Epistles of Paul 59

Well, good evening, everyone. Paul referred in the previous chapters before this chapter of 2 Corinthians, chapter 7 that we're going to cover today, God willing. Paul referred in the previous chapters to at least 10 great promises. Let's just quickly glance through them. The first one was in chapter 1, 2 Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 22. Chapter 1, verse 22, where it says that God has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. So the one that I want to focus on is that the Spirit is a guarantee of the promise that we are going to be the children of God. So God's Spirit in us is a guarantee. In other words, it's like earnest money you put down before you, for instance, purchase a large asset. So God has given us this guarantee. The second promise that I want to highlight is in chapter 3, in chapter 3 verse 16. Chapter 3 verse 16 says, Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. So mankind has a veil. Mankind has a veil that has, let's call it, caused their hearts to be hardened and not understand the truth. But God has blessed us in this age now, those of us, with removing the veil. In other words, we have the miracle of understanding the truth that has been revealed to us, that has been unveiled to us. A third promise is in the same chapter, but in verse 18, where it says, But we all with unvile face, beyond, as in a mirror, the glory of the Lord.

We are being transformed, then it says, the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory. Just as by the spirit of the Lord. So we are being transformed into His image from glory to glory.

At this time, we've been transformed. Our character is being transformed, but that is another great promise. And ultimately, we will be in His image.

The fourth promise that I want to highlight is in chapter 4, verse 4, where it says about the God of this age has blinded those who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. But the glory of Christ, of the light of the gospel, the glory of Christ, is shining in us. And we are understanding that good news, and that is a blessing.

The first promise that I have highlighted here is in chapter 5, verse 1 and 2, where it says that our earthly tent, our physical body, is being destroyed. It's deteriorating, but it will be replaced by an eternal house, a spiritual body, which is reserved for us. And so we will have a spiritual body, an eternal body, in the future, and that is another wonderful promise. Then in the same chapter, chapter 5, but in verse 4, we read the sixth promise that I want to highlight to you, where it says, to Corinthians chapter 5, verse 4, that it says, mortality may be swallowed up by life. In other words, mortality will be swallowed by immortality, immortal life, life eternal. So that is another great promise for us into the future.

The seventh promise that I want to highlight, the eyes, also in chapter 5, but now in verse 17, that it says, therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. We are literally to be a new creation, so we have been begotten, but ultimately we'll be born into God's family as a new creation, a new person, a new man. So we've got to pull off the old man and we're going to pull on the new man. All things have passed away, but all things have become new. We are becoming a new man, a new creation, another great promise, which ultimately will be reached, concluded at a resurrection. The eighth promise that I have highlighted here is in verse 18 through 20 of the same chapter, and that's basically talking about reconciliation, that through Christ, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, we are reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. The ninth promise that I'm highlighting is in chapter 6 of 2 Corinthians verse 16. It says, in what agreement has the temple of God of idols for you are the temple of the living God. In other words, God is living in us. That is a wonderful promise for all of us.

And the last one we concluded as we finish reading chapter 6 in the last study, we read verse 18, which says, I'll be a father to you and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. God desires to have a family relationship with us, and the human family does teach us a lot of lessons, and God is creating his own spiritual family. And for instance, the physical example of a marriage, it highlights principles of our commitment to God to be eternal and now love towards one another. But how is God our Father? Well, God is our Father amongst other ways, is if we behave as his children. So if we live according to his laws and commandments, and we do what is pleasing in his sight, and that is these 10 promises that have highlighted that Paul has mentioned in these previous chapters. And therefore, now continue to read chapter 7 verse 1, therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all fullfiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. God wants us to flee from many things, physical things, things of the flesh that would keep us away or out of his kingdom for our good. Now what is unclean? Because he says, let us cleanse ourselves. So what is unclean? And he says that. He says right here, all fullfiness of the flesh, anything that is filthy in the flesh, anything that goes against God's holy and righteous way, way of life, that, pardon, that's what God wants us to to put away. In other words, anything that goes against anything that's contrary to God's holiness, pure and righteous way of life. God wants to put away anything that goes against it. God has called us to live an awesome life, pure lives, in actions, in thoughts, in deeds. Now when you and I compromise with that in any way, it was when you and I begin to go the wrong way, even just a tiny bit. Maybe it's the wrong spirit. Maybe you can say, oh well, this doesn't really matter. Just a small thing. We then are not being holy, pure and righteous like God is. We have to then ask for forgiveness.

