II Corinthians 7
Based on promises – cleanse yourselfverse 1
Having therefore these promises – dearly beloved
let us cleanse ourselves
from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit
perfecting holiness in the fear of God
Intimate relationship between pastor and peopleverses 2-4
Receive us – we have wronged no man – we have corrupted no man
we have defrauded no man
I speak not this to condemn you for I have said before
that you are in our hearts to die and live with you
Great is my boldness of speech toward you
great is my glorying of you
I am filled with comfort
I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation
Titus gives a message of encouragementverses 5-7
For – when we were come into Macedonia – our flesh had no rest
but we were troubled on every side
without were fightings – within were fears
Nevertheless God – that comforts those that are cast down
comforts us by the coming of Titus
and not by his coming only
but by the consolation wherewith he was
comforted in you
when he told us your earnest desire – your mourning
your fervent mind toward me
so that I rejoiced the more
Godly sorrow leads to leads to repentanceverses 8-12
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 you were made sorry
but that you sorrowed to repentance
for you were made sorry after a godly manner
that you might receive damage
by us in nothing
FOR godly sorrow works repentance to salvation
not to be repented of but the sorrow of the
world works death
FOR behold this selfsame thing
that you sorrowed after a godly sort
what carefulness it wrought in you
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 manner
wherefore – though I wrote to 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
Repentance bring comfortverses 13-16
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 had boasted anything to him of you – I am not ashamed
but as we spoke 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
while he remembers the obedience of you all
how with fear and trembling you received him
I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2005 “perfecting” [epiteleo] means to fulfill further, to pay in full, complete, mature, terminate, undergo, accomplish, finish, perform, or to bring to an end)
DEVOTION: We are dealing with the doctrine of sanctification. We are declared sanctified when we begin to follow the LORD. However, this sanctification is also progressive. We grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ after salvation. As we grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit brings to our attention things in our lives that are displeasing to the LORD. HE wants us to clean up our actions in regard to these things that HE shows us. Our faith is maturing and our actions are maturing.
The Bible is full of promises. We have a place promised to us for eternity. We have the promise that HE will never leave us or forsake us. We have the promise of the help of the Holy Spirit in our daily life. We have a promise that the LORD will help us mature in the faith. Part of maturing in the faith is separating from the lusts of the world. The last chapter informed the Corinthians that they needed to separate from those who were unsaved.
Does that mean that we have no unsaved friends or that we don’t witness to those we know who don’t know the LORD? NO!! It means that our actions have to be different from their actions. Our language has to be different from their language. Our thoughts have to be different from their thoughts. Too often Christians feel that they have to act like and talk like the ones they are witnessing too. That is wrong. That is not mature. Paul wants the Christians in Corinth to mature toward holiness. The LORD wants us to do the same.
Our goal in life should be that we can be more and more like Christ. HE was holy. We are growing in grace. When we grow in grace we are working out our salvation with fear and trembling. The end of this work should be a holy life. Are we going to go backwards at times? YES!! But that doesn’t mean that we stop trying to move forward. We will not accomplish complete holiness until heaven but we can still get closer each day. Are you moving forward or going in reverse? There is no standing still with our development. There is no status quo with God.
CHALLENGE: Does our family see us getting closer to the LORD or further away? Does our spouse see us growing in the LORD? Do we really want to move forward with the LORD? We know our deepest thoughts and actions – so does GOD!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulations. (5479 “joyful” [chara] means gladness, great happiness, delight, enjoyment, the emotion of great happiness and pleasure, or state of rejoicing)
DEVOTION: Here we have a church that has a lot of problems but Paul informs them that he has pride in them because they acted correctly regarding the sin that was in the church. They listened to his advice and caused the man to repent of his sin and ask for restoration.
Paul all through his ministry had many troubles with the Jewish leaders and will fellow believers. He could look at what the people had done and be happy. It gave him joy to see that those who followed the LORD were obedient to the LORD.
Again, he is repeating message that obedience is important to the LORD. We are all to be obedient to those the LORD has put over us during our stay here on the earth.
