The Way - Day 085 (2 Corinthians 7)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
2 Corinthians 7
The false teachers who had infiltrated the Corinthian church assaulted the character of Paul in order to turn the people away from him and further spread their erroneous teachings.  So in an effort to defend himself and protect the purity of the church Paul paid a visit to Corinth, but he was not well received (2:1); in fact, he was openly ridiculed by an individual, possibly one of the false teachers (2:5-8, 10; 7:12).  Paul was devastated that the believers in Corinth had not defended him or remained loyal to the one who loved them so much.  Eventually the Corinthians repented (7:7) after Paul had returned to Ephesus and wrote a "severe" letter delivered by the hand of Titus (7:15-16).

In this part of the letter, Paul wanted to make sure that the Corinthians knew he had forgiven them so he shares his heart regarding the situation and his joy in their repentance.  Paul invited them to open their heart to him because he had never "corrupted" or "cheated" them in any of his actions (7:2).  He had always conducted himself with integrity and sincerity.  Paul did not blame them for believing his accusers.  He knew the false teachers employed deceitfulness and trickery to lure the Corinthians away from the truth.  Instead of holding this incident against the Corinthians, Paul wrote, "I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf.  I am filled with comfort.  I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation" (7:3-4).  The anguish and disappointment resulting from the Corinthians' rejection of Paul had not caused him to lose his joy, but he took great comfort in Titus' report of their repentance (7:5-8).  Paul even expressed Titus' incredible joy concerning their repentance (7:13-16).  Paul wrote, "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance.  For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (7:9-10).  The Corinthians had been cleared of their wrongdoing as a result of their repentance, meaning that they turned from their sin and pursued a right relationship with God (7:11-12).  Sorrow over one's sin should naturally lead a person to repentance (turning from sin and restoring our relationship with God), but without repentance there can be no forgiveness.  When repentance is accompanied by faith in Jesus, it brings salvation from the power and penalty of sin.  The practice of repentance continues as the believer is sorrowful about the daily sins which break fellowship with God.

Dear God, when I sin, may I be sorrowful and turn from my wrongdoing so that I can passionately pursue You once again.