We have to be in the process of being perfecting towards holiness. That's what it says at the end of verse 1 in chapter 7, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. We have to be perfecting ourselves towards holiness because there's nothing holy in us. We have, however, in us something that is holy. That's God's holy spirit. And therefore, we have to focus our energy and our self-control towards follow the lead of God's holy spirit. Now God's holy spirit is God's power, it's his energy, it's his force, it's his essence, and it's basically God is composed of that spiritual essence too. It is his makeup. Maybe in modern ways, like saying, it is his spiritual DNA. It is his essence and his force and his energy. So we have something holy in us, and that's why it says we gotta use that. We gotta use God's holy spirit to be going through the process of sanctification towards obedience, towards being more and more like God. And it says, in the fear of God, there is an absolute respect towards God. That's what we need to be going. Now going on in verse 2, Paul again defends his intent and what he's doing. He's basically saying what he's done is for the good, and therefore he again makes an emotional appeal to them. Let's read, open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one. We have corrupted no one.

We have cheated no one. In other words, Paul is saying, I have not deceived you. I have not corrupted. I have not defrauded you. I've done nothing wrong. I, in other words, he's defending again. He is sincerity and his job as an apostle, as a minister of Jesus Christ. And then he goes on, in a sense, it's like preparing them for what he's going to say next, because he's only interested in their own good welfare. And he says, yeah, verse 3, I do not say this to condemn, for I said before that you are in our hearts to die together and to live together.

You see, he is only interested in their own well-being. He is completely with them. He is with them in heart. His intent is for the good of the Church. Verse 4, Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Now, in his first epistle, first Corinthians, Paul was very bold. Paul was very straight. He had to correct them. It was a very correct epistle. And after writing, he was obviously concerned. It's like a pastor, after a visit or a counseling session, may ask himself, have I said everything the right way? Did I say everything correctly in making sure that I have not offended anybody? Have I indeed done that? So, he says, Great is the word in italic is. Great is my boldness of speech toward you. In other words, his previous letter was very bold. Great is my boss boasting on your behalf.

In other words, he was confident in a way that they would repent, but he also was wondering, well, did they really repent? He was boasting to Titus in a way. Well, I'm sure they've repented, but in a sense, in his mind, he was saying, well, I really hope they have repented. So, and then he says, Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am full of comfort. Why? Because Titus came back and returned with the reply that most of the brethren in Corinth had handled his corrective letter in a right way, in a positive light, that they had been changed. He was comforted. I am full of comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. So, he was very happy and very comforted that indeed the Corinthian brethren had repented. Verse 5, For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside we conflicts, inside were fears. He had concerns, fears for the well-being of the Church. Continue now in verse 6 and 7. Nevertheless, God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 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, you zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. You know, as Paul is saying, he was very comforted by the news that Titus brought. That settled and made him very happy, very grateful that the brethren had accepted a corrective letter and had repented and made changes. When he says about when he, that's Titus, told us of your earnest desire, your desire to please God, to do the right things. Then he says, your zeal, he says, your mourning, your sorrow, your change, your mourning, your willingness to repent. And he says, your zeal for me. In other words, he was comforted that they still had a zeal for Paul.

It's like saying, well, they still like me. Now, granted, we all like to be appreciated. And therefore, he was encouraged that the brethren appreciated what he was doing, so that I rejoiced even more. So I rejoiced even more. Verse 8, For even I made you sorry with my letter.

So when he wrote the epistle of 1 Corinthians, he was sorry. He felt, in a sense, bad that he had to correct him. He felt, I don't like to correct, but he had to. It was needed. So even I made you sorry with my letter. I do not regret it. Though I did regret it. So what he says is, when he wrote, he had conflicting emotions. He wasn't sorry to have written. It was needed. But on the other side, he didn't feel like writing. He didn't feel comfortable to correct him, but he had to correct him. This is when I wrote, I made you sorry with my letter. I do not regret it. No, I did regret it. So now, in thinking back, I'm happy I did it, even though I had these conflicting emotions.

For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. In other words, he was pleased to note that even though that first Corinthians letter, the first epistle of Corinth, was strong and corrective, but he was glad that they had repented. Because sorry, morning must produce change, must produce fruit. And so he says, now I rejoice. Verse 9, not that you were made sorry, not that I'm not happy that I had to correct you, but I am happy that your sorrow led you to repentance. Led to repentance. You see, that was godly sorrow, because sorrow led to repentance. That sadness, that correction, led to a change, to a positive change. For you were made sorrow or sorry in a godly manner. In other words, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. Why? Because led to change. That sorrow led to change.

