2 Corinthians
“The Heart of an Apostle”
Part 12 - 2 Corinthians 7:2-16
“Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow”
“I’m Sorry”
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“I’m Sorry”
I SAID I WAS
SORRY…ISN’T
THAT ENOUGH!
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“I’m Sorry”
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Godly Sorrow vs.
Worldly Sorrow
In this morning’s passage, Paul
describes for us what true godly
sorrow looks like, and how we can
differentiate it from worldly sorrow.
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Big Idea
“if the sorrow is truly
godly, it will result in
the change of the
sorrowful ”
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Change in Heart
(7:2-4)
A Look Back
“We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our
heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us,
but you are restricted in your own affections. In
return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts
also.” (2 Cor 6:11–13 ESV)
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2 Cor 7:2–4
“2Make room for us in your hearts. We have
wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we
have exploited no one. 3I do not say this to
condemn you; I have said before that you have
such a place in our hearts that we would live or
die with you. 4I have great confidence in you; I
take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged;
in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.”
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Great Joy to
Love and Be
Loved
“Make room for us in your hearts. We have
wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we
have exploited no one. I do not say this to
condemn
I have
There
is noyou;
greater
joysaid
as abefore
pastorthat
thenyou
to have
pour
such
a place
our flock
hearts
that
wethem
would
liveyou
or
your love
intoinyour
and
have
love
diereturn.
with you. I have great confidence in you; I
in
take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged;
in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.” (2
Cor 7:2–4 NIV)
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Change in
Comfort (7:5-9)
Look Back Again
“When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of
Christ, even though a door was opened for me in
the Lord, my spirit was not at rest because I did
not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave
of them and went on to Macedonia.” (2 Cor
2:12–13 ESV)
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2 Cor 7:5–7
“5For when we came into Macedonia, this body
of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at
every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears
within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast,
comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not
only by his coming but also by the comfort you
had given him. He told us about your longing for
me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for
me, so that my joy was greater than ever.”
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Two-Headed
Enemy
“5For when we came into Macedonia, this body
of ours had no rest, but we were harassed at
every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears
within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast,
comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not
The
two-headed
enemy
of
ministry
is
those
who
only by his coming but also by the comfort you
oppose
ushim.
fromHe
the
outside,
andyour
those
feelings
had given
told
us about
longing
for
of
fear
and
incompetence
that
plague
us
within.
me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for
me, so that my joy was greater than ever.”
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The God of all
Comfort
5For when we came into Macedonia, this body
“Paul
pressed on by means of the God of all
of
ours
had
no
rest,
but
we
were
harassed
at
comfort.
every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears
within. 6But God, who comforts the downcast,
comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not
only by his coming but also by the comfort you
had given him. He told us about your longing for
me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for
me, so that my joy was greater than ever.”
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The God of all
Comfort
5For when we came into Macedonia, this body
“Paul
pressed on by means of the God of all
of
ours
had
no
rest,
but
we
were
harassed
at
comfort.
every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears
“Blessed6 be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
within. But God, who comforts the downcast,
Christ, the Father of mercies and God
of all
7
comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not
comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so
only by his coming but also by the comfort you
that we may be able to comfort those who are in
had given him. He told us about your longing for
any affliction, with the comfort with which we
me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for
ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians
me, so that my joy was greater than ever.”
1:3–4 ESV)
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Comfort
Conductors
5For when we came into Macedonia, this body
“God
uses us to encourage and comfort others so
of
ours
had
no
rest,
but
we
were
harassed
at
that we become comfort conductors.
every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears
God’s6comfort
Us comforts
Those needing
comfort
within.
But God, who
the downcast,
comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7and not
only by his coming but also by the comfort you
had given him. He told us about your longing for
me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for
me, so that my joy was greater than ever.”
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2 Cor 7:8–9
“8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do
not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that
my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—
9yet now I am happy, not because you were
made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to
repentance. For you became sorrowful as God
intended and so were not harmed in any way by
us.”
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Sorrowful
Letter
“8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do
not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that
my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—
9yet now I am happy, not because you were
made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to
Paul apparently sent a “sorrowful” letter to the
repentance. For you became sorrowful as God
Corinthians in order to hurt them into
intended and so were not harmed in any way by
repentance.
us.”
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Allow People to
Sin?
