GODLY SORROW
2 Corinthians 7:8-11 (KJV)
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
Since I can, and since things are different with these online lessons, I thought I would try to visualize the passage for you.
Notice that there are a number of themes that recur in the passage:
· Trouble, restlessness vs 5, 12
· Boldness/boasting vs 4, 14
· Comfort vs 4, 6, 13
· Coming of Titus vs 6, 13, 14
In the middle of these recurring themes is the subject of repentance and sorrow.
It’s a parenthetical statement.
It is a definition of godly sorrow, interjected into Paul’s exultation of the good news he had heard from Titus and the comfort it had brought to him.
Notice first with me,
I. A CONTRAST
2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (KJV)
For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
There are almost two contrasts because Paul speaks of repenting but not repenting.
The word repent means to care afterwards.
You did something, but afterwards you turn from it.
The word sorrow has to do with distress.
The word of God contrasts “godly sorrow” with “the sorrow of the world.”
A. Godly sorrow works repentance
to salvation.
Salvation can mean a lot of different things.
· The guy who trusts Christ as Saviour has been saved and
· The guy who has been drug out of a burning car has been saved
But they are not the same thing, are they?
Godly sorrow works repentance
Of souls
It’s necessary for forgiveness of sins
Of testimony
The church in Corinth had damaged their testimony with the sins going on there.
Of continued ministry
By repenting of those sins, the church was capable of continuing a ministry long into the future.
B. Worldly sorrow works death
Romans 6:23 (KJV)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
James 1:15 (KJV)
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
A lot of times we will use Peter and Judas Iscariot to illustrate the difference in sorrows.
Both men betrayed Jesus.
· But Judas just threw down the money he got for his action and hung himself.
· Peter wept and became a different man.
Peter’s sorrow led to “salvation.”
Judas’ sorrow led to death.
Notice secondly, of this godly sorrow,
II. A CONSEQUENCE
2 Corinthians 7:11 (KJV)
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
These are powerful words. I can almost hear Paul’s attitude of rejoicing in this passage.
…what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge![1]
A. Carefulness
This has to do with doing a thing with care, earnest and diligence.
B. Clearing
This is a confess, apology and a clearing of the record.
Notice that Paul confirms at the end of the verse that they have been cleared of the matter. It has ended.
C. Indignation
Barnes writes, “One effect of true repentance is to produce decided hatred of sin. It is not mere regret, or sorrow, it is positive hatred.”
D. Fear
Psalms 111:10 (KJV)
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
One of the wise things that fear of the Lord brings is a fear of going back into the same sins again.
E. Desire
It’s not a little wish. They longed to be free of their sin. Some believe that the reference has to do with winning Paul’s approval. Their sin has broken their fellowship. Now they want that fellowship restored.
F. Zeal
Zeal has to do with heat or fervency.
They were passionate about repentance.
E. Revenge
In this context, the idea is that retribution. They not only quit the offense, but they also made things right.
Repentance is never fully repentance without a turning. It’s more than merely stopping a thing. Repentance is turning from it to another direction.
Paul came out of his parenthesis to provide
III. A CONCLUSION
2 Corinthians 7:12-16 (KJV)
Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
I’ll draw your attention mostly to vs 13 and the word, “therefore.”
Titus had reached Paul with news of the repentance of the believers at Corinth. He said it brought:
A. Refreshing
Vs 13
Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
Where there was little rest in verse five, now there was rest and peace of mind and spirit.
News of the repentance of those who erred does that to those who care about the things of God.
B. Affection
Vs15
And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
When someone genuinely turns from sin the response of people who love God is to love those who have repented.
When we witness verse eleven, our spirits are so refreshed and affections so touched that our relationships with those who have repented are welded together.
It’s sort of the opposite of holding a grudge.
Godly sorrow produces such a change that those relationships formed through it are eternal and unbreakable.
And so, we have the final effect
C. Confidence
Vs 16
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
The boldness and the boasting Paul spoke of in this chapter springs from an absolute confidence in the believers in Corinth.
I thank the Lord for those Christians whose faith has been tested, whose repentance has been manifested and therefore, we have confidence in them in “all things.”
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