Second Corinthians 7 Part 3 Confessing Sin, Receiving Forgiveness And Cleansing

2 Corinthians 7:8-9  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. 9)  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 

God's Spirit guided Paul to share his heart with the Corinthian Christians. 

The apostle openly declared his deep and abiding love for this people, even though he endured slander from false teachers who led them astray.

He was rejoicing that his first epistle to the church had the desired impact. Namely, that the people were convicted of the various sins for which Paul rebuked them.

Their conviction led to sorrowful hearts and true repentance, and this was very good for the church.

Conviction of sin from God leads to repentance but the world's sorrow leads to death.

2 Corinthians 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 

The words "godly sorrow" literally mean a sorrow and heaviness that has come down from God into their heart. 

Such a response is from the ministry of the Spirit of God in us. 

One aspect of His ministry is to convict us when we sin and to show us when we have wrong attitudes toward others. 

Next, the Holy Spirit will show how God's holiness stands in contrast to our unworthiness so that we truly confess and forsake our sin.

Essentially, He helps us see our sin from God's perspective so that we might grasp how our sins tarnish His holy name (See John 16:4-11).

When we have confessed our sins to our heavenly Father, He is justified to forgive and cleans us from our sins.

None of this will happen if the Spirit of God does not show us God's holiness, our unholiness and His remedy for times that we fall short. 

We can praise God that His Spirit will help us see our sin so that we detest them and turn with repentance to our Father.

This is what God has for us and this is where the apostle led the Corinthians: true repentance and confession so that they can be forgiven and restored.

Paul contrasts sorrow over sin that is from God with the sorrow of the world that works death.

This is the idea of someone being sorrowful only because they were caught sinning or doing something wrong. 

They are sorry only because they got caught. They are not sorry for the evil things that they did.

They are not sorry for sinning against God or for bringing reproach upon the name of Christ.

The world's sorrow is not true repentance and it leads to death. 

Having the world's sorrow may be why some Corinthians became sick and some died prematurely, because they dishonored the Lord's Supper (See 1 Corinthians 11:17-34).

True repentance and confession of sin restores our zeal for God.

2 Corinthians 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, 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 matter.

Paul proceeds to describe godly sorrow by its effects that prove the sincerity and genuineness of confessing and forsaking sin. 

The carefulness Paul speaks of is that the church followed his instruction to deny fellowship with the man engaged in fornication. 

Proper church discipline in accord with Christ's teachings was implemented at Corinth (See Matthew 18:15-20).

Just as sin had to be dealt with in Acts 5:1-11; so the church at Corinth had to be purged from sin before they could rightly serve God.

The words "clearing of yourselves" stems from the Corinthians confessing and forsaking the sins that Paul rebuked them for. When they repented then they received cleansing from God.

Paul exposed and rebuked the sin of fornication at Corinth.

1 Corinthians 5:1-7  It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2)  And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3)  For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4)  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5)  To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6)  Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? 7)  Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: 

This is the original indictment of fornication that the Corinthians tolerated in their midst. 

They boasted about this sin, claiming that it was permissible under Christian liberty.

Paul made it clear that he was going to deliver that man over to the power of Satan for the destruction of his flesh.

The apostle's strong rebuke and condemnation of the sin led to true repentance.

Christians at Corinth responded well to Paul's correctives and proved themselves to be blameless and clean before God.

They saw the sin of fornication for what it was: an offense against the Son of God who died to pay for their sins. 

They had a righteous indignation against that man's sin, but not against the sinner. 

A proper fear, reverence and respect of God was instilled in their hearts, as they sought to ensure that this sin did not "leaven the whole lump" of the church.

Paul confronted their sin in order that they understand his love for them.

2 Corinthians 7:12-13  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. 13)  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. 

Paul did not rebuke them for the sake of the man who committed fornication with his father's wife. 

Nor did he rebuke them on behalf of the father who suffered from his son's sin.

Rather, it was so they might have full proof of Paul's love and care for them, and his overriding concern for the honor of God.  

Paul wanted the Corinthians to see how wrong they were in opposing Paul and preferring false teachers. 

Paul loved them so much that he was ready to give up his life in their service, whereas false teachers corrupted their minds from the simplicity of the gospel to enrich themselves.

Paul's confidence in the Corinthians to heed his letter was verified by Titus.

2 Corinthians 7:14-16  For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15)  And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him. 16)  I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things. 

Paul ends where he began, by receiving a good report from Titus regarding the state of the church at Corinth.

Paul was concerned that his glorying over the work God originally did among the Corinthians might be overshadowed by sin, divisions and discord.

Titus was blessed and refreshed by the Corinthians and he returned to Paul having a great love for the Corinthian Christians.

Therefore, in all these things Paul was blessed and filled with great joy.

Sin was confronted. The Corinthians rightly responded by having godly sorrow and true repentance.

God was glorified and He filled them with fresh zeal for Him.

Each day we should examine ourselves for any wrong thoughts, wrong words that we have spoken or wrong acts that we committed.

When we are aware of any sin, let us resolve to swiftly confess and forsake it so that we might receive the cleansing we have for us (See Proverbs 18:13).

God's gracious provision for believers who sin.

1 John 1:5-7  This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6)  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7)  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

The apostle John shows us that there are only two kinds of people in the world: Saved and lost; saints or sinners, born again and those walking in darkness.

A sinner who turned to Christ with repentant faith for salvation is regenerated and indwelt by the Spirit of God. 

We are called children of light and are to walk with God in the light of His Word (See Psalm 119:105; 130).

Unbelievers are those who falsely profess faith in Christ, and continue walking in darkness. There is no evidence of the fruit of the Spirit in their lives. 

A child of God walks with Him in the light and receives cleansing from the blood of Jesus Christ. 

1 John 1:8-10  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9)  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10)  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

Like Paul, John makes it clear that a born again believer in Christ still will sin. We still have our old man tendencies and the allure of the culture appeals to our fleshly lusts.

Here is God's remedy for a believer who sins and this is where Paul led the church at Corinth.

We must confess our sins and when we do, God is faithful to forgive us and cleanse us in order to restore our relationship with Him.

Let us rejoice that our Father knows we are frail children of dust and that He made a gracious provision so that we can be forgiven and cleansed when we do sin.

Bob