And that is the important point there. Now verse 10, in verse 10 we cover, we start covering a very important principles, yeah, because in verse 10 he explains true repentance versus false repentance. It's very important to dig in a little deeper on this and to understand the difference between true repentance and false repentance. So let's just read verse 10, for godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation. Not to be rejected, but the sorrow of the world produces death. You see, godly sorrow, that's what he says, produces repentance, produces an end result, an outcome of which the final outcome is salvation.

And therefore he says there is no regret because there's a change. That's why it says godly sorrow produces repentance towards salvation, not to be rejected. There's no regret. Why? Of that sorrow. Why? Because there is change. True change. Repentance means for sake, means change.

But the last part of verse 10, but the sorrow of the world produces death. Sorrow of this world, the end result, the end outcome is death. So being sorry, some people say, I'm sorry, is not repentance by itself. It needs to have a change, fruits, a change. Now, you know, sometimes there are some people that are very emotional and some are not.

And so you may correct somebody and they never change. They never change. There's also, there are others that are very emotional. They cry very quickly, but there's still no change. You see, so that worldly sorrow, whether it's a non-emotional or an emotional one, if there is no change, it's worldly. There must be change. You've got to look, we, you, us, we've got to look for action. And the point is, we've got to look at it in ourselves.

Our sorrow is our sorrow, godly. Are we saying, well, sorry, but we continue the same way?

Because godly sorrow must lead to change.

And so, yeah, I'm not saying that whether you have feelings or not, you should have feelings.

But the point is, we gotta have a change. We gotta have a change. So, in this verse, it's basically our lighting, the sorrow of this world versus godly sorrow. Again, how do you tell the difference?

It's because godly sorrow produces a permanent change, a permanent change. Wildly sorrow is mourning for the self. In a sense, you could say, is selfishness.

It's directed at the self, at me. It's like saying, oops, I'm sorry, I was caught.

For instance, it's like a little child goes into cookie jar, and then, the child is caught, and the child cries. But next time, we'll go back to the cookie jar.

You see, if he or she does that, that was worldly sorrow. Sorry that he or she got caught. Not sorry that he or she had done the wrong thing.

I mean, I'm using the example of a child, but it can be an adult. An adult does something, and then, when the adult is confronted with that, it says, oh no, I did it because of him. Well, he or she made me do it.

For instance, you have a person that is driving under the influence, and maybe there was something that happened on the road, and being under the influence, his reactions were not, or her reactions were not as sharp as they should have been, and then the person ends up in a car accident. Hopefully, they didn't injure anybody else, but let's say this person ends up in a car accident and ends up in hospital.

So this person that was drunk is now sorry, but, but does he or she stop drinking and driving?

Drinking under the influence, or over drinking? In other words, is he really sorry, and has changed his or her way of life? If he has not changed his way of life, he or she is just sorry for the punishment, but he or she has not repented.

You see, that is worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow is a total change, a total transformation in a person's life. Now, it's important for us to, to be a little bit more specific about that, because that total transformation in a person's life quite often is not necessarily an immediate change. Quite often it is a gradual change, because that person is striving to change, and it still slips up. Maybe it'll still slip up, but it's striving to change, and it's, it's changing gradually and getting better and better, but it's still slipping up sometimes. So it may take a while for this total transformation, but there is progress in that total transformation. In other words, it may take a while, but the point is it's not something just temporary or, or just fake. It is genuine, and he or she is really inwardly trying to change.

And that is the difference. There's a desire and intent, a desire to change.

So that is the difference between a worldly sorrow versus a godly sorrow.

And as we see here in verse 10, the godly sorrow leads to salvation. The worldly sorrow produces death at the end, an outcome. So there is time. God gives us time. God's goodness and kindness wants us to repent, so that we come to full repentance, as we read in Romans chapter 2 verse 4, but it leads, a godly sorrow, leads ultimately to salvation. You see, so what do we got to look at is fruits. We got to look at fruits of repentance. And this is what verse 10, a part of verse 11, is highlighting to us. In verse 11, we see, interestingly enough, we see seven fruits of repentance being mentioned here. In other words, what repentance will produce?

And so let's read verse 11. For observe this very thing that you sorrow in a godly manner. You see, a godly sorrow is one that is in a godly manner, and it says, you sorrow in a godly manner, what diligence it produced in you. And that is the first fruit. The first fruit of, that is mentioned here, of godly sorrow, of true repentance, is a certain diligence it produces in us.

It is a certain earnestness, a certain eagerness, a certain desire to change.