Parents are the first ones that we are to obey while we growing up. Then there are those who employ us as well as those who are in leadership in our local church. If we are obedient to those who have proper authority over our lives the LORD will bless us. If we are rebellious the LORD will have to chasten or correct us until we yield to those HE has placed over us.
CHALLENGE: This is encouragement to them even today to watch fellow believers grow in the LORD.
: 6 Nevertheless God, that comforts those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus. (3870 “comforts” [parakaleo] means to alleviate sorrow or distress, give emotional strength to, implore, urge, speak words of encouragement, call to one’s side, to exhort, to invite, or ask for earnestly)
DEVOTION: Once a leader sees that those who have been his followers are acting according to the will of God, he is pleased. Paul rejoiced in their obedience. It showed their maturity.
Mature actions in the people we love give us a reason to rejoice. We see what Paul saw. That was individuals who could handle a problem Biblically. They read the letter that Paul had sent and acted on his evaluation of the situation. They handled it before he arrived.
Confidence is the outcome of watching those we have ministered to react Biblically to situations that come into their life. Paul had confidence that in the future they would act Biblically. They would honor the LORD with their actions which in turn would be a witness to other churches on how they should act in a given situation.
In our personal life we need to continually serve the LORD properly which will bring joy to the leadership of our local assembly which in turn will build confidence in them regarding our spiritual growth but also in ourselves as we see our actions are pleasing to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Are we individuals who come along side of individuals that need encouragement? That is a necessary ministry for all believers.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 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. (4710 “care” [spoude] means diligence, eagerness, haste, business, do one’s best, zeal, speed, watchful interest, treat seriously or carefulness)
DEVOTION: Motives are all important in our life. Why do we do what we do? Paul is explaining to the Christians at Corinth what he wrote the first letter regarding the man who was living with his father’s wife in an improper relationship.
He didn’t write it because of the sin that was happening in the home. He didn’t write the letter just for the sake of the one who was being sinned against. These were important to him and to God but he wrote for another reason.
His main reason for writing the letter was to protect the testimony of the church in Corinth. He wanted it to have a good testimony with God. He wanted to do his best to honor God. He wanted the church to honor God. He had a watchful interest in this church and wanted them to know he was looking after them even from a distance.
Just because he left the church to do ministry in other placed didn’t mean that he forgot any other church. He cared for all those who were under his ministry throughout his lifetime. Some wanted him to have an interest in their growth in the LORD while others didn’t want anything to do with him once he was gone.
Today we find that pastors leave churches and go to their next ministry. Many times there is no communication between them and the other churches they served in. However, there are friendships in each church and some of the people want to have contact with their former pastors. That is not wrong unless their motives or the former pastor’s motives are wrong.
Genuine love from a pastor causes him to pray for those in his former churches and for his former churches to do well in the LORD. It hurts good pastors to see a church they served not honor the LORD even today.
