APRIL 3, 2022
TRUE REPENTANCE WITH THE EVIDENCE THEREOF
INTRODUCTION:
1. So great was Paul’s affection for the Corinthians and his concern about their behavior in relation to the incestuous person, as well as certain other problems in the church, that he had no rest in spirit when he found not Titus at Troas. (Ch. 2:13) This unrest was due to the fact that Titus was to bring a report to him about how the church had responded to his first letter in which he had charged them how to deal with these matters. The same unrest accompanied him to Macedonia, still not having seen nor heard from Titus for some time. (Ch. 7:5)
2. When at last Titus did arrive in Macedonia, Paul was greatly comforted. He was delighted to see Titus whom he dearly loved as his son in the faith. (Tit. 1:4) But, the matter of greater consolation was the good news which Titus brought, first, about his own welcome reception at Corinth, but secondly, about how they had received Paul’s letter, and carried out his instructions in all of the matters of concern, particularly the case of incest. (I Cor. 5:1ff)
3. That which most pleased the Apostle was to learn of their genuine repentance, and the evidence thereof. They mourned over the sin. They experience true godly sorrow which brings about true repentance.
I. HOW GREATLY THE APOSTLE REJOICED AT THEIR REPENTANCE AND THE EVIDENCE OF IT. (VERSES 8-11)
A. PAUL REJOICED AT THEIR REPENTANCE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME REGRETTING THAT HE HAD TO BE THE INSTRUMENTAL CAUSE OF THEIR SORROW WHICH PRODUCED THAT REPENTANCE. (VERSES 8-10)
1. Now, after the fact, Paul says, “Though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent.” However, before he knew the good result, he says, “I did repent.” (Verse 8)
a) This perhaps sheds some additional light on his state of unrest prior to Titus’ coming with the good report. It seems that he may have been second-guessing himself, not to whether he was wrong to demand that action be taken, but as to whether he was too hard on them.
b) As Hodge remarks, “Paul was no doubt impelled and guided by the spirit in the writing of the former epistle, but he was only conscious of his own thoughts and feelings…as the believer may doubt the wisdom of some of his holiest acts, so the Apostle might doubt the wisdom of acts done under divine guidance.”
2. Paul, even now aware of the good result, could still regret that he had to make them sorry while at the same time knowing that it was needful. (Verse 9) Their sorrow in itself was not the cause of his rejoicing, but the nature of it and the effect of it.
3. He now sees that they had received no damage by him. Their sorrow was but for a season, and was now turned to enduring joy. They sorrowed to repentance; their repentance was unto salvation.
B. THE ANTECEDENT TO TRUE REPENTANCE UNTO SALVATION IS GODLY SORROW. (VERSE 10)
1. Godly sorrow worketh repentance. It is not repentance itself, but is preparatory to repentance and in some sense the cause that produces repentance.
2. The offender had great sorrow, (See Ch. 2:7) and the society was greatly sorrowful, which before was puffed up. (I Cor. 5:2)
3. This sorrow was after a godly manner, or lit. according to God, i.e. of God, according to the will of God, and to the glory of God.
C. THERE IS A GREAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GODLY SORROW AND THE SORROW OF THE WORLD. (VERSE 10)
1. Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation; therefore true penitents will never repent of their repentance.
2. The sorrow of the world worketh death. “The world,” means the masses of mankind, unrenewed men, and distinguished from the church. (I Cor. 1:20; Gal. 4:3; John 7:7) The effects of worldly sorrow are evil. It is a great mistake to suppose that the natural tendency of pain and sorrow is to good. They tend rather to excite rebellion against God. This will always be the case unless they are so sanctified by the Holy Spirit to work good.
D. TRUE REPENTANCE OF GODLY SORROW PRODUCES HAPPY FRUITS AND CONSEQUENCES. (VERSE 11; MATT. 3:8)
1. Those fruits that are meet for repentance are the best evidence of it.
2. Paul here describes the effects which the repentance of godly sorrow produced in the Corinthian church. “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sorrow…” He would have them to see how this very thing, that is, Godly sorrow, was manifested in their case.
3. He lists seven things specifically which Godly sorrow had wrought in them.
a) Carefulness. The original word which literally means haste describes the earnestness of their solicitude as opposed to the indifference and neglect which allowed so grievous a sin to pass unnoticed in the church.
b) Clearing of themselves. They cleared their conscience by sincerely apologizing for the sin they had committed. They acknowledged the wrong, and sought forgiveness.
c) Indignation. They were angry at the sin, but more, they were angry at themselves for having allowed it. This is a mark of true penitence.
d) Fear. They had a fear of God’s displeasure and punishment, and they also feared the Apostle coming among them, knowing his displeasure with the situation, and also knowing the power of his office.
e) Vehement desire. They earnestly desired a thorough reformation of what had been amiss, and of reconciliation with God Whom they had offended.
f) Zeal. It wrought in them a zeal for holiness, and for duty, and against sin.
g) Revenge. The word means vindictive justice. Godly sorrow aroused in them a sense of justice and moral judgment that sin ought to be punished. This instinct belongs to our moral constitution, and is a revelation of the nature and will of God.
4. “In all things…” In their dealings with the matter in question they had cleared and commended themselves in every respect. Paul found nothing with which to disapprove.
II. PAUL COMFORTS THE CORINTHIANS UPON WHOM HIS ADMONITIONS HAD HAD SUCH GOOD EFFECT. (VERSES 12-16)
A. PAUL EXPLAINS HIS MOTIVE FOR WRITING THE FORMER LETTER. (VERSE 12)
1. Stated negatively, it was not for sake of him who did wrong, nor for him who suffered the wrong.
a) His primary object was not to have the offender punished.
b) Neither was the main thing to secure justice for the father whose wife the son had married.
2. Stated positively, Paul’s chief motive in writing was “that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.” He wrote to manifest in the sight of God his care for them.
B. HE ACQUAINTS THEM WITH THE JOY WHICH HE AND TITUS SHARED TOGETHER ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR REPENTANCE AND GOOD BEHAVIOR. (VERSES 13, 15)
1. Titus was filled with joy and his spirit was refreshed with their comfort, and this rejoiced the Apostle also. (Verse 13)
2. Paul notes that Titus’ heart was the more enlarged for them as he recalled the manner in which he was received by them. Clearly, their reception of him
was of Paul also, whose errand he was on. (Verse 15)
C. HE EXPRESSES HIS ENTIRE CONFIDENCE IN THEM. (VERSES 14, 16)
1. He was not ashamed of his boasting concerning them. (Verse 14) He was not disappointed in their conduct in any way. This he boasted of to Titus.
2. He could now with great joy declare what confidence he had in them as to all things. (Verse 16)
3. Indeed, what a joy it is when faithful ministers can have such confidence in their people, knowing that if a thing be according to truth, and for God’s glory, and for the benefit of the church, they will comply with it. Of such people the minister is justified in his boasting.
Speak Your Mind