2 Corinthians 7

2 Corinthians 7:1

When Paul wrote this letter, he did not write it in chapters. In fact, there were no chapter divisions whatsoever in the Bible until the late 1300s. At that time, someone added chapter divisions in order to help people locate passages more easily. Then in the 1500s, someone divided the chapters into verses. And for the most part, the job these scholars did is excellent. But every once in a while, one wonders what the reasoning was behind their choices. 2Co_7:1 is one such example… Verse 1 of chapter 2Co_7:1 should really be the last verse of chapter 6 because it’s a continuation of the promises to which Paul referred in verses 2Co_6:16-18, wherein God promised He would dwell with us and be a Father to us. “Having these promises, let us cleanse ourselves,” Paul says. What does this mean? The Old Testament picture of this New Testament principle is found in the fifth chapter of 2 Kings… In the Old Testament, leprosy is a very appropriate picture of sin, for it begins seemingly insignificantly, but spreads insidiously. When Naaman, a prominent Syrian ruler who had contracted this terrible disease, was told by his servant girl that there was a prophet in Israel who could cure him, he sent a message to the king of Israel, who, in turn, sent for Elisha. Expecting Elisha to pronounce some sort of magical incantation over him, Naaman was “wroth” when Elisha told him to wash in the Jordan River seven times. After all, Naaman thought the Jordan nothing more than a muddy creek compared to the rivers of his own country. Thus, Scripture says he “turned and went away in a rage.” But his servants didn’t give up so easily. “If Elisha had asked you to do something difficult, you would have done it,” they said to Naaman. “Therefore, why not see what happens if you comply with this seemingly simple command?” So Naaman did, indeed, dip himself into the Jordan seven timesthe number of completionand he came out healed and whole. Likewise, we who are eaten by the leprosy of sin must dip in the water over and over and over again. What water? The psalmist said in Psalms 119 that a young man shall cleanse his way by taking heed according to the Word. Jesus said in John 15 that we are clean through the Word He has spoken unto us. Paul declared in Ephesians 5 that we are washed by the water of the Word of God. Let the Word of God cleanse you, and an amazing thing will happen. You may never become a scholar of theology, but as you submerge yourself in Scripture, the leprosy that once gnawed on you will begin to be cleansed. To those who are struggling with their flesh and looking for a quick answer, we need to say, “Plunge into Scripture. Plug into Bible study. Keep at it over and over and over againfor it’s God’s Word that will cleanse you and wash away the sin that hounds you.” We are to cleanse ourselves not only from the filthiness of the flesh, but also of the spirit. As believers, we are very cognizant of the sins of the fleshthose sins that are done outwardly and that seem to permeate our culture increasingly. Yet how often we fail to even notice the much more dangerous sins of the spiritlike gossiping, fault-finding, laziness, cynicism. Jesus indicted the Pharisees for being more concerned about their rituals and ceremonial cleansing than about the big issues of justice and mercy (Mat_23:23). That is why it is imperative that we take to heart what Paul is saying. Our flesh might appear quite presentable, but what about the grudges we keep, the anger that wells up within, the lustful thoughts, and the wrong perspectives we know need to be corrected? Paul says, “Cleanse yourselves from filthiness of both the flesh and the spirit. Deal with it all.”

2 Corinthians 7:2

I believe this is where the chapter should more logically begin. “Don’t reject us,” Paul says. “We have defrauded, cheated, or tricked no one.”

2 Corinthians 7:3

“I’m not down on you,” Paul tells the Corinthians. “I don’t want to bring condemnation to you. You’re in our hearts; we live and die with you.”

2 Corinthians 7:4

I love this Scripture. If you’re going through a hard season in your life, know this: God loves to comfort those who feel cast down. Blessed be the Father of mercy, the God of all comfort (2Co_1:3). When Paul was going through the wringer internally, externally, emotionally, and physically, how did God comfort him? Through Titus. This amazes me. You see, Titus was one of Paul’s students, one of his disciples. After sending him to Corinth with his first letter, Paul says it was when Titus returned that he was built up. I’m afraid my reaction would have been, “Oh, it’s just Titus. Lord, why didn’t You send me someone famous or deep? Billy Graham perhaps. But Titus? He’s just one of my boys. How can he help me?” I think of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. As He sweat great drops of blood while He prayed with intensity, an angel came and strengthened Him (Luk_22:43). Jesus could have said, “I’m way above the angels.” Instead, He received the ministry of the angel. So, too, Paul received encouragement from Titus because he recognized an important principle: Often the Lord comes to us in the unexpected person at an unexpected time in an unexpected way… “We know Him,” they said. “He’s the carpenter’s son” (see Mar_6:3). But they were wrong. He was the Son of God. Mary wept at the tomb, mistaking the Lord for a gardener (Joh_20:15). On the road to Emmaus, the travelers thought Jesus was a stranger (Luk_24:18). On the Sea of Galilee, His disciples thought Jesus was a ghost (Mat_14:26). Don’t miss your Titus, gang. It might be your son or daughter. It might be a neighbor or co-worker. It might be someone you would never think had much to offer, but they’ll come to you with words of encouragementif you’re wise enough to listen. Many people miss out, waiting for a pastor or a prophet, because they fail to recognize the Lord in the person sitting right next to them.