CHALLENGE: Allow former pastors who love the LORD and you to have a genuine love for the condition of your heart and the heart of the church they have served in faithfully. You should be praying for their future ministry as they are praying for your present ministry.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Letterverse 8
Epistleverse 8
Wroteverse 12
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Epistle [I Corinthians]verse 8
Wroteverse 12
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 1, 6, 12
Fear of Godverse 1
God comfortsverse 6
Sight of Godverse 12
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Macedoniaverse 5
Sorrow of worldverse 10
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Filthinessverse 1
Wrong othersverse 2
Corrupt othersverse 2
Defrauding othersverse 2
Condemn othersverse 3
Fightingsverse 5
Fearsverse 5
Sorrow of the worldverse 10
Wrongverse 12
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Promisesverse 1
Dearly belovedverse 1
Cleanse ourselvesverse 1
Perfecting holinessverse 1
Fear of Godverse 1
Heart for othersverse 3
Boldness of speechverse 4
Glory in other believersverse 4
Comfortverses 4, 6, 7, 13
Joyful in tribulationverses 4, 13
Troubled on every sideverse 5
Cast downverse 6
Earnest desire toward othersverse 7
Rejoiceverses 7, 9, 16
Repentanceverses 8-10
Godly sorrowverses 9-11
Salvationverse 10
Carefulnessverse 11
Clearing verse 11
Joyverse 13
Refreshedverse 13
Speak the truthverse 14
Obedienceverse 15
Fear and tremblingverse 15
Confidenceverse 16
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Titusverses 6, 13, 14
Refresh othersverse 13
Speak the truthverse 14
Last Things (Future Events)
Deathverse 10
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QUOTES regarding passage
8–10 “My letter” refers not to 1 Corinthians or a letter embodying 2 Corinthians 10–13 but to a letter no longer extant that was written after 1 Corinthians and Paul’s “sorrowful visit” and was delivered by Titus. From the report of Titus Paul had learned for the first time that his letter had caused the Corinthians considerable distress, at least for a period (v. 8). As a spiritual father who disliked causing pain for whatever reason, his first reaction was to regret (metemelomēn) that he had written so stern a letter that the recipients were pained by it: “I did regret it—[for, gar, read by some MSS] I see that my letter hurt you” (v. 8b). But at some later time, possibly after Titus had completed his report or after Paul had had time to reflect on the whole episode, his initial regret caused by a natural, spontaneous reaction had altogether disappeared before the joyful realization that out of the temporary pain suffered by the Corinthians had come sincere repentance. So at the time of writing Paul could say, “I do not [now] regret it [ou metamelomai] … now I am happy … because your sorrow led you to repentance” (vv. 8, 9). Of what had the Corinthians repented? Probably their failure to defend Paul before his detractor (“the one who did the wrong,” v. 12). Because their sorrow was “as God intended” (i.e., it produced repentance, v. 10a), Paul’s letter that had caused temporary pain caused no permanent harm (v. 9b). The inference is clear: the imposition of discipline or the suffering of pain that does not, under God, lead to repentance, can cause irreparable harm. (Harris, M. J. (1976). 2 Corinthians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Romans through Galatians (Vol. 10, p. 363). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House)
Now I rejoice (νυν χαιρω [nun chairō]). Now that Titus has come and told him the good news from Corinth (2:12f.). This was the occasion of the noble outburst in 2:12 to 6:10. Unto repentance (εἰς μετανοιαν [eis metanoian]). Note the sharp difference here between “sorrow” (λυπη [lupē]) which is merely another form of μεταμελομαι [metamelomai] (regret, remorse) and “repentance” (μετανοια [metanoia]) or change of mind and life. It is a linguistic and theological tragedy that we have to go on using “repentance” for μετανοια [metanoia]. But observe that the “sorrow” has led to “repentance” and was not Itself the repentance. After a godly sort (κατα θεον [kata theon]). In God’s way. “God’s way as opposed to man’s way and the devil’s way” (Plummer). It was not mere sorrow, but a change in their attitude that counted. That ye might suffer loss by us in nothing (ἱνα ἐν μηδενι ζημιωθητε ἐξ ὑμων [hina en mēdeni zēmiōthēte ex humōn]). Purpose clause with ἱνα [hina] and first aorist passive subjunctive of ζημιοω [zēmioō], old verb to suffer damage. See on Matt. 16:26. This was God’s intention and so he overruled their sorrow to good. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (2 Co 7:9). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.)
7:8–9. Paul’s harsh letter (see point 5 under “Contacts and Correspondence” in the Introduction) had hurt them. It had hurt Paul too. He had not relished his role as a disciplinarian, and in fact he apparently had wished he had not sent it with Titus. Yet because of the results his regret was mollified. In sorrow the Corinthians acknowledged their failure and redressed the wrong (cf. 2:6). (Lowery, D. K. (1985). 2 Corinthians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 572). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)
Paul had written them a stern letter, and then had regretted it. But the letter achieved its purpose and the Corinthians repented, and this made Paul rejoice. Their repentance was not merely a passing “regret”; it was a true godly sorrow for sin. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2 Cor. 7:10, niv). The difference is seen in Judas and Peter. Judas “repented himself” (was full of regret) and went and committed suicide, while Peter wept and repented of his fall (Matt. 26:75–27:5).
