2 Corinthians

1. 2 Corinthians “The Heart of an Apostle” Part 12 - 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 “Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow”

2. “I’m Sorry” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

3. “I’m Sorry” I SAID I WAS SORRY…ISN’T THAT ENOUGH! EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

4. “I’m Sorry” I’m Sorry! EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

5. Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow In this morning’s passage, Paul describes for us what true godly sorrow looks like, and how we can differentiate it from worldly sorrow. EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

6. Big Idea “if the sorrow is truly godly, it will result in the change of the sorrowful ” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

7. Change in Heart (7:2-4)

8. A Look Back “We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.” (2 Cor 6:11–13 ESV) EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

9. 2 Cor 7:2–4 “2Make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3I 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. 4I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

10. Great Joy to Love and Be Loved “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. EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

11. Change in Comfort (7:5-9)

12. Look Back Again “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 Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.” (2 Cor 2:12–13 ESV) EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

13. 2 Cor 7:5–7 “5For 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. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and 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.” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

14. Two-Headed Enemy “5For 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. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and 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.” The two-headed enemy of ministry is those who oppose us from the outside, and those feelings of fear and incompetence that plague us within. EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

15. The God of all Comfort “5For 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. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and 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 pressed on by means of the God of all comfort. EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

16. The God of all Comfort “5For 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. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and 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 pressed on by means of the God of all comfort. “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.” (2 Corinthians 1:3–4 ESV) EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

17. Comfort Conductors Those needing comfort “5For 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. 6But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and 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.” God uses us to encourage and comfort others so that we become comfortconductors. God’s comfort Us EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

18. 2 Cor 7:8–9 “8Even 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— 9yet now I am happy, not 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.” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

19. Sorrowful Letter “8Even 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— 9yet now I am happy, not 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.” Paul apparently sent a “sorrowful” letter to the Corinthians in order to hurt them into repentance. EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

20. Allow People to Sin? “8Even 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— 9yet now I am happy, not 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.” Why do we allow people to continue to sin, in the name of love? EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

21. Warn or Repair? “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) EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

22. Change in Direction (7:10-13a)

23. 2 Cor 7:10–13a “10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See 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. 12So 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. 13By all this we are encouraged.” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

24. Godly Sorrow Brings Repentance “10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See 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. 12So 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. 13By all this we are encouraged.” True godly sorrow will always bring about repentance. Repentance (metanoia) = “to perceive after”. Godly sorrow leads us to God; this is where we’ve been designed to go! Hell Heaven EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

25. Worldly Sorrow Brings Death “10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See 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. 12So 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. 13By all this we are encouraged.” Worldly sorrow never turns you around; it only seeks comfort and freedom from the guilt and consequence of sin. “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 EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

26. The Final Analysis EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

27. Fruit of Repentance “10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See 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. 12So 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. 13By all this we are encouraged.” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

28. Fruit of Repentance “10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11See 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. 12So 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. 13By all this we are encouraged.” “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) EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

29. Change in Others (7:13b-16)

30. 2 Cor 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.” EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

31. 2 Cor 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.” True godly sorrow brings about not only a change in you, but also those who know you. EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians

32. So What?

33. Godly sorrow must produce change. How so? • By the change in our hearts towards the people of God. • By the change in our ability to comfort others with the comfort we have received from God. • By the change in direction regarding our relationship to sin and how it is viewed by our Holy God. • By the change we see in others as a result of what God is doing in and through us. EBFC Semon Series: 2 Corinthians