to come out of this world. What better place to reflect on that than here near the city of Ephesus? Of course, this is Cusa d'Arcy, but Ephesus is just up the road. And it's a fascinating place of history.

As you've heard, the Apostle Paul spent more time in Ephesus than in any other city in Asia Minor. Second to this only was Corinth, where he spent a little longer in Corinth. But here on this side of the sea, Ephesus is where he spent the most time. And it's from here where he wrote his first letter to the Corinthians across the way over in Greece.

And he no doubt wrote it before or during the days of Unleavened Bread. So we were here during Unleavened Bread, the same season of the year where Paul wrote a message about Unleavened Bread to Corinth across the sea. He wrote 1 Corinthians during his third missionary journey near the end of his three-year ministry here, probably around 56 AD.

Both Corinth and Ephesus were similar port-type cities that were steeped in pagan idolatry, pagan philosophy, as you know. Let's go to Acts chapter 19 for a minute. I want to review some of the words that we heard yesterday while we were up in the old city. Just to get the flow of things here a bit again, I'm just going to skip through a couple of verses. Acts 19 verse 8, for example, he went into the synagogue, spoke boldly for three months.

He went up to the Jewish synagogue, spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the way, we've been hearing about the way. Notice that's a capital W, the way of God. Before them, all to do he departed from them with through the disciples reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. We saw a likely location for that. Verse 10, and this continued for two years there in the school, so that all who dwelled in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. So the gospel was spread very widely through this whole region.

Of course, we're blessed today to be able to spread the gospel throughout the whole world, like never before, with the communication tools we have.

Verse 11, God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Verse 19, also many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together, burned them in the sight of all, and they counted up the value of them, and it totaled 50,000 pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. Notice verse 23, about that time there arose a great commotion about the way. For a certain man named Demetrius of Silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, or Artemis, brought no small prophet to the craftsmen.

Demetrius said in verse 27, so not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute because of Paul's preaching, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised in her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship. In verse 28, when they heard this, were full of wrath and cryotides, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

You saw the statues of Diana or Artemis yesterday, right, in the museum? Just a carved piece of stone or clay? That was their god. Paul said, that's just a hunk of rock. Boy, did they get mad, and he said, that's just a hunk of rock. I'm so glad we have been told not to try and depict what God looks like, like the pagan religions do, even today, right? All the iconography in the churches. God said, don't do that. And boy, did that make these silvers miss upset. Verse 29, so the whole city was filled with confusion, rushed into the theater, that 20,000 seat arena that we were in yesterday, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus and the Macedonians, Paul's travel companions, and a riot ensued. And so we get the picture of what was happening here. The Christian community in Ephesus became a financial and philosophical threat to the pagan worshipers of this city. These new teachings were putting the pagan idol financial profits in jeopardy. The world in which we live now, 2000 years later, is similar. It's also filled with idolatry and temptation. Corinth and Ephesus were the same way back then. The city was filled with sailors who gladly spent their money there. We know what sailors do when they come into port with their money. The name Corinth became a synonym for immorality, to Corinthianize, meant to do something immoral. And this temple to Diana, or Artemis, gave Corinth its reputation for gross immorality, of which Paul often spoke. And a similar temple, as we saw, was right here in Ephesus.

So just like ancient Corinth, the world in which we live hosts all kinds of temptations, not just for sailors. The atmosphere around us is charged and electrified with the evil influence of Satan. And we as Christians are assailed and attacked at every turn. And the carnal pull to sin still drives and influences each of us and poses the constant threat to our daily walk with God. Look at Revelation 2 verse 5, if you would, because in the 90s AD, about 30 years later, the Apostle John warned the church at Ephesus of this very thing. And this is where I'm going to get into the core message of the sermon here today. In relation to 2.5 he tells Ephesus, Remember therefore from where you have fallen, repent, and do the first works, or else I will come up to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. So the church here in Ephesus was told to repent. And today each one of us is also in a spiritual battle, in spiritual warfare. So repenting is something we need to think about as well. It's kind of a timeless or an ageless issue, or timeless or an ageless problem. We wrestle against the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. It hasn't changed. Nothing much has changed in 2500 years. And so we noted this past week the need for Jesus Christ's sacrifice on our behalf when we fall short of the mark and sin. And this was the theme of the Days of Unleavened Bread. So now to the key of this sermon. Repentance is the foundation on which we build our Christian lives. Paul told the church at Ephesus to repent. And repentance is the foundation on which we build our Christian lives. But do we know how to repent effectively?

