No Regrets I

Background to passage: Paul is talking about a letter that he wrote to confront the church about a sin in the church. In brief, there are two kinds of sorrow/grief in view; godly sorrow vs. worldly sorrow. “The difference between godly grief and worldly grief is that the first issues in repentance while the second ends with remorse.” The “salvation” of the Corinthians in is view because this is an indication of their salvation. So, he wasn’t really saying that they were all lost or saved, or even that these two sorrows are the ability for us to judge with certainty about their salvation (eternal life or death), but indicators and fruit.

His concern was that he might have been overly harsh, but was glad when he found out that the letter had been received well and produced godly sorrow, which produced repentance (again, an indicator of salvation), which was never to be regretted. The church had dealt with sin that was crippling it. It had experienced a revival of sorts. This is the basic, overarching pattern of revival: sin among God’s people, the Word of God confronts, godly sorrow among the people (hugely important), repentance, revival comes with a renewed connection with God, and the kingdom is advanced.

Paul takes it one step further to describe what godly sorrow, repentance, and renewal does in people’s lives. This is important for us.

2 Corinthians 7:8–11 ESV

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.

Opening illustration: Tell about my letter to Chris Efaw

Main thought: Many thoughts in our heads about what revival is: people coming down the altar in mass, tons of people getting saved, a series of meetings that you have in a week, praying/shouting/running the aisles, worship that is more excited than usual, or even things getting done around the church better than they were. Two fundamental truths that I want to that I want to establish before I preach on revival in our month of prayer and fasting: first that revival is “fresh life based on a renewal to closeness to God,” and second, revival presupposes a church with a tainted or languishing intimacy with God.

Therefore, today’s passage specifies the initial processes and essential components of revival: sin, confrontation by the Word, godly sorrow, and repentance. In genuine revival, there is a “godly” grief, or sorrow as it relates to God, specifically how their sin in this instance had offended God. Their godly sorrow produced salvation

1) Earnestness (v. 11)

2 Corinthians 7:11 (ESV)

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. 1) Earnestness (v. 11)

Explanation: This idea, this word meant “to deal immediately and seriously with religious matters.” Basically, Paul was saying that the Corinthians received this “harsh letter” and took it seriously and quickly engaged the problem it addressed. This letter is lost, all we know of it is found here in “III Corinthians.” This was an attitude. One that was opposite of apathy, laziness, and complacency.

2 Timothy 4:4–5 ESV

4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Illustration: If you watch the Super Bowl tonight, you will probably see this in the players: ready to take the field; take the orders from the coaches and coordinators; listen to the quarterback as he gives the play or changes it as he looks across the line. They hear it, don’t question it, and do it with all their might.

Application: The application is two-fold, one is that our desire is closeness to God and willingness to do anything to gain it. Secondly it is that when we, as individuals or as a church, are convicted of a sin or sins, patterns of sin, we don’t minimize it or put it to the side. We want to keep ourselves “close and clean,” close to God and clean before him. We need this desire in order not to be slack when sin in pointed out in our lives. How quick are you to deal with a new/fresh/revealed sin? What if you miss an opportunity to witness? What if you have a harsh word with someone? What if you entertain desire for sensual pleasures for more than a fleeting moment? The goal of brokenhearted repentance is the blessing of humble, Christ-exalting joy. -Piper. What level is your passion for violence against things that draw you away from God? Examine your own earnestness. 2) Eagerness to Clear Yourselves (v. 11)