HoHum:
Think of a husband and wife in a car, the wife tells her husband to turn right at the next junction and by mistake, he turns left. When he realizes what he has done, he says to his wife “I’m sorry love, I went the wrong way.” But if that is all he does, it isn’t enough. His saying sorry isn’t getting them any closer to where they want to be; it isn’t even stopping them getting further away. To get where they want to be, he needs to stop the car, turn it around and go back on to the correct road that his wife told him to take in the first place. That is repentance.
WBTU:
Jim Herron: Too many Christians have reduced “repentance” to something they know must occur to receive salvation. It has become to them just a step in process, something that has been completed when they walk down aisle and to the baptistry. This is unfortunate, because according to the Scriptures, repentance is an ongoing process, involved in each struggle along the way to Christian maturity. Unless we learn how to repent, we will not grow. Unless we learn the distinction between “godly sorrow” and “worldly sorrow” we will die.
Some say that Paul wrote another letter between 1 and 2 Corinthians to them, but probably not the case. All those who know 1 Corinthians are aware how stern and confrontational that first letter was. Paul really took the Corinthians to task for many things. After Paul had sent that first letter, he apparently had some second thoughts. He wondered what their reaction would be? Would they just get angry and cut him off? Would the wrongs be righted?
Paul was concerned about his relationship with them, but more than that he was concerned about their relationship with the Lord. That is why he wrote 1 Corinthians. Even if they hated him but it lead to their repentance over these matters, so much the better.
Vs. 9- When Paul wrote that first letter, he know it would provoke sorrow, but he also knew that its real purpose was not the sorrow but the repentance that needed to follow. Paul was well aware of the 2 kinds of sorrow and painfully concerned that the Corinthians not experience the sorrow of being caught and exposed in sin. He longed that they would know the sorrow that was according to the will of God. God in His grace enabled the Corinthians to have godly sorrow.
Vs. 10- Are we certain that we have the repentance that leads to salvation? Paul tells us how we can test our repentance and determine whether it is true of false. Consider it with the greatest possible care, for our eternal welfare hangs on true repentance and faith.
Vs. 11 in NASB: “For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:11, NAS95.
Thesis: We see here 7 marks of repentance
For instances:
Earnestness
Earnestness speaks of great care. Is our repentance marked by care or by carelessness? Many Christians are content to repenting of gross sins but leave many unrepented.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalms 139:23, 24, NIV.
Bertha Smith is a name that we are not familiar with. Bertha Smith was a missionary many years ago in China. There was an uprising throughout China at that time and the Christian missionaries were forced to leave their congregations and flee to coastal cities for safety. Many of them, while removed from their fields, we determined to seek the face of God both personally and corporately. Many days were spent in the most intensive, personal heart searching they had ever know. This was followed by protracted seasons of corporately humbling themselves and praying together. Repentance came to them at levels they had never known before. This was followed by a season of harvest that permanently transformed not only their lives but the lives of many Chinese. When the Communist takeover forced the missionaries to leave China, Bertha Smith finished her missionary work in a neighboring country. Eventually the time came when, because of age, she went home to retire. She spent the remaining years of her life going among the churches, sharing her experiences in China and calling both preachers and their congregations to new levels of repentance and prayer. Her is a description of her usually practice from a preacher: “Following the evening meeting, Bertha got me in a corner, in fact got right in my face, and said, ‘The time has come when you must get earnest about repentance. Get yourself a large pad and several pencils and slip away to a private place and do business with God. Get down on your knees and ask the Lord to show you all your sins. Write everything down that He shows you and don’t you dare leave until God is finished with you. Tomorrow, bring me what you have written.” Men have told me that they did not dare to disobey her, for they were sure that what she said was a word from the Lord. Yet inwardly they thought, “I will do it, but I certainly won’t need a pad or a handful of pencils. This will only take a few minutes.” So to their private place they retreated, and down on their knees they went, saying, “O God, show me my sins.” Men have told me that pencil after pencil was blunted and sheet after sheet of paper filled with the sins that God showed them. The next day they would sheepishly bring the results to Miss Bertha who, upon gaining satisfaction that they had earnestly sought the Lord’s face and written down all that God showed them, would say, “Repent earnestly of all these sins, burn this record, and be done with these sins forever.”
“But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.” 1 Corinthians 11:31, 32, NIV.
