2 Corinthians 7
1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
We have been shown through the other Chapters the things God expects from us that love Him. Romans 12:1-2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
2 Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
Paul is asking The Corinth's to open up to the fact they haven't asked anything of them that would harm them or theirs. They've been fed The Word and Paul didn't preach begging. Churches today preach tithing more than the cross. If you broke down the verses by numbers of volume, tithing will have more numbers in a year. Don't give, where you're not fed. That's more than a few verse a week. Would you know if you're being fed? I don't say this to be hateful, but in love. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
During the hard times Paul endured, he was at peace with the work he had done in building the church in Corinth. He had no regrets in feeding them Truth, then or now. Tribulations or troubles happen to everyone. How we handle them, makes us who we are. The Word gives power and wisdom over those problems, making us can do children of God. No poor me baby's here.
5 For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
Paul became concerned about them because when he got to Macedonia, he hadn't heard from Titus about what the church was doing about the division taking place in the church.
6 Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
Paul was pleased to read the letter Titus brought him. He's glad to see they have corrected the problems within the church. They turned from their ways and back to God. Glory be to God!
7 And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
They're letting Paul know, they've repented and turned to The Truth in Christ. Titus lets Paul know how much they're looking forward to his return.
8 For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
Paul laid it on the line in his first letter to them and he's letting them know he has no regrets for it. Paul's saddened by having to do it in the first place. It caused them to wake up.
9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
The correction was made. The responsibility of anyone placed in a leadership role should be to correct wrongs. His letter of rebuke opened their eyes and The Holy Spirit gave them the eyes to see where they were headed.
10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Don't feel sorry for feeling sorry. It's what brings you closer to repentance and therefore closer to God. The worldly people could care less. If you truly care, you would turn from the ways of the world.
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
A life in The Lord brings "carefulness" in your life. You think about your actions more. "Clearing of yourselves" is having peace of mind in your life. "Indignation" is a righteous indignation, ἀγανάκτησις aganáktēsis, ag-an-ak'-tay-sis; from G23; indignation: to be greatly afflicted, to be grieved. This helps you move to Gods ways and from the worlds. "Fear" is "Reverence" which is to God, Christ Jesus and The Holy Spirit. This "revenge" is in fighting the good fight against satan and evil.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
The letters are written to the whole body, even if the subject might have been on just one individual. We all get something out of these letters, do we not?
13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
Paul's happy to hear the result of the church turning back to God's Way. They cleaned the mess up, repented and moved forward in Truth.
14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
Paul fed them nothing but The Truth in the beginning. Paul's so glad to hear how they treated Titus and knew that from the beginning, they've been listening. Have you ever told someone about the things of God and they reject it as a fairy tale? Then, do you remember telling someone The Truth of God's Word and they follow God in it? Joy would be felt within you for those that took God's Word to heart.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
The Corinthians showed much love and obedience to Titus and by doing so gave joy to them all.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
The Corinthian church has shown they can be trusted to do the right things. They cleaned house when needed. They focused on The Truth and by that followed The Way in which to live this life. That's in The Word of God.