CHAPTER 7

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.

In Chapter 6, we learned we are workers together with Him (Christ).
We are heard when we pray.
We are sons and daughters of the Living God!

Those are promises from God to them who are saved!
Those promises are REASONS for us to seek HOLINESS!

Therefore Paul says, "cleanse" yourself!
WORK ON IT!

Cleanse from WHAT?
From "filthiness of the flesh and spirit."
That means INSIDE and OUT!

In order to cleanse the things of the flesh, we must first
start on the INSIDE and cleanse the things of the spirit (heart).

Christians are servants to Christ, blessed with the indwelling of His
Holy Spirit!
He WORKS IN us!!

But WE must work WITH Him!!
It takes daily EFFORT!
But it is what real faith DOES!

If our hope is in Christ, then we must WORK so that we can present to the
world around us a good example of what Christ has done and is doing in our lives!

2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
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 tribulation.
5 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.

In the Corinthian church people were fighting and having contention.
Though they had embraced Christ, there were fears among them.
But Paul writes, "Receive us; we have wronged no man, corrupted no man,
we have defrauded no man."

How many of us, as Christians, can say the SAME?!

God comforts those who are hurting!
And, Christ has (in His employ) those who are like Paul.
They are a great example to us, and can help us to GROW stronger in Christ!

Paul says he is not pointing out their problems to condemn them; but that they might
be like him and have "exceeding" joy in all tribulation!!
Though we may have godly sorrow, we do not grieve because of the world!
We KNOW our Lord, and His plan for us!


God does not always work things GOOD!
But He DOES work out things for the good of those who are HIS!

We may have trouble on every side!
But God is GOING to work it out for GOOD to those who LOVE HIM!

In those who love Christ, there is a zeal for duty to and for Him!
This zeal causes endeavors to fight against sin, and to aid in satisfying
wrongs done.
This zeal brings humility toward God and a new heart that desires REAL LIFE!

6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
7 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.

Paul was "cast down" in Macedonia because of how he was treated.
But God sent comfort to him when Titus brought good news of the church at Corinth.
They had "earnest desire" and a "fervent mind" toward Paul.

At times, God comforts Christians who are going through difficult times with
the testimony of other Christians who have faced similar circumstances!

8 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.

The first letter Paul wrote to the church at Corinth was dealing with problems.
He was very straight forward when he wrote that letter, and addressed those
problems with strong remarks.

For that letter, he does not repent.
Yet because of that letter he repented for their sorrow, brought on by the letter.
In other words, they NEEDED the letter, but Paul was sorry for having to WRITE the letter.

However, because of the news from Titus, NOW Paul is REJOICING!
He rejoices not because of their sorrow, but because they REPENTED.
Their sorrow was "after a godly manner", and caused them to CHANGE things!

Sometimes, as Christians, we NEED a straight forward correction from
another Christian!!
Prov 25:12 says, "As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear."

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

Godly sorrow is sorrow brought upon our hearts by God's counsel from His
Holy Spirit.
THAT is the sorrow that first brought us to repentance and salvation!

It is ALSO the sorrow that causes us to desire living better for God EACH day!

That sorrow which turns our hearts TOWARD God grants GRACE and forgiveness!
It produces CHANGE in our habits and actions toward others.

It is "not to be repented of!"
It is not to be regretted.
Instead, for that sorrow, we should be GLAD for it makes us penitent!
It keeps us humble before God!

However, "the sorrow of the world worketh death!"
Sorrow because of sin in the world is certainly genuine, but it is TEMPORARY!

Worldly consequences from sin, such as loss of a loved one, loss of property,
loss of job, or other shameful disgraces often lead to DEATH!
Some sorrow, brings physical illness which leads to death.
And, some do sorrow even to suicide.

But let us have sorrow FOR the world because of sin, and may that
lead us to the throne of God in prayer!!

He CAN help!
And, He WILL help!

We must let wordly sorrow lead us to godly sorrow!

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.

See what godly sorrow ACCOMPLISHES in the person!
It brings:
carefulness, clearing of the mind, indignation against sin, fear of doing wrong and ruining character,
a vehement desire to live for Christ, and a zeal for God's Word and closeness of His Spirit!
It also bring "revenge!"
This revenge is against sin, and to seek godly punishment upon those who offend by sin.

This is not to say revenge against others!
For "vengeance is MINE, saith the LORD!" (See Rom. 12:19)

Let us, as Christians, allow godly sorrow to do the same for us as it did in
the church at Corinth!

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.
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.

The first letter to Corinth was not written for sorrow, but for CORRECTION!
God's WORD is for CORRECTION in our hearts!!

God's WORD is ALSO for JOY!
It brings comfort and joy when we are "refreshed" by the good news
we hear about others who have suffered worldly circumstances and ENDURED!

David thought about the tremendous power of Goliath.
But he thought MORE about God's HELP!
Job thought about the awful pain and suffering he was having.
But he thought MORE about God's grace and mercy!

When the world treats us badly, let us turn to God Who treats us GOOD!

14 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.

We should never be ashamed of complimenting another Christian!!
In fact, if we did it MORE, they will GROW more, seeking to live rightly!

Titus had an "inward affection" toward the church at Corinth
because they COMPLIMENTED him by receiving him "with fear and trembling!"

Their respect of Titus brought about obedience in them to the will of God!
And their obedience brought JOY to the heart of Titus, which he relayed to Paul!!

Christians, may our example be as Titus, that we may receive respect as to the things of God!
And, if and when we are reproved in a godly manner, let our example be as the Corinthians;
giving honor to God in obedience to His Holy will!

THEN.....

16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

Then, we will have the "confidence" of others around us!

Because Titus went to them in kindness, yet in reproof, they
received him with respect and adhered to his preaching and teaching.

Because the church at Corinth were touched by the WORD of God and
the SPIRIT of God; they became obedient to the truths of God's Word!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.
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