Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow" Part 12: 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 Introduction Good morning. When you hear the words I m sorry, many of us may think of

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1 Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow" Part 12: 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 Introduction Good morning. When you hear the words I m sorry, many of us may think of a time when we ve hurt someone we love and as a result the relationship was compromised and all we wanted to do is restore that relationship. More times than none, however, the words I m sorry, have little to do with true sorrow but instead are a means to an end in removing guilt, consequences, or restoring face because of some sinful act we ve selfishly committed against someone else. How can we really know if someone is truly sorry? How can I know if I am truly sorry? There is no magic in those two little words. The world is not suddenly transformed into Disney s Magical Kingdom where everyone lives happily ever after because someone uttered, the I-S phrase, I m Sorry! In this morning s passage, Paul describes for us what true godly sorrow looks like, and how we can differentiate it from worldly sorrow. In essence, Paul will show us that if the sorrow is truly godly, it will result in the change of the sorrowful. Let s now turn together to 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 on page in our pew bibles. Change in Heart (7:2-4) You may recall that Paul pours out his heart to the Corinthians back in chapter 6:11-13, We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are

2 restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also. (2 Cor 6:11 13 ESV) He now appeals to them in these opening verses of chapter 7 to do the same thing: Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts that we would live or die with you. 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. (2 Cor 7:2 4 NIV) There is no greater joy as a pastor then to pour your love into your flock and have them love you in return. To realize that the Lord is using you to affect change in people you love, so that they love and serve our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ as a result, is a phenomenal blessing! We as pastors of Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church are deeply moved and blessed by the outpouring of love and affection towards us by you, and the hunger that we continue to see in this congregation for the Word of God and your commitment to Christ. Change in Comfort (7:5-9) You might remember way back in chapter 2, Paul related his urgent desire to find Titus, he said, When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother 2 of 9

3 Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. (2 Cor 2:12 13 ESV) Paul, if you remember, wanted to find Titus so that he could hear whether or not the Corinthians had received the harsh words of his sorrowful letter and repented, but more about that later. Paul, however temporarily left his focus on Titus to spend 4 chapters on the defense of his ministry in light of the New Covenant, against the false apostles from within the church, closing his defense with great apostolic authority to oust these unbelievers and separate from them. He now returns to his focus on the report Titus brought him in Macedonia. He says, For when we came into Macedonia, this body of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn conflicts on the outside, fears within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever. Paul explains how horrific the ministry was in Macedonia, not only from external conflicts, but also from his own internal fears. I believe one of the greatest realities of ministry is this two-headed enemy that we all grapple with; those who oppose us from the outside, and those feelings of fear and incompetence that plague us within. 3 of 9

4 Yet Paul did not stop there, here pressed on by means of the God of all comfort; remember how he opened this letter back in chapter 1: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (2 Cor 1:3 7 ESV) So often God uses us to encourage and comfort others so that we become comfort conductors, taking the comfort we ve received from God through others, and conducting it to those in need of comfort. This is not just some theoretical concept; this is one of our missions here in the body of Christ. When we heard this week of the untimely death of our sister Kim Horvath, immediately, our minds were drawn to the comfort that Jon and the two children would need. Much prayer was offered that God would help us to be that comfort conductor we should be. Paul continues, Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while yet now I am happy, not 4 of 9

5 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. (2 Cor 7:5 9 NIV) Paul apparently sent a sorrowful letter (that the Holy Spirit never desired in the cannon) to the Corinthians in order to hurt them into repentance. Paul was grieved to do so but was pleased at the result. Paul understood that though the sorrowful letter was stinging in its content, it would not ultimately hurt the Corinthians since repentance is what they needed for their own spiritual health. Why is it that we allow people to continue to do the wrong thing in the name of not wanting to hurt or discourage them, or in the name of love and forgiveness, yet wonder why people continue to make wrong choices and remain as infant Christians? Which is easier, to barricade and warn of impending doom at the top of the cliff, or call the ambulance and try and pick up the pieces at the bottom of the cliff? Paul instructs the Galatians in chapter 6, Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Gal 6:1 ESV) We are commanded to confront those in sin in order to restore them back to spiritual health. To not do so means we refuse to be spiritual! Now Paul gives us an intimate look at what godly sorrow really is 5 of 9

6 Change in Direction (7:10-13a) Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. By all this we are encouraged. (2 Cor 7:10 13a NIV) As we ve already seen, Paul s stinging letter brought hurt, or sorrow which led to repentance. True godly sorrow will always bring about repentance. In fact, this is how I know if my sorrow is real or not; does it bring about repentance? If it does, it s real; if it does not, it s not real. The word repentance (metanoia) literally means, to perceive after. In other words, after having traveled the wrong way, we come to our senses and go the other way. Paul says that Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation. A change of direction is the ultimate result of coming to Christ for salvation. We who where dead in our trespasses and sins, traveling down the road headed for a Christ-less eternity in hell, were made alive and aware of our plight be the Holy Spirit, bringing us to repentance (changed direction) and by 6 of 9

7 faith, believed Jesus Christ alone for salvation, and our now headed in the Heaven-bound direction! Repentance is also an active response in our life of Sanctification, as we deal continually with putting off the old sinful flesh, and putting on the deeds of righteousness. This is why Paul says that godly sorrow leaves no regret. Godly sorrow leads us to God; this is where we ve been designed to go! This is also why Paul can say that worldly sorrow brings death. We can display great emotional sorrow because our sin has created an enormous consequence we have to deal with, but never bring about repentance. Worldly sorrow never turns you around; it only seeks comfort and freedom from the guilt and consequence of sin. John the Baptist understood the difference when he chided the Pharisees for their lack of true repentance when they wanted to be baptized: But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. (Matt 3:7 8 ESV) In the final analysis, godly sorrow brings change, whereas worldly sorrow avoids it. Godly sorrow sees sin as a crime against God; worldly sorrow seeks to feel better about sin and wants to dodge its consequences. Godly sorrow is God-focused; worldly sorrow is selffocused. 7 of 9

8 King David in his adulterous affair with Bathsheba, and subsequent murder of her husband Uriah expressed true godly sorrow in his confessional Psalm 51: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (Psa 51:3 4 ESV) Change in Others (7:13b-16) In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. I am glad I can have complete confidence in you. (2 Cor 7:13b 16 NIV) True godly sorrow brings about not only a change in you, but also those who know you. Godliness is contagious. Titus was so blessed by the humble affection of the Corinthians toward him, that his opinion changed regarding them, as he was refreshed and encouraged by them. As we travel the road of life that our sovereign God has given each of us, we will encounter those whom He has put in our way. Let us be a blessing to them as we model Christ-likeness before them. 8 of 9

9 So What? Godly sorrow must produce change. How is that change manifested? 1. By the change in our hearts towards the people of God. 2. By the change in our ability to comfort others with the comfort we have received from God. 3. By the change in direction regarding our relationship to sin and how it is viewed by our Holy God. 4. By the change we see in others as a result of what God is doing in and through us. Hear the word of the Lord. Let s pray. 9 of 9