In 2 Corinthians chapter 7, which I'll turn to in a moment, Paul concentrates on this matter of how we can repent effectively.

So today we're going to take a fresh look at repentance, because it's not just a subject for during the Days of Unleavened Bread in the past, but for all year long. We're going to see the example of the Corinthian Church of God, and glean some help from their example.

And perhaps we'll then understand a little bit better what God requires of us today.

And so I've titled this message Effective Repentance, Corinthian Style. Effective Repentance, Corinthian Style.

So 1 Corinthians was written from here in Ephesus, and it was a very corrective letter of which Paul pointed out serious sins existing among the members of God's church at Corinth. The church was divided into factions, some following one minister, some following another minister. Many of them had a very hostile approach to Paul. They were hostile, suspicious of him. Some members were guilty of open sins. Fornication is mentioned specifically. Some had problems in their marriages. Some did not understand the resurrection properly.

Heresies were beginning to develop, and brethren were even taking one another to court, and suing each other.

So the first letter was very corrective, telling the church of Corinth, you've got to get your lives together, get your act together. So then he wrote a second letter to the church at Corinth, because the first letter produced an interesting result. Paul wrote 2 Corinthians from Macedonia, perhaps Philippi, a year or so after writing 1 Corinthians here. He just finished his 3-year ministry, and Ephesus was visiting the churches in Macedonia. As he made his way to Corinth, that's where he was actually headed, was Corinth, when he wrote the second letter. And so here to the point, this second letter of Paul to the Corinthian church was written because of a report brought back by Titus, who informed Paul of how the Corinthians received his first letter, and how they received the rebuke of that first letter. We'll read about it in 2 Corinthians chapter 7. So this is kind of the core of the message here today, the focus of our sermon, because the Corinthians repented and changed. They repented and changed. 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 8. Paul says, For even if I made you sorry with my first letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it, for I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry that only for a while. He's worried that they'll be sorry for a little bit and then get back to their old ways. So he's worried about that. But now I rejoice, verse 9, not that I made you sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance.

For you have made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, the sorrow of the world produces death. So he said it's not about just being sorry, it's about godly sorrow and repentance. This is real repentance. They sorrow to the point they change their way of living. It's not just in your head, it's how you live.

And here is how they did it in verse 11. Look at verse 11. For I observe this very thing that you sorrowed in a godly manner. And he says, 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.

So Paul speaks here in verse 11 of what repentance is all about, what it produces in your life.

So what I want to do is study very briefly the seven steps that he lists. And I'm going to give just one scriptural example for each of the seven. There's lots you could do to bolster each of these seven points. I'll just give you one reference as we go through each one. The first thing he points out, number one, is diligence. He says, what diligence it produced in you. This is one of the main qualities that a person must have in order to repent effectively. Certainly the Corinthian church in the past was not very diligent. In fact, they were rather casual about their sins. We so often find that the things we know we ought to be doing we're not. On the other hand, we often find that we're doing those things we don't want to do.

The Spirit may do the right things, but the flesh is weak. Look at 2 Peter chapter 1, because Peter talks about diligence as well. In 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 4, 2 Peter 1 verse 4 we read, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature. We can become like God when we live and follow Jesus Christ. Take on the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Verse 5, but also for this very reason, because of this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue to virtue knowledge, to knowledge, self-control, self-control to perseverance and godliness, etc. What Peter says here in verse 5, giving all diligence, he's using the same Greek word Paul used in 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 11.

And he then lists the attributes of spirituality we desire to have in our lives. We want to replace the sin, the lust, the greed, the envy, or the wrong things with these spiritual qualities that Peter lists. But notice verse 10 Peter goes on to say, therefore brethren be even more diligent, because of this be even more diligent, to make your call and election sure. For if you do these things you will never stumble.

To have a true and effective repentance we must be diligent. Paul praised the church at Corinth for how they had eventually developed this. We must have a serious approach and attitude toward our life and our sins, not take them casually, not be indifferent, or take them for granted. Then second, I've titled a good reputation. Paul says a clearing of themselves. Point number two that Paul brings out in verse 11 of 2 Corinthians 7 is that they sought a clearing of themselves. The word in the Greek means a defense. It means to seek a good reputation. So I titled point two a good reputation. To seek a good name, to defend your name.