Do Christians need to repent? Jesus said that we do (Luke 17:3–4), and Paul agreed with Him (2 Cor. 12:21). Four of the seven churches of Asia Minor, listed in Revelation 2–3, were commanded to repent. To repent simply means “to change one’s mind,” and disobedient Christians need to repent, not in order to be saved, but in order to restore their close fellowship with God. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 654). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 9. Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, &c.] Their grief and sorrow, as a natural passion, was no matter or cause of joy to him; nor was this what he sought after, being what he could take no real pleasure in; for so far as that was a pain to them, it was a pain to him: but that ye sorrowed to repentance; their sorrow issued in true evangelical repentance, and this was the ground of his rejoicing; for as there is joy in heaven among the angels, at the repentance of a sinner, so there is joy in the church below, among the saints and ministers of the Gospel, when either sinners are brought in, or backsliders returned by repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly sort; what gave him so much joy and satisfaction was, that their sorrow was of the right sort; it was a godly sorrow, they sorrowed after; or according to God, according to the will of God, and for sin, as it was committed against him; it was a sorrow that God wrought in them: that ye might receive damage by us in nothing; what added to his pleasure was, that his writing to them, and the effect it produced, had not been in the least detrimental to them; things had worked so kindly, and this sorrow had wrought in such a manner, that they were not hurt in their souls, but profited; nor in their church-state, they had not lost one member by it; nay, the offender himself, which was the occasion of all this trouble, was recovered and restored by these means. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 803). London: Mathews and Leigh)
But, if his letter had produced tears, it had also, by all accounts, produced transformation (2 Cor. 7:9). It had accomplished two things. It had produced repentance: “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner” (7:9a), and it had prevented resentment: “that ye might receive damage by us in nothing” (7:9b). Sorrow “after a godly manner” means that they had been sorry in a way God Himself would have had them be sorry. Their sorrow had led them to repentance. The word for “repentance” here is metanoia. The word means “to change one’s mind,” always for the better. The verb form of the word is often used in the imperative. The idea behind the word is not only that we forsake our sin but that our whole understanding of the sin question is changed. The corresponding Latin word is resipisco, which means to recover one’s senses or to come to oneself. So, the word metanoia implies that we have a real change of mind and heart not only toward the sin itself, but toward the cause of the sin—not just the consequences of the sin. Instead of responding to that which is “natural,” we do the very opposite. We respond to that which is spiritual. The noun occurs two dozen times and, with one exception (Heb. 12:17), it has to do with genuine repentance, “repentance toward God.”
This is the kind of repentance Paul’s lamented letter had produced in the Corinthians, at least in the majority. We see it illustrated in the story of the prodigal son. He had reached the end of his tether. His funds had all gone. His friends had all gone. The fun was all gone. It was payday for his sin. He sat there by the pig pail contemplating the slops in the bucket. We see him grubbing in the garbage pail of sin. He was homeless and hopeless, and hungry enough to fill his empty stomach with the poor husks he was supposed to feed to the hogs. Then, his thoughts turned toward his father’s house and the bounty even the lowest slave enjoyed. The Lord Jesus says that “he came to himself” (Luke 15:17). Before long he arose and “came to his father” (Luke 15 v. 20), a thoroughly repentant man.
So, there was no apology! Paul rejoiced so much now in that letter as he had once lamented over it. But, more! There was no apathy either (2 Cor. 7:10–11). Paul piles up the words and expressions to prove it. He speaks of three things. First, there was divine repentance: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of” (7:10a). Paul contrasts that with deadly remorse: “but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (7:10b). The kind of sorrow God looks for is the sorrow which leads to a change of mind and heart and thus to salvation. The world’s sorrow is such a hopeless thing that it often proves deadly. Although the concept of repentance is prominent in the New Testament, Paul seldom uses it. It occurs in his writings in Romans 2:4 and in 2 Timothy 2:25 and here, and that’s about all. John the Baptist and Jesus were the ones who preached repentance. But Paul was well aware of the need for repentance even though he did not harp upon the theme. (Phillips, J. (2009). Exploring 2 Corinthians: An Expository Commentary (2 Co 7:8b–10b). Kregel Publications; WORDsearch Corp.)