Vindication of yourselves (eagerness to clear yourselves- NIV)
Many professed Christians have no interest in holiness. They only fear sin as a 1 way ticket to hell and give no consideration whatsoever to sin as a thief of God’s glory. Once they think the issue of hell is resolved by accepting Christ, they are content to live as nominal “Christians,” with no concern for the glory of God and no anxiety over the absence of the marks of repentance in their lives.
But what does it mean to vindicate ourselves? This is not self dense or the justification of our conduct, our sins. This is not like a church leader who might say, “They have the gall to accuse me of having taken money out of the collection plate, but believe me, I soon will set them straight.” Self defense in this matter is fine, but this is not what we are talking about.
This is a great eagerness to clear ourselves of all charges of sin.
““Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”” Luke 22:31-34, NIV.
It was not until he had “turned again,” following Christ’s resurrection, that repentance was visible in his life. Do we see the issue at stake? Christ predicted that Peter would deny Him with curses and this proved to be true. All that Christ said was true.
Christ knew Peter’s heart and so before he ascended he came to Peter and asked him 3 times if Peter loved him. Peter was hurt. We find in “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,” 1 Peter 3:15, NIV.
Are we suggesting sinless perfection? No. When one vindicates himself it does not mean that he cannot sin or does not sin. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.” Romans 8:33, NIV.
However, there is no way a careless, indifferent, nominal “Christian” is going to experience the freedom of this vindication. This person has no qualms against harboring sin in their life and no commitment to guard the glory of God. They are so content with the false expectation of having been saved from wrath that they are not troubled with the sins in their lives that rob God of His glory.
Having been proclaimed “No penalty for you”, how can we go out and commit the same evils that put us under condemnation? How would a judge feel if he justifies someone and they go out and do similar things again and again and with no remorse?
Indignation
If someone who loves us were to take us aside and say to us, “I know that you are guilty of this specific sin,” what would be our reaction? Would it be one of indignation toward that person for confronting us? Or would it be indignation toward ourselves for being so unlike Christ, and such a grievous sinner that loving brother and sisters must rebuke us?
The repentant person is so thoroughly aroused against all sin that he becomes forcefully indignant against sin and manifest a powerful grief and hatred toward it especially in himself.
Sin does not belong in the Christian’s life, and its presence ought to always arose indignation. Paul is telling us that we can immediately know the validity of our repentance by our reaction to sin in ourselves. Do we hate sin in us. Is that what happens when we sin?
Any people who cannot tolerate reproof, rebuke and instruction in righteousness are at heart an unrepentant people. I fear that many in the church can look at sin and say, “Oh well, I probably shouldn’t have done that, but it doesn’t really matter.” How can we speak that way when a mark of genuine repentance is always indignation against sin?
HoHum:
A man was painting his house. He only bought 5 gallons of paint. He knew he couldn’t finish the job with 5 gallons, so he started to thin it with water. He thinned and thinned and finally the job was done. Then a big black cloud showed up over the house. It rained and rained and of course washed all the paint off the house. A voice was heard from the cloud. "Repaint and thin no more."
WBTU:
Jim Herron: Too many Christians have reduced “repentance” to something they know must occur to receive salvation. It has become to them just a step in process, something that has been completed when they walk down aisle and to the baptistry. This is unfortunate, because according to the Scriptures, repentance is an ongoing process, involved in each struggle along the way to Christian maturity. Unless we learn how to repent, we will not grow. Unless we learn the distinction between “godly sorrow” and “worldly sorrow” we will die.
Vs. 11 in NASB: “For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.” 2 Corinthians 7:11, NAS95.
We talked about earnestness, vindication of yourselves, and indignation last time. Talk about the last 4 tonight.
Thesis: We see here 7 marks of repentance
For instances:
Fear (what alarm- NIV)
Is Paul referring to the fear of going to hell? No doubt there are many professed Christians who would do well to consider this. No evidence of repentance. However, this is probably not what Paul is specifically talking about here.
The deceitfulness of sin. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13, NIV. It is only by the grace of god and the constant practice of repentance that the heart is kept tender. All of us must beware and live in fear of this happening.
The busyness of life can keep us from seeking the Lord’s face, to discover the things that are closest to His heart, and to worship and serve Him.
We need to improve upon the gifts and graces that the Lord has given to us. Many times we use our gifts and talents not for God’s glory but for our own.
Fear is appropriate when we consider that our witness should cause others to stumble and fall. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, NIV.