The Corinthians decided they needed to defend their name, because they had a bad name.

The reputation was rather sullied. The character had been besmirched by their wrongdoings. Paul said what they were now doing was good. They were seeking to clear their name.

They didn't want to be remembered by this. They were seeking to have a good name and a good reputation. Now, obviously, there's only one way to do that. Change your life.

Stop doing the wrong things you were doing before. Begin to do the right things.

And while we might have been a little ashamed to admit we came from Corinth, because of Corinth's terrible reputation, I think if we're living back then we would be happy and pleased to admit we came from Thessalonica. Let's read just two verses from 1 Thessalonians 1, because their reputation was very good. 1 Thessalonians 1.7, Paul says to the Thessalonians that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

Those Thessalonians were the one that had a good name, a good reputation. Verse 8, For from you the word of the Lord was sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out so that we do not need to say anything.

Paul says, I'm at a loss for words. I'm not sure where to correct you right now. You guys have a great reputation. So an important aspect of repentance is a desire to clear your reputation of the sins in your life by doing good and living righteously. A clearing of yourselves or getting a good reputation. Number three was indignation against sin. Currents learn to be indignant against sin.

Why do we need to have anger or indignation against our sins? For one reason, it's a tremendous impetus towards overcoming.

How can you eradicate something from your life unless you hate it?

If you view it as not too bad, you're not going to be all that concerned about it.

But if you feel and believe that even your least sin is a horrible thing to God, then you'll have a far greater impetus to overcome it than if you're just feeling different.

Some in the church at Corinth had opened sins that were being committed. Everybody knew about it.

Such sexual immorality is not even found among the Gentiles, we're told, that a man has his father's wife. This, by the way, is probably not his actual mother, but his dad's second wife. What was the church's attitude about this flagrant sin?

The church was putting up with it. And other problems. But how can you repent? How can you turn from your sin unless you believe that everything that is against the law of God is evil and despicable? And that you're ashamed of it, and you hate it, and you become indignant against it. Romans 12 verse 9 tells us that love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil. It's Romans 12 9. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. You have to hate evil. Abhor it. Detest it. Loathe it. Dispose it. And these people at Corinth didn't hate their sin at first. But eventually did after Paul's scalding. If you come to the point where you're going to hate the sins in your life enough, you will change. You will get rid of them. Indignation will set in, and you'll eradicate what is ungodly. Number four, there was a fear, he said. Fear of God. Another impetus to overcoming the Paul mentions here is fear. God is not talking here about the kind of terror that is unwholesome and unsound, but a positive fear. A right frame of mind and respect toward God that we should all have. The guiding principle of our life should be faith and hope. Everything that is optimistic. Looking to the kingdom of God, expecting to be there. But on the other hand, in the back of our minds, there should be a right kind of fear. Because there are some fears we have that are good, that remind us, that keep us on our toes. In Hebrews chapter 3, Paul shows how Israel evolved could not enter into the Promised Land because of their disobedience and especially because of their unbelief and lack of faith. And then in Hebrews 4 verse 1, he warns the Church of God today. In Hebrews 4.1, therefore, since a promise remains of entering his rest, since a promise remains of entering the kingdom, let us fear. Let us fear, lest any of you seem to have come short of it. That's the kind of fear we ought to have. A right fear, a healthy fear to go against God. So when we sin, we repent, like the Corinthians did, because we have that healthy fear of going against God. Number five is a vehement desire.

Paul said the Corinthian Church had a vehement desire. How can you change unless you really deeply want to change? If you're unconcerned, if you couldn't care less, if it's not important to you, there's no way you can really change. We must desire vehemently, as the Corinthian Church did, to want to change. To be more like God daily, to be more Christlike, to emulate their examples and their way of life. And this has to be a paramount goal in our lives, a vehement desire. Notice Matthew 5 verse 6. The words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 5 verse 6, the Sermon on the Mount, some very important words here. Matthew 5 verse 6, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall all be filled. The implication is that those who do not hunger and thirst for it won't be filled. In order to be filled, you have to hunger and thirst. If we're going to repent and grow spiritually, as we must, we have to desire it. We must crave it and then want it wholeheartedly, vehemently, and energetically. King David was a great sinner, but God used him again. Why? Because he was a great repenter. We all have to be great repentors, and his repentance became as notorious as he sinned.