2 Corinthians 7:7

“At first, I regretted sending my first letter,” Paul says. “But, due to your growth from it, I no longer regret it.” Many of us regret things we’ve said, written, or done. Like Paul’s, our heart may have been right, but then we second-guess our actions. The solution? Do your best at any given momentbe it in teaching, witnessing, or sharing. And then commit it to God and forget about it because God sees your heart. “Godly sorrow leads to salvation,” Paul says. “But weren’t the Corinthian believers already saved?” you ask. Absolutely. Then what does this mean? Soteria, the Greek word translated “salvation,” means more than simply being born again. When the Scriptures talk about salvation, they speak of the full orb of God’s blessingnot only of being born again eternally, but of being saved from bondage and pain presently. What brings about this kind of salvation? Paul says the answer is repentance. Real Repentance A Topical Study of 2Co_7:8-10 From Genesis through Revelation, God’s men came on the scene and consistently said, “Here’s the key: Repent.” From the steps of the ark, Noah didn’t look out at the crowd and say, “Something good is going to happen to you!” No, he said, “Repent” (Genesis 6). It wasn’t for saying, “I’m okay, you’re okay,” that Joel was confronted by the high priest. It was because he said, “Rend your heart. Get right. Repent” (see Joe_2:13). Daniel was in the lions’ den not because he said, “Inch by inch, anything’s a cinch,” but because his message was, “You have been weighed in the balance and found lacking” (see Dan_5:27). Jeremiah was in the pit not for preaching, “The me I see is the me I’ll be,” but for calling a nation to repentance. John the Baptist lost his head not because he preached, “Smile, God loves you,” but because he told people to turn from wickedness and repent (Mat_3:2). When Jesus Himself came on the scene, the first message He would bring would not be, “God loves you and so do I,” but, “Repent, the kingdom of God is among you” (see Mar_1:15). In the Book of Revelation, we read that the two witnesses will be killed and left lying in the streets of Jerusalem not because their message is, “God’s in His heaven and all’s right with the world,” but because, dressed in sackcloth, they will call people to repent (Revelation 11). We need to understand that the key to unlocking the full blessing of salvation is found in repentance. What is repentance? It’s a word that simply means “to change direction.” In other words, if you were going to the left, you go right; if you were going down, you go up. Contrary to popular belief, repentance is not an emotion. It’s an action. Most people think repentance means feeling bad. But to repent simply means to change directionnot a quarter turn, but a total about-face. “Godly sorrow works repentance,” Paul says, “but the sorrow of the world leads to death.” If you go to Pelican Bay penitentiary, you’ll see people who are really sorrysorry they robbed that bank, sorry they murdered that man. But have they repented? Not necessarily, for theirs is primarily the sorrow of the worldsorrow about being caught. That is why the lower house of one state legislature passed a bill forbidding weight-lifting in its penitentiaries. Innately realizing the lack of true repentance, legislators concluded that weight-lifting in jail produces nothing more than super criminals. Praise God, in the hearts of many inmates, there is true repentancebut in the majority of instances, such is not the case. Paul identifies two kinds of sorrowworldly sorrow that leads one to be hung up with guilt, and godly sorrow that leads to repentance. I believe these two types of sorrow can best be illustrated by looking at the stories of two men remarkably similar in many waysboth having left everything to follow the Rabbi from Galilee, both having walked with Him for three years. After failing on the same exact day, however, one experienced worldly sorrow that led to death; the other godly sorrow that led to repentance and salvation… Hung Up by Guilt Determined to betray the One with whom he had walked daily, to whom he had listened closely, Judas cut a deal in the temple and sold his Master for thirty pieces of silverthe price of a slave. But after placing an identifying kiss on Jesus’ cheek, sorrow filled the heart of the man from Cariothnot the godly sorrow that leads to repentance, but the sorrow of the world that would culminate in his death. Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself…Mat_27:3 (a) Judas didn’t repent to the Lord. He repented in himself, perhaps regretting nothing more than the messiness of the situation. He took the silver to the temple and tried to return it. The priests, however, would have nothing to do with it. So Judas hurled it to the floor of the temple in an act that demanded their participation due to the fact that only the priests were allowed in the temple. Then, after forcing the priests to deal with the blood money, this one who was hung up by guilt hanged himself on the branch of a tree. Why? Old Testament aw clearly prescribed that the punishment for one who bore false witness was to be the same punishment unfairly borne by the person about whom he lied (Deu_19:16-19). Therefore, knowing Jesus was about to be nailed to a tree, Judas, either intentionally or subconsciously, hanged himself on a tree. Held Up in Glory At the same time Judas was betraying Jesus, Peter was denying Jesus. In fact, there’s a remarkable parallel between Judas