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)
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. 2) Eagerness to Clear Yourselves (v. 11)
Explanation: Here Paul indicates that the attitude of the Corinthians and those who experience a spiritual awakening in their lives is one who is ready to engage honestly with the sin. The Corinthians wanted to explain to Paul the whole situation, primarily to demonstrate their repentance after the letter. This was not a formal defense, nor a defensive attitude to pile up reasons or excuses. It was a genuine desire to show their actions followed their earnestness. He knew that things went well in response to the letter, they just wanted him to know how it happened, how well it went.
Luke 3:8 - John the Baptist said to, “bring forth fruit worthy of repentance”
Illustration: We are usually very quick to get defensive and move directly into self-justification why it wasn’t really our fault, or that nothing was done that was truly wrong, find reasons to explain away. Our congressional hearings are the complete opposite of explaining your repentance and following righteousness.
Application: How about us, are we quick to defend ourselves or clear ourselves? God is always right, so the better course of action with God is always to demonstrate the aftereffects of God’s conviction. Are you in a hurry to deal with the conviction, repent, and bring forth fruit worthy of repentance? Is your attitude such that you would invite someone to examine your repentance? So let’s say the Holy Spirit impresses upon you that you are far away from God, and there was a time when you used to be close/closer, how do you respond? What are you willing to do? Wed night class talking about getting there.
3) Indignation (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. 3) Indignation (v. 11)
Explanation: This word means irritation or anger in a righteous fashion. Paul is probably pleased that they were upset, not at him for pointing out sin, but at the person for sinning and bringing reproach on their congregation; but also anger at themselves for tolerating such sin in the first place seriously enough that the apostle found it necessary to write a harsh letter. Hatred of sin is a good thing. It’s a good indication that someone is truly born again—hating the sinful things they once loved.
Jesus got angry at sin, Paul got angry with sin (1 Cor 5), God is a consuming fire, evil people will cry out for the rocks to fall on them in Revelation rather than face the wrath of the Lamb.
Illustration: Our culture, especially the left, brings sinful things from hidden to common, from sensitive to desensitized, from abnormal to norm to celebrated. There is definitely no anger at some sins anymore. Even within the church, no irritation against things that used to be unheard of. For example: abortion used to be clearly and categorically sinful, but no longer. There are probably those of you here today that would say, “Personally I would never seek an abortion, but I don’t want to force that upon all other women.” The pregnancy centers that I have served at have a constant flow of clients who claim to be followers of Jesus, yet don’t know who the father of the baby is, and are considering abortion.
Other things like cohabitation before marriage, dressing in certain ways, recognition of gender identity confusion, divorce. Seems like these things are just accepted as common.
There are also things that are not dealt with/spoken of as they ought because they have never been taught well—absentee fathers who worship their jobs and abandon family, abuse within the home, racism, pornography, lack of family discipleship, unforgiveness of family and friends…
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Application: Do you get angry at sin in your own life? Do you realize that it has effects on the whole church? Harbored sin will affect others like a cancer. It will cause the church not to function well; not to be close to Christ, because you are not close to Christ. Church, do we have an irritation against sin in our midst? To tolerate or look the other way with sin in our midst will ensure that God will not revive us. Be willing to confront sin in each other gently for the sake of their good and the glory of Christ’s church. Be willing to receive it as well.
4) Fear (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. 4) Fear (v. 11)
Explanation: This could be interpreted a couple of ways. The word would probably be better translated “alarm” in this text. The alarm could be their concern about the consequences of the already committed actions; discipline is not enjoyable. Or, this could be a reverent awe that people who sin feel when they deal with God about their sin. When sinful people come to grips with their sin, and come to the God of all Holiness and Righteousness, it will be a fearful thing.
Illustration: For us at a traffic stop, we usually never think about the fact that we were actually doing what he pulled us over for. We’re usually just mad because they gave us a ticket. Or sometimes, we shake and tremble, fearful of what they may say
Application: This fear was a good thing in Paul’s mind. Does this fear reside in you? Normally, even when convicted about sin, we don’t handle it will much gravity. We repent, determine to do better, maybe put things in place to help kill the sin, but rarely do we do it with the fear of God in our lives. We don’t worry about God judging the church because of us. We don’t fear consequences. Do you have a holy fear of God? Does it enter your mind that when you watch pornography you are hindering the church, and storing up discipline for yourselves? What about gossip and judgmentalism? What about harsh things that you have said to others or about others? God will judge you, and the church on your behalf. You should be fearful.
Closing illustration: LSCC experienced a renewal when they were at the end of their rope, just hoping to have enough money to keep the lights/heat on each week in the offering plate. No pastor, bathroom down on the rock, snow under the doors, pews falling backward. They willingly and eagerly embraced all that God had for them with deep commitment. They hated sin, love God and their community, within three years, packed house for two services, no parking, new everything, mission points all around the world, over $5000 LMCO, leading the state per capita, stateside mission trips every year, regular baptisms, ministering in the community to the point that at 10 years, the town gave them the option for prime real estate by the beach, the Kiwanis club, athletic fields, and the lake. They had renewal