Psalm 51 shows us how his heart was opened, and he was filled with the spirit of repentance. Some people have a false concept of repentance. It means a change of mind. That's what the Greek word literally means, a change of mind. Some people think repentance is remorse, just being sorry. Like Paul was concerned about the Corinthians at first, thought they'd have just a worldly sorrow. But being, thinking you're just sorry that you committed an infraction of God's standards. But that's rather wide of the mark. Remember the rich young ruler? He was sorrowful, but he did not repent. So just being sorry doesn't mean you're repenting. Other people think repentance is regret, wishing we hadn't done it.

A lot of people live like that when they're sinned, but that's not repentance either. Remember Pontius Pilate? Washing his hands in the basin of water? Regretting his deed? But he did not repent, even though he regretted. Still others think repentance is reform, you know, turning over a new leaf. I'm just going to try harder and do better, reform. But that's not repentance either. Judas Ascariot reformed. He took the 30 pieces of silver, went back, flung them down the corridors of the temple. He reformed, but he didn't repent.

Repentance means a change of mind.

It's not just feeling sorry. It's when our volition is transformed. It's when our will is changed. If we have truly changed our mind, our volition, our will is completely altered.

And what will happen if our will is changed? Our actions will be changed. We'll live differently. So again, the church at Corinth began to vehemently desire to change, and they did. Number six mentioned is zeal. So many people don't change because they're not as zealous as they ought to be. We were in Laodicea on Tuesday. In Revelation 3 verse 19, Christ says to the Laodicean church, a church which was the opposite of zallis, the opposite of a repenting church, he said, be zallis.

Revelation 3, 19, as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten, therefore be zallis and repent. They go together. Zeal. You have to have the zeal, the drive, the continual effort. Laodicea was lukewarm, casual, indifferent. The Christ says, no, you've got to be zallis.

I'm rebuking you, I'm chastening you, be zallis, repent, and change your life. Continue that zeal, continue that love, continue that determination to follow and serve God completely and totally. Number seven is vindication. The last of these seven points is to vindicate that which you have done. It means to recognize what you have done and that recognition leads you to correct that which was wrong.

Vindication has to do with correction. You correct your course when you feel vindicated to change. You're going to do the right thing from now on. The kind of approach we should and must have is to look at our past and correct it, to read a righteous life and do those things that are profitable rather than injurious.

We need to have effective repentance, Corinthian style, and see then what diligence it produces in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, and what vindication. But we do need God's help. This is not something you can do alone. We of and by ourselves are powerless. But we can draw on the same invisible help, power, and strength that Jesus had available. It's the same power the church at Corinth drew upon. And just like Jesus Christ, just like the Corinthians, we can gain the victory.

But we must have close daily contact with God. We need to learn to walk and talk with a Heavenly Father at all times, not be distant. And in addition, we need to diligently study and drink in of God's Word so that we can see what He's telling us, what He's teaching us, reminded us to study, to show ourselves approved, a work that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.

And we must allow the Holy Spirit to lead us, be filled with the Holy Spirit and have it lead us, and recognize when the Holy Spirit is being grieved or quenched in our lives, and strive to keep that from happening. So we can't do it alone. We have God, we have His Word, we have the Holy Spirit that will enable us to succeed to have victory. And when we slip and fall prey to sin, we must repent instantly. Don't let it go on. Repent. Turn from and reject the thought or temptation that led to sin to prevent a relationship with our Creator from being weakened or severed.

Allow nothing to come between you and our Heavenly Father. I'm going to turn to 2 Timothy 4 for a final verse. 2 Timothy 4. Because we, as, shall we say, Christian soldiers in a lifelong battle against human nature, the world and the spirit beings have to be careful. It's incumbent upon us to never let down and take it easy. Like warriors for God, we must be highly disciplined and uncompromising.

We must tackle repentance and overcoming with the power of God at our disposal and with great vigilance. So as the Apostle Paul told Timothy, 2 Timothy 4, verses 7 and 8, Paul said, 2 Timothy 4, verses 7 and 8, Paul said, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. And finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

So he says, not to him only. The crown of righteousness, after all, will not be given just to Paul, but also to all who have loved his appearing. So that's us included.

You can turn back to 2 Corinthians 7 from time to time and meditate upon these principles.

This is how to have effective repentance, Corinthian style.

We can have each of us a more effective repentance in our lives and become more the kind of person that we ought to be as overcoming Christians. What diligence it produced in you.

What clearing of yourselves. What indignation. What fear. What vehement desire. What zeal. What vindication.