and Peter… Both were called devils by Jesus. Of Judas, Jesus said, “Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil?” (Joh_6:70) And to Peter, He said, “Get thee behind me, Satan,” when Peter insisted Jesus would not die (Mat_16:23). Jesus warned both Judas and Peter they would fail. “He who dips his bread with Me will deny Me,” He said concerning Judas (see Mat_26:23). “Before the cock crows, you’ll deny Me thrice,” He said to Peter (see Mat_26:34). Both were given opportunity to turn from their sin. “Friend, what seekest thou?” Jesus asked Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane, thereby saying that even then He considered Judas a friend (Mat_26:50). And as Peter cursed in the courtyard, Jesus looked at him (Luk_22:61)not, I believe, with a look of condemnation, but rather with a look that said, “Peter, I know what you’re doing. But remember what I told you. I’m not through with you.” Both repented. Judas repented in himself (Mat_27:3). Peter wept bitterly (Mat_26:75)not a tear or two, but a deep, heaving cry. Yet one man goes down to the bottom of the heap in the history of humanity, better for him if he hadn’t ever been born (Mat_26:24), while the other is elevated to a position of admiration, a pattern for spiritual leadership, an inspiration to you and me. What’s the difference? Simply this: Judas’ repentance was the sorrow of the world that says, “Look at the mess I’m in.” Peter, on the other hand, repented to the Lord and changed directionalthough not fully immediately. On Easter Sunday, there was new hope infused in Peter. But his repentance was still incomplete, for although Peter knew Jesus was risen, due to his failure, he felt he could never again be used in ministry. That is why, in John 21, we see him returning to his old occupation as a fisherman. Others went with him and fished all night. In the morning, they saw a Figure standing on the shore. “Children,” He called to them. I like that! He didn’t call them sinners, backsliders, or rebels. He called them children. “Have you caught anything?” “No,” they answeredwhich is not surprising, since any time we return to the old pastimes, the old habits, the old ways, we always end up with nothing. “Cast your net on the right side” He said. Why the right side? Because whatever Jesus tells us to do is always right. Over the right side the net went, returning so full it almost sunk the boat. At last recognizing the One on the bank as the Lord, John identified Him to Peter, who grabbed his coat and swam to shore. After breakfasting on roasted fish and bread prepared by His hand, Peter didn’t hear Jesus say, “I’m disappointed in you. I can’t use you. I’m through with you.” No, Peter heard Jesus say, “Do you love Me, Peter? Feed My lambs. Feed My sheep. Tend My flock.” And all the while, what did Peter have in his hand as he stood on the shore talking to Jesus? He had a wet, soggy coat, for Scripture says Peter grabbed his coat before swimming to shore (Joh_21:7). If you were about to go for a swim, would you grab your coat? This perplexes meuntil I see Peter’s coat as an emblem of repentance. You see, when Peter heard Jesus say, “Forget fishing. Get back to shepherding. I’m not sending you to fish in the sea. I’m telling you to feed My lambs,” Peter didn’t have to say, “Okay, Lord. Just let me get my coat out of the boat.” No, Peter had his coat in hand so he would have no reason to ever go back to the boat again. Godly sorrow works repentance. Repentance means you don’t return for your coat. Repentance means you rip her name out of your address book, brother. It means you go to the cupboard and throw away that which you were keeping as a little something to help your next celebration on a special occasion. It means you turn your back on the magazines or movies, people or activities you know compromise your walk. Godly sorrow works repentance. And repentance brings salvation. Judas went down to hell. Peter went on to greatness. Both repented. One felt bad because of the mess he was in. But the other turned his back on that which held him previously, determined to walk in a totally new direction. Oh, that’s not to say Peter’s life was easy. In fact, he, too, ended up on a treenot hung up by guilt, but crucified upside down on a cross for the sake of the One who not only hung on a tree for him, but rose and lived within him, empowering him to live a life of incredible impact and ministry. Godly sorrow works repentance, which brings salvation never to be regretted. Paul knew this. Peter knew this. And so can you.

2 Corinthians 7:11

True repentance doesn’t say, “Maybe I’ll get to it next year.” No, true repentance says, “This is wrong, and I’m going to deal with it nowwith finality and certainty, no matter the cost.”

2 Corinthians 7:12

Any parent knows the easiest thing to do is to ignore the problems he sees in his children. But that’s not the right thing. If you love your kids, you deal with issues through dialogue and discipline. So, too, concerning the issue of immorality in the church, Paul says, “I did this that you might know that we care about you in the sight of God and that we want you to do well.”

2 Corinthians 7:13

This interests me because the church at Corinth was far from perfect. Yet Paul finds himself boasting about them. Such was the bigness of his heart, the sureness of his faith.

2 Corinthians 7:15

“You received Titus and responded to the Word we shared. Good for you, Corinthians,” says Paul to this church so dear to his heart.