Longing
Fervent desire. One of the characteristics of human life is longing. All people have longings: food, drink, oxygen are some of them. But not all long for the right things. Ask 3 questions:
First, what do I long for? Not fleeting desires but the overwhelming longings of the heart. When we are forced to wait, what longings appear? Does our mind seek God, His kingdom, His righteousness? Or is it wealth, popularity, or pleasures?
What degree of fervor or thirst do I have for these longings? Am I truly passionate about God? Do I devote more longing to seeking Him than to anything else?
What place do Christ’s kingdom and righteousness occupy in my daily duties? Most work for a living. Few are in a position where they can devote their waking hours to the pursuit of God. but the repentant are marked by great longing. They pray without ceasing. They want to commune with God. His kingdom is ever on their minds, even when they are immensely busy with other things.
“If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” Hebrews 11:15, 16, NIV.
Zeal (what concern- NIV)
One of the most notable features of Christians in the book of Acts was their zeal. It is seen in many ways: the length of the sermons they both preached and listened to; the days and nights they spent together in fasting and in prayer; the extent of their charity; the courage with which they faced persecution; the excitement with which they witnessed to others; the extent of their travels in spreading the gospel; the simplicity of their daily lives.
Many today consider zeal as evidence of being a fanatic. Zeal is look upon as of a person with an unsound mind. If a zealous person becomes part of a typical church, we can anticipate hearing numerous nervous members expressing their horror and alarm. Try to beat him and his enthusiasm down.
Does zeal for Christ and his kingdom mark our repentance? Does this zeal mark our church? Zeal is a normal part of true Christianity and a needed evidence of true repentance.
“Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:11.
Instead of being zealous, many today are zealless and cynical. How sad when Christians lack passion for Christ and his work! Spiritual dullness sets in, like the way we feel when we eat too much Thanksgiving dinner- drowsy and overstuffed. Those in positions of leadership must be especially careful lest we lose our excitement and zeal for the Lord.
Avenging of wrong (readiness to see justice done- NIV)
Is Paul saying that the truly repentant will have their revenge? No. The Lord will avenge his people. He is talking about restitution. Truly repentant people have an unshakable moral persuasion that all the wrongs of which they are guilty must, if it is at all possible, be set right . To avenge wrong is to practice restitution.
“The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘When a man or woman wrongs another in any way and so is unfaithful to the LORD, that person is guilty and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution for his wrong, add one fifth to it and give it all to the person he has wronged. But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for him.” Numbers 5:5-8, NIV.
“Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner’.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” Luke 19:1-9.
Did Zacchaeus gain salvation by avenging wrong? No. He set his heart to avenge wrong because salvation had come! If we refuse to make things right, as long as it depends on us, are we truly repentant persons?
Stop to think of the consequences of Christians all around the world righting the wrongs of their past. What is those Christians make an effort to pay back. What evangelism!
Richard Owen Roberts- I was in a series of meetings where it became very evident that at least 3 men were in opposition to what I was saying. I asked the preacher about them but learned nothing. All week long their anger was evident. On the 2nd Sunday there was an all church dinner following the morning service. I was detained until long after most others had left for the meal. When I finally reached the dining room, I immediately noted that 2 of those men were seated at a table by themselves with an empty chair between them. I quickly put a little food on a plate and rushed over and sat down between them. They looked horrified. I quietly said, “The jib is up!” “What do you mean?” they asked. “You are not going to get away with this any longer,” I said. “You must come clean. What are you so angry about?” They answered, “We hate your preaching. You are nothing but a legalist.” “What sin are you hiding?” I asked. “We believe in grace,” they declared, “but you insist that if a man has done wrong he must make it right whenever possible. That’s not gospel! That’s law! We don’t believe in it!” “What wicked things are you refusing to avenge?” I asked. In a few moments one of them admitted to frequent violations of the fish and game laws, saying, “If I do what you say I must, I might spend the rest of my life in jail, for I have killed hundreds of deer out of season and without a permit.” The second man acknowledged illegal acts that put his freedom in jeopardy as well. Alas, being told that time in jail was a small price to pay for avenging wrong had no appeal to them. To my knowledge, neither repented. I then went straight to the preacher and asked about the 3rd man. Having seen what I had done, he stirred his courage and confronted him. The preacher was astonished to learn that this man was enjoying full workmen’s compensation based upon a fraudulent claim. This unrepentant church leader told the preacher in no uncertain terms that he would not make this wrong right. Surely it is only by the mercy of God that churches survive when such obvious evidences of non repentance are found on every hand.
