Day By Day - 2 Corinthians 7
By Jacob Muthsam
Personal Thoughts:
Chapter 7 starts with therefore, and as we have heard millions of times when we read a, 'therefore', we must ask what is it there for? Chapter 7 leads on from Chapter 6 and particularly in the second half.
Paul is basically saying in this passage, to separate from worldly influences so that we can live a close life with God. He’s suggesting or commanding Christians to come out of worldly ideals and pursue Godly ones. There is a promise in 6:17, which basically says when you do that, God will receive you. “I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.”
So, Paul is reminding us if we separate ourselves from worldly thinking and acting, we are promised a better and deeper relationship with God.
I get the sense in this chapter that Paul is really highlighting the importance of relationship. Both with God and each other.
Point 1: The need for good relationships
Paul uses a whole range of language that includes:
'Dear Friends', 'Make room for us', 'you are dear to us', 'we are always together', 'cheered us', 'how you encouraged him', 'we were encouraged', 'His love for you grows', 'How happy I am that I can completely depend on you'.
These phrases are scattered throughout the entire passage. It seems clear to me that as Paul focused on a deeper relationship with God by separation from the world, as in Chapter 6’s end, he doubles down with it and, also, is encouraging good and deep relationships with other believers.
Point 2: The need for right repentance
Verse 10, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
When we are accused of being wrong or someone tells you the truth about yourself, it can absolutely hurt. It usually leads to one of two reactions. Paul terms it this way: Godly sorrow or worldly sorrow. We feel hurt, that’s natural, but, is it Godly sorrow, or is it worldly sorrow?
Ultimately, Godly sorrow will help us change, yet worldly sorrow can spiral us into more hurt.
Godly sorrow is the pain of suddenly becoming aware of something about yourself that has been hidden to you. An understanding of something wrong that you have not been able to see usually creates a sense of anger, perhaps of defensiveness and often of tears.
It is the moment of self-awareness or what we call a moment of truth. It might result in you being defensive, you may argue or you may fight back, but deep inside you know that it is true. It hurts, but if it is Godly hurt, it leads to repentance. It makes you change. You alter your behaviour.
We often need Godly sorrow, to lead us to Godly repentance that cleanses and frees us.
Point 3: The need for regular encouragement
Verse 13, “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.”
Perhaps the hardest part of the not gathering together during the COVID-19 restrictions has been the lack of hanging out together and encouraging each other. I’ve personally missed that the most.
Paul, as we know, had a pretty rugged time with persecution and he knows that encouragement makes such a difference!
Final Thoughts:
I think Paul was prophetically echoing Malcolm Fraser, the Australian Prime Minister, who said, “Life was not meant to be easy.” (Yes, I’m writing this tongue in cheek!) Fraser was actually echoing a line from George Bernard Shaw's play ’Back to Methuselah’: "Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful."
This, I reckon, is Paul’s message and/or point. Yes, things can be hard, but by having a good relationship with God (stamped with a life of repentance), and good relationships with others, life can be kind of delightful.
Personal Thoughts:
Chapter 7 starts with therefore, and as we have heard millions of times when we read a, 'therefore', we must ask what is it there for? Chapter 7 leads on from Chapter 6 and particularly in the second half.
Paul is basically saying in this passage, to separate from worldly influences so that we can live a close life with God. He’s suggesting or commanding Christians to come out of worldly ideals and pursue Godly ones. There is a promise in 6:17, which basically says when you do that, God will receive you. “I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me.”
So, Paul is reminding us if we separate ourselves from worldly thinking and acting, we are promised a better and deeper relationship with God.
I get the sense in this chapter that Paul is really highlighting the importance of relationship. Both with God and each other.
Point 1: The need for good relationships
Paul uses a whole range of language that includes:
'Dear Friends', 'Make room for us', 'you are dear to us', 'we are always together', 'cheered us', 'how you encouraged him', 'we were encouraged', 'His love for you grows', 'How happy I am that I can completely depend on you'.
These phrases are scattered throughout the entire passage. It seems clear to me that as Paul focused on a deeper relationship with God by separation from the world, as in Chapter 6’s end, he doubles down with it and, also, is encouraging good and deep relationships with other believers.
Point 2: The need for right repentance
Verse 10, "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
When we are accused of being wrong or someone tells you the truth about yourself, it can absolutely hurt. It usually leads to one of two reactions. Paul terms it this way: Godly sorrow or worldly sorrow. We feel hurt, that’s natural, but, is it Godly sorrow, or is it worldly sorrow?
Ultimately, Godly sorrow will help us change, yet worldly sorrow can spiral us into more hurt.
Godly sorrow is the pain of suddenly becoming aware of something about yourself that has been hidden to you. An understanding of something wrong that you have not been able to see usually creates a sense of anger, perhaps of defensiveness and often of tears.
It is the moment of self-awareness or what we call a moment of truth. It might result in you being defensive, you may argue or you may fight back, but deep inside you know that it is true. It hurts, but if it is Godly hurt, it leads to repentance. It makes you change. You alter your behaviour.
We often need Godly sorrow, to lead us to Godly repentance that cleanses and frees us.
Point 3: The need for regular encouragement
Verse 13, “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.”
Perhaps the hardest part of the not gathering together during the COVID-19 restrictions has been the lack of hanging out together and encouraging each other. I’ve personally missed that the most.
Paul, as we know, had a pretty rugged time with persecution and he knows that encouragement makes such a difference!
Final Thoughts:
I think Paul was prophetically echoing Malcolm Fraser, the Australian Prime Minister, who said, “Life was not meant to be easy.” (Yes, I’m writing this tongue in cheek!) Fraser was actually echoing a line from George Bernard Shaw's play ’Back to Methuselah’: "Life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful."
This, I reckon, is Paul’s message and/or point. Yes, things can be hard, but by having a good relationship with God (stamped with a life of repentance), and good relationships with others, life can be kind of delightful.
Posted in 1 Corinthians