That desire, that diligence, that commitment to change, that is a first, let's call it fruit, of repentance. Second, it says, what clearing of yourselves? Clearing. In other words, it's clearing a desire to clear the situation, to correct the situation. It's a clearing to correct the situation. So we are eager desire to change, and we are deciding to correct the situation, to change and make it different. Thirdly, one indignation. Indignation is basically what? Anger? You're indignant. That means you're angry, you're furious, not against other people, but you're furious, you're upset with what you and I have done, what we have done. Repentance means we are having indignation, we are angry with ourselves, we are angry, we're upset against the sin. You see, against the sin, against the fault, not against other people. For instance, going back to the example of that person that was drunk, that person should not be indignant or angry at others. Or that person may be did something wrong on the road and I had to do the other, it was that other person's fault. But because the person, this person was under the influence, it didn't react correctly. So you can't be angry or indignant against others. I'm not saying that sometimes others don't commit faults on the road, but I'm talking about an example that a person is drunk. So let's be specific at that. So yeah, is the person, because he was drunk, did not react correctly. Maybe the road turned, and because the person was drunk, didn't see the turn, or maybe he was going too fast, or whatever it is. And so it's not a question of being angry at others, not at another person.

But he or she or I, if we sin or when you sin or when I sin, we're angry at the sin.

We're angry at our own weakness. We're indignant against our own weakness. And you and I then want to do something about it. So yeah, so we're eager, we want to change, we want to correct the situation, and we are furious with ourselves to what we've done. We are furious.

We against the sin, right? Not against somebody else. The next one says, what fear? Fear. In other words, it should produce a deep respect or reverence towards God.

It should produce a deep respect towards God. So let's look at Psalm 51, just very briefly. Psalm 51, this is an example of David when he had his sin with Bathsheba in Psalm 51.

And let's read at verse, start by reading with verse 3.

It says, for I acknowledge my transgression, and my sin is always before me, against you, you only ever sinned, against you, and you only ever sinned.

I've done this evil in your sight that you may be found just when you speak and blameless when you judge. And he goes on, you know, you desire truth and you decide truth in the parts. And he says, please cleanse me and create me a clean heart of God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cost me away from you, presence. Do not take your Holy Spirit from me. But the point I wanted to emphasize here in Psalm 51 is in verse 4. Against you, you only have I sinned.

It's important for us to understand that we sin against God. We don't sin against people.

We sin against God because we break his law.

When we sin against God, when we break his law, we, yes, we can hurt human beings. Our sins hurt others. But the sin is against God. We hurt others. But the sin is against God. For instance, if a person commits adultery or fornication and ends up with a disease which is transmittable and then he or she transfers it to others, he or she is hurting others.

When we sin and break, when we sin against God and break God's law, we end up sooner or later hurting others. You see, David in his sin described Yahweh where he said, I've sinned against only you against God. He did hurt Uriah. He did hurt Bathsheba.

And therefore, that sin brought pain and suffering and hurt to others. So, Yahweh is a very important point, particularly as we approach Bathsheba.

Why did Jesus Christ have to suffer?

You see, he could have just died for us and to pay for ourselves. He could have died a quick death, whatever, an arrow just going through his head or bang, just done, quick. But no, Christ went through great pain and suffering.

You look at the animals that symbolize like the lamb and the offerings of animals.

Those sacrifices of animals, those animals did not have to be put through suffering and pain.

The death and the killing of those animals was done the most humane way possible that they would have no suffering. It was just quick. But Christ had to suffer. He, Christ, had to go through great pain and suffering because sin brings pain and suffering and hurts others. Sin causes suffering, causes misery, causes hurt to others. That's why human beings need healing and forgiveness.

You see, we need our emotional scars healed, our psychological scars healed. We need our mind healed. We need, yes, also our pain healed. We need peace. We need the guilt taken away.

That is why Christ had to suffer in addition to his death. That's why there's the symbol of the bread that represents his body, suffering, yes, because of sin. And it's also the symbol of the wine, represents his death, yes, also because of sin. You see in Colossians chapter 1 verse 24, Colossians chapter 1 verse 24 is, yeah, is Paul stating, I now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body, which is the church. Paul said he suffered filling up in his flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. Brethren, you and I also suffer filling up in our flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.

How is that possible? Well, Christ suffered a lot, but there are certain illnesses or sufferings that Christ did not go through. And for us to be able to, as a church, as a body, as a bride of Christ, to be able to care and feel for others, we have to be in a position that we can be merciful and compassionate and understanding to other people that have suffered.

And there is bound to be, in the world tomorrow, at the beginning of the world tomorrow, somebody that is a spirit being, that will be a spirit being, that would have gone through some sort of a pain or suffering similar to somebody else. And therefore that spirit being, let's say you or somebody you know that went through some sort of pain or suffering, can have mercy and compassion to that person as the wifely, let's say that way, as the wife of Christ, as that like the mother of us all, caring for others. In 1 Peter chapter 2, 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 21, 1 Peter chapter 2 verse 21, we read, For to this you were called.

