July 12, 2015
Evening Service

In chapter 6, Paul began by explaining how the prophecy of Isaiah was coming to pass through his ministry.  The “acceptable time” for salvation Isaiah spoke was now coming to pass.  The true gospel message was now complete with Jesus’ DBR and Paul urged the church to act quickly upon it.  It is still true today that “now” is the time for salvation, because we are not promised tomorrow.

Paul went on to summarize the many trials and persecutions he had endured as a minister of God.  He closes the chapter with a charge to act upon our faith by allowing God to transform us into His own special people.

 2Co 6:14-18 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness? And what partnership does light have with darkness?  (15)  And what agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever?  (16)  And what agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are the temple of the living God, as God has said, "I will dwell in them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."  (17)  Therefore come out from among them and be separated, says the Lord, and do not touch the unclean thing. And I will receive you (18)  and I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

·         We are His people, even His temple, and He calls us to a life that is in this world, but not of this world.  We are called out to be His own special people (Titus 2:14)

·         I believe the key to this charge is the promise that follows in verse 18.  The Lord God Almighty promises to receive us and be a Father to us and us His children.

·         Paul begins 7 with the word “therefore,” pointing us to the action needed to be taken from this charge and powerful promise.

 

2Co 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

·         BECAUSE we are to be a called out people separated for God’s use and He has promised to be a Father to us, therefore we should seek to make changes in our lives that make us more pleasing in His sight.  Living our life with a purpose.  That purpose is to glorify our Father and grow into all He desires us to be.

 

Eph. 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called,

·         The changes we are asked to make in our lives are NOT to earn our salvation in any manner, but they come about BECAUSE of our salvation. 

 

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

 

 

·         Accepting Jesus as your personal Savior and taking the name Christian (Christ follower) comes with a responsibility.  He died for us, and He asks us to live for Him.  We are to live a life that reflects that we truly believe.  No one can look fully into the face of our Savior, realizing the price He paid for our salvation, and continue to be the same person.  True belief creates change.  Some of the change is immediate, and some comes gradually with time.  We will never fully attain “true holiness,” yet that must be our goal.

·         As we read our Bible and come across something that we see in our lives that is not pleasing to God, we must act to cleanse or separate ourselves from it.

 

Paul now pleads again with the Corinthian church realize the love he has for them.

 

2Co 7:2-7  Open your hearts us. We wronged no one, we corrupted no one, and we overreached no one.  (3)  I do not speak this to condemn you, for I have said before that you are in our hearts for us to die together, and to live together.  (4)  My boldness of speech is great toward you; my glorying on your behalf is much. I have been filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy on all our trouble.  (5)  For, indeed, coming into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but being troubled in every way, with fightings on the outside, and fears on the inside.  (6)  But He who comforts the lowly comforted us by the coming of Titus.  (7)  And not only by his coming, but by the comfort with which he was comforted over you, telling us your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced the more.

·         He was greatly comforted to hear from Titus that his first letter did indeed cause a change in them and not a rebellions rejection.  It renewed his strength to continue following his calling.

 

2Co 7:8-9  For even if I grieved you in the letter, I do not regret; if indeed I did regret; for I see that that letter grieved you for an hour.  (9)  Now I rejoice, not that you were sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a Godly manner, so that you might suffer loss by nothing in us.

·         Their sorrow did not push them away from God, but drew them to repentance and thus closer to Him.

 

2Co 7:10-11 For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.  (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 everything you approved yourselves to be clear in the matter.

·         These explain the true “fruits of repentance” that Jesus spoke of to the Pharisees.  These are not simply duties to achieve, but desires of the heart. This is the reaction that comes when a Christian is confronted with a truth that they are not lined up with.  This confrontation can come directly from the Word (Spirit) or from a plethora of other avenues (sermons, friends, songs, books etc.).

·         The key is not where it comes from (as long as it is from God), but what we do with it.  No one enjoys being reprimanded or confronted with an error.

·         How are you doing with that one?  It is our pride that often creates our initial reaction, but our heart will lead us seek God’s will for our lives.  “Not My will, but Thine be done.”  The Corinthian church is a great example for us to learn from.

 

 

2Co 7:12-16  Then, though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong, nor on account of the one who suffered wrong, but for the sake of revealing our earnestness on your behalf, for you before God.  (13)  Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort, and we rather rejoiced more abundantly over the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.  (14)  For if I have boasted anything about you to him, I was not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting as to Titus became truth.  (15)  And his tender feelings are more abundant toward you, remembering the obedience of you all, as you received him with fear and trembling.  (16)  Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.

·         We must be careful if we are ever on Paul’s side of this confrontation as well.  He has gone to great lengths to speak in love and meekness, not in spite or judgment.  Here he affirms them for the path of repentance they have chosen with fear and trembling.

·         There are times when God will lead us to speak to an erring brother and it is never an easy task.  We see the turmoil it caused in Paul in these two letters.  If you are prodded by the Holy Spirit to confront a brother remember:

 

1Co 16:13-14 Watch! Stand fast in the faith! Be brave! Be strong!  (14)  Let all your things be done in love.

·         We all need brothers and sisters in the Lord that love us enough to speak the truth to us no matter how much it hurts.  We, in turn, need to be such a friend to others.

 

Father, may we accept Your reproof with Godly sorrow and may it lead to true repentance and restoration.