They did not suffer lost (v.9) means that they were not harmed by the letter in any way. The benefit of suffering comes from the reaction to it (v.10); godly sorrow leads to change and the spiritual benefit of salvation, but worldly sorrow produces spiritual harm. Ministers should point out sin with the hope that the resulting grief will lead to change; those receiving rebuke from godly leaders should repent. (p. 1817, The Moody Bible Commentary by Michael Rydelnik & Michael Vanlaningham)
FROM MY READING:
The transfer of authority from Moses to Joshua is announced.
INSIGHT
The past is a picture of the future. When trying to determine what will be, it is important to know what has been.
Throughout the wilderness journey, God reminds Israel what He has done in the past-to give them courage and hope for the future. As the reins of leadership are passed from Moses to Joshua, the Lord encourages Joshua with a review of history: “Your eyes have seen all that the Lord your God has done to these two [past] kings; so will the Lord do to all the kingdoms through which you pass” (Deuteronomy 3:21).
The Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When we face the giants in our lives, we can take heart from the Lord’s words to Joshua: “You must not fear them, for the Lord your God Himself fights for you” (Deuteronomy 3:22). Our giants are not flesh and blood. They are spiritual and emotional. But the Lord must still defeat them. Trust!
(Quiet Walk)
GOD FORGIVES SIN
God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. John 1:5
God, being God, cannot simply forgive sin. Now the common idea about God, the one that we have instinctively, is that when we admit we have sinned, all that is necessary is that we should come to God, say we are very sorry, and God will forgive us. But according to the Bible that is impossible, and I do not hesitate to use that word. As a preacher of the Christian Gospel, I am compelled to say this, and I say it with reverence: God, because He is God, cannot just forgive sin like that.
If you want me to prove what I am saying, this is how I do it. If God could have forgiven sin just by saying, “I forgive,” He would have done so, and Christ would never have been sent into this world. The work that was given to Him to do, this work, this assignment, this task, was given to the Lord Jesus Christ because, I say again, without it God cannot forgive sin. He must not only justify the ungodly—He must remain just. The way of salvation must be consistent with the character of God. He cannot deny Himself; He cannot change Himself; He is unchangeable. “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). He is “the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). He is eternally the same, and He is absolutely righteous and holy and just. He cannot remain that and simply forgive sin.
It is wrong to say, “God is love, and because He is love, He will forgive me.” My friend, He cannot, because He is God! The work of Christ was essential because of the character of God, and it was essential because of man being in sin; something had to be done to render man fit for God.
A Thought to Ponder: God, being God, cannot simply forgive sin.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 99-100, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Daniel the President
“It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom; And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.” (Daniel 6:1-2)
Not many people realize that the godly prophet Daniel was the first president of the great Medo-Persian-Babylonian empire!
Of course, Daniel’s office did not correlate directly with that of an American president, being appointive rather than elective, and being subject to the emperor, but he nevertheless had great authority. Many translations use the word “governor” instead of “president”—the original language was Aramaic in this case rather than Hebrew.
In any case, Daniel was a God-fearing Hebrew rather than a Persian or Babylonian, and so soon drew the envy and resentment of the other “presidents” and “princes” of the empire. But the only charge they could make against him (there was no hint of scandal or corruption in his character or activities, unlike certain nominally Christian presidents in our own country) was that he was too “religious,” worshipping openly the true God of creation instead of the nature gods of the pagans. “They could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him” (Daniel 6:4).
It is sadly true that such a testimony could never have been given concerning any American president, not even Washington or Lincoln, as great and praiseworthy as they were. Nevertheless, God would remind us “that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty” (1 Timothy 2:1-2). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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