Yeas a reason why you and I were called to die to the church. Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow his steps.

To this you and I were called.

And then in chapter 4 verse 12 and 13, Beloved, do not think it's strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings.

There was the body, spiritual body, which the church will partake of his sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. Why? Because we'll have the same glory that he has. Look at Romans 8 verse 17. Romans 8 verse 17. Romans 8 verse 17, we read, And if children and heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs of Christ, if, if indeed we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together. You see, Christ suffered that he might be a merciful and compassionate high priest. Look at Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15 and 16. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15 and 16. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. You see, he is a compassionate high priest that can sympathize with us. And look at chapter 5 verse 7 through 9. It says, Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with the hymnant Christ, and tears to him, to the Father, was able to save him from death. And he was not saved from death, right? He died. But it says he was heard. He was heard.

It doesn't mean that he didn't have to go through, but he was heard. He was strengthened. He was encouraged. God sent him an angel to comfort him. He was heard. And he got extra strength and extra help because of his godly fear. All right, so let's get back to 2 Corinthians where we were. And in fact, we're talking about fear. What fear? In other words, what respect do we have for God in reference towards God? And as I said, we sin against God. So it's a fear and respect towards God. And Christ was heard because he had that deep respect for the Father.

Deep respect for the Father. And he did the Father's will even to have to go through the sufferings and die. Not my will, but I will be done. And he did it. And then look at, continue, what vehement desire. It was a very intense desire, longing to do what is right. True repentance has that intense desire to do what is right.

And then what zeal? True repentance produces a resolution, a desired passion, determination to do what is right. Knowing, of course, that we need God's help to accomplish that with God's only Spirit. But we have a desire to do what's right, and we have a determination to do it. Not just a desire, but a determination to do what is right. And then what vindication? Then he wanted revenge. What revenge is desire to have justice established. To do it in the right way, in the godly way, because I want to do what God wants. And then it says, in all things you prove yourselves to be clear in this matter. In other words, Paul is saying to the Corinthians, they had proven themselves.

They had shown themselves by the fruits that they had, indeed, repented. And this was the report that Titus brought, and they had repented. Verse 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. You see, I didn't write the first epistle of Corinthians as it says, for the sake of him who had done the wrong, it was for the evil doer that is described in 1 Corinthians chapter 5.

And then it says, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong. You know, for the one that suffered wrong, which is described in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, the one that was taken to the law before unbelievers.

So it was the one that suffered wrong. So he didn't write 1 Corinthians because of these two situations, but he wrote 1 Corinthians for the benefit of the whole church. Sure, it was for the others too, but overall it was for the benefit of the church because he, Paul, cared for them, for Corinthians, before God.

And he did that so that they might understand that he cared for them. You know, it's like, you know, correction. God corrects those whom he loves. And so that's what he did. So let's just read the rest of verse 12 here. It says, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but for our care for you in the sight of God, so that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. And so he did that for the benefit of the church because he cared for them. And you could see that Paul cared for the church. And then in verse 13 he says, therefore we have been comforted in your comfort.

We have been comforted. Paul says, I am being comforted by the fact that you changed, that you repented, and that you accepted that, and you've changed. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus because his spirit has been refreshed by all. In other words, he was happy not only for that, but also, Titus was happy. And I was happy to see Titus was happy for verse 14, for if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I'm not ashamed.

In other words, I boasted to Titus. That's what Paul says, that you would accept this positively because the letter had been sent, then he sent Titus to check, hey, let's see how they're doing. But he boasted to Titus, he said, well, I'm sure they're positive.

But again, he wanted to have that deep assurance. So I have boasted to him to Titus 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. In other words, he was even more pleased to hear from Titus that indeed the majority of the brethren had repented. There was a big change. And in verse 15, and his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him.

And so Titus, the affection that Titus has for you is now even greater because Titus remembers how you all obeyed and how with fear and tremble you received, you Corinthians, received Titus. In other words, they received Titus with respect because they said, well, Yah is the representative of the Apostle Paul to see how we're doing and I received him with fear and trembling with respect.

Verse 16, therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything. I have confidence that you will do what I'm saying for you to do and what we said. I am, I really rejoice on that that you have done.

And in the next study, then we'll start on the next two chapters, chapter eight and nine, which is Paul exhorting the Corinthian brethren to take up a collection for the saints, for the saints in Jerusalem, as liberally as the churches in Maastonia had given for the saints in Jerusalem.