2 Corinthians 7:5-16 “For the Love of the Church. 3 Words. (word 2)

Jon Beck

My sermon notes for Sunday, June 2nd as we continue our study through 2 Corinthians.  Remember, these are my personal study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon.  To see the sermon each week or subscribe to the weekly sermon podcast please visit http://www.fbcap.net

 

BIG IDEA OF THE TEXT/MESSAGE – The wonders and need for repentance within the body of Christ.

  • Paul loved the Church, because he knew that imperfect people can change.
  • Imperfect people can recognize their mistakes seek forgiveness and move forward.
  • Because he knew the church was in a process of progressive sanctification – GROWING AND CHANGING INTO THE LIKENESS OF CHRIST.

 

2 Cor. 7:5-16 – “For the love of the Church – 3 words”

Repentance – vv. 8-11

[8] 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. [9] 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.

[10] For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. [11] 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.

 

  • Regret – Paul knew the letter needed to be written, but at the same time it was hard because he cared so much for them.
  • Grieving (sorrow)
    • Grieved for a little while. When we act upon what God is leading us to do the sorrow/grief is short lived, but the joy is much longer.
    • Godly grief – Through God’s perspective (His disapproval)
    • Worldly grief – Through man’s perspective
  • Repentance – change of heart and life.  Turning from wrong to right.  Produces genuine change.
    • Earnestness – to make things right. Be right. Act right. Live right. Pursue righteousness
    • Eagerness to clear yourself – rid themselves of their guilt. Prove themselves.
    • Indignation – outraged over their sin
    • Fear – reverential fear and awe of God as the one who disciplines and judges.
    • Longing – to see their relationships restored.
    • Zeal – for right.   Righteous living.
    • Punishment – retribution for the wrong. Justice done.

 

True Repentance

  1. True repentance recognizes sin for what it really is.
  • Psalm 51:1-6

 

  1. True repentance leads to a turning from sin and a turning toward God.
  • Ezekiel 14:6
  • Acts 26:20 – mĕtanŏia, “a change of mind;” the verb form means “to change one’s views and purpose, to repent.”

 

  1. True repentance results in joy.
  • Psalm 32

 

 

The Path of Repentance

by John Loftness

 

Step 1 – Pray

  • Establish your dependence on God by praying for the Holy Spirit’s help in this process.

 

Step 2 – Identify the sin

  • Define its practice in biblical terms.
  • Define your heart’s motive for the sin in biblical terms.
  • Define the lie—the false belief—that created this motive and its acts.

 

Step 3 – Embrace the Gospel

  • Meditate on how your sin offends God. Cultivate sorrow.
  • Meditate on the fact that God sent Jesus to die in your place to overcome the offense this sin created.
  • Pray – Admit your sin to God and ask Him to forgive you and to account this sin to Jesus’ death on your behalf.

 

Step 4 – Take steps to stop

  • Collect on paper what the Bible says about your sin, its consequences, your forgiveness in Christ, and the Spirit’s power at work in you to change. Memorize the most helpful passages.
  • Purpose to change your thinking and your behavior.
  • Purpose to change behavior that increases temptation:
  • Places you go
  • People with whom you interact
  • Things you look at or listen to
  • Words you say
  • Confess your sin to those you’ve offended and seek their forgiveness. Make restitution if necessary.

 

Step 5 – Replace your sin with righteousness

  • “Put on Christ.” If you’re a Christian, you are joined to Jesus Christ. His Spirit dwells within you. You can think and act as He does!
  • Identify thoughts you can think or actions you can take to replace the lie with truth
  • The sinful motive with a true motive for something else that pleases God
  • Sinful behavior with righteous behavior

 

Step 6 – Seek fellowship as a means of grace

  • If you haven’t already inform godly friends or a pastor of your sin and the process you are engaging in to change.
  • Ask for their evaluation of the conclusions you’ve drawn, and adjust where needed.
  • Make yourself accountable to walk along the specific path you’ve outlined above.

 

Step 7 – review

  • Steps 1-5 daily.
  • Step 6 for regular accountability.

 

Scripture References:

Psalm 51:1–6

[1] Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

[2] Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!

[3] For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.

[4] 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.

[5] Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.

[6] Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. (ESV)

 

Ezekiel 14:6 – [6] “Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. (ESV)

 

Acts 26:19–20 – [19] “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, [20] but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. (ESV)

 

Psalm 32

[1] Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

[2] Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

[3] For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

[4] For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

 

[5] I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

[6] Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him.

[7] You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

[8] I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

[9] Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you.

[10] Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD.

[11] Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (ESV)

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