Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

2 Corinthians 7:8-13 “For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God.
Therefore we are comforted. And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.” ESV
Introduction:
1. If I understanding the story correctly…
Calif. river system is nation’s most endangered
2. ROE v. WADE: 36 YEARS OF DEATH AND DESTRUCTION
Pro-Lifers Prepare to Battle Pro-Abortion Agenda
WASHINGTON – January 22, 2009 was the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions, which legalized abortion for any reason, even as a method of birth control. Since 1973, these decisions have resulted in the death of more than 50 million unborn children.
What’s a man to do?…
Dr. Tiller – George Tiller, was eulogized by family and friends as a generous, funny and passionate man. “Dear God, get heaven ready, because Mr. Enthusiasm is coming,” said Larry Borcherding, of Overland Park, who first met Tiller a half-century ago when both were students at the University of Kansas. “Heaven will never be the same. It will be a better, better place with George in it.”
Shot dead in a church by an anti-government militant, Tiller did not deserve his fate. Even though the man destroyed an estimated 60,000 fetuses that could have lived outside the womb, he was an American citizen entitled to protection. No matter what you think about abortion, it is a sad day for the country when vigilantism takes a life.
The central thought – 2 Corinthians 7:4
“I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” NIV
Harassed at every turn
~ Conflicts on the outside
~ Fears within
But God (divine intervention) who comforts the depressed comforted us…

3 Reasons Paul is encouraged:
1. By the coming of Titus
2. By the good news that Titus brought of a drastic change in relational attitude
3. By the radical change of mind / behavior of the Christians in Corinth.

I. Paul rejoice because their reaction to his ‘severe letter’
2 Corinthians 2:3-4 “I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. “For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.”
2 Corinthians 2:9 “The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.” NIV
His approach was direct! – Write them a strongly worded rebuke!
Hurt them – pain and distress
Paul’s mixed reaction to causing them pain:
~ 1st Response: Regret (sustained unhappiness) Like parents who struggle over how to discipline a rebellious child
~ 2nd Response: Now I am happy! Why?
~ 3rd Their sorrow led to repentance!
- Hurt only for a little while – sometimes people are so hurt

- God was involved! Only God can do this! Do you know this?
Godly sorrow…sorrowful as God intended…grieved according to God
As God would have had you sorry…made sorrowful according to the will of God.

- Resulted in a change of heart
“metanoia” – 5 times by Paul
Romans 2:4 “Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” NIV
2 Corinthians 7:9-10 “yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” NIV
2 Corinthians 12:21 “I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.” NIV
2 Timothy 2:25 “Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth,” NIV
Two kinds of sorrow: Do you see them?
1. Godly sorrow
2. Worldly sorrow

7:10 The apostle then added a somewhat philosophical reflection on two possible responses to criticism and their consequences. The proper response, God’s will, results in a change of mind (repentance) that leads to deliverance from the bad situation (salvation in the temporal sense here) without later regret. The improper response, the world’s typical superficial response, does not result in a change of mind (repentance) but leads to resentment and bitterness (ultimately death in the temporal sense).
Suffering in itself does not necessarily benefit us. It proves to be a good thing for us only as we respond to it properly (cf. James 1:2-4).
Principle: Godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation w/o regret. But worldly grief produces death.
Story about someone who got a speeding ticket!

4th – The productive effectiveness of godly grief and repentance!
8 descriptive nouns – Titus’ detailed account
~ earnestness – seriousness of purpose
~ eager motivation to clear your conscience – to prove themselves worthy
~ Indignation toward the wrong they’d done to Paul
~ the fear of God – concern over what they’d done before God
~ longing to see Paul again
~ zeal – determination to make things right having been in the wrong.
~ punishment: taking responsibility for the sin
God not only comforted Paul through the coming of Titus but He comforted Paul by revealing the Corinthian’s obedience to the Word.
Now I want to talk to you about a couple of things:

1. Things hidden
2 Corinthians 4:2 “Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” NIV
2 Corinthians 12:21 “I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.” NIV
2. Commitment to prayer and study
1 Timothy 2:8-9 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes,” NIV
Acts 2:42-48 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” NIV