“8Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do
Why do we allow people to continue to sin, in
not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that
the name of love?
my letter hurt you, but only for a little while—
9yet now I am happy, not because you were
made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to
repentance. For you became sorrowful as God
intended and so were not harmed in any way by
us.”
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Warn or Repair?
“Brothers, if anyone is caught
in any transgression, you who
are spiritual should restore him
in a spirit of gentleness. Keep
watch on yourself, lest you too
be tempted.” (Gal 6:1 ESV)
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Change in
Direction (7:1013a)
2 Cor 7:10–13a
“10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation
and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what
earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what
indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,
what readiness to see justice done. At every point you
have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12So
even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the
one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather
that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted
to us you are. 13By all this we are encouraged.”
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Godly Sorrow
Brings Repentance
“10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation
and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what
True
godlywhat
sorrow
will toalways
bring about
earnestness,
eagerness
clear yourselves,
what
indignation,
repentance.what alarm, what longing, what concern,
what readiness to see justice done. At every point you
Repentance
(metanoia)
“to perceive
have proved yourselves
to be=innocent
in this after”.
matter. 12So
even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the
Godly
leadsorus
to injured
God; party,
this isbutwhere
one whosorrow
did the wrong
of the
rather
that
before
God
you couldto
seego!
for yourselves how devoted
we’ve
been
designed
to us you are. 13By all this we are encouraged.”
Hell
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Worldly Sorrow
Brings Death
“10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation
and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what
earnestness,
what
eagerness
toofyou
clear
yourselves,
Worldly
sorrow
never
turns
it what
only
“But when
he saw
many
the around;
Pharisees
and
indignation,
whatand
alarm,
what longing,
whatguilt
concern,
seeks
comfort
freedom
from
the
and
Sadducees
coming
to
his
baptism,
he
said
to
what readiness to see justice done. At every point you
consequence
of sin.
them,
“Youyourselves
brood
oftovipers!
Whoinwarned
you12to
have proved
be innocent
this matter.
So
even
wrote
to you,to
it was
not onBear
account
of the
flee though
from Ithe
wrath
come?
fruit
in
one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather
keeping
with repentance.” (Matt 3:7–8 ESV
that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted
to us you are. 13By all this we are encouraged.”
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The Final
Analysis
Godly Sorrow
Godly sorrow brings
change
Godly sorrow sees sin
as a crime against God
Godly sorrow is Godfocused
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Worldly Sorrow
Worldly sorrow avoids
change
Worldly sorrow seeks
to excuse sin and
dodge its
consequences
Worldly sorrow is selffocused
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Fruit of
Repentance
“10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation
and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what
earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what
indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,
what readiness to see justice done. At every point you
have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12So
even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the
one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather
that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted
to us you are. 13By all this we are encouraged.”
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Fruit of
Repentance
“10Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation
and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
11See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what
earnestness,
to clear and
yourselves,
what
“For I knowwhat
myeagerness
transgressions,
my sin
is
indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,
ever
before me.
Against
only,point
have
what readiness
to see
justice you,
done. you
At every
youI
sinned
andyourselves
done what
evil ininyour
sight,12so
have proved
to beisinnocent
this matter.
So
even
I wrote
you, it wasinnot
on account
the
that though
you may
betojustified
your
wordsofand
one who did the wrong or of the injured party, but rather
blameless
in your judgment.” (Psa 51:3–4 ESV)
that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted
to us you are. 13By all this we are encouraged.”
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Change in
Others (7:13b-16)
2 Cor 7:13b–16
“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. I
had boasted to him about you, and you have not
embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to
you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has
proved to be true as well. And his affection for you
is all the greater when he remembers that you were
all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.
I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.”
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2 Cor 7:13b–16
“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. I
had boasted to him about you, and you have not
embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to
True
godly
brings about
aboutyounot
onlyhasa
you was
true, sorrow
so our boasting
to Titus
change
in be
you,
butasalso
whoaffection
know you.
proved to
true
well.those
And his
for you
is all the greater when he remembers that you were
all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.
I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.”
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So What?
Godly sorrow must
produce change.
How so?
1. By the change in our hearts towards the
people of God.
2. By the change in our ability to comfort others
with the comfort we have received from God.
3. By the change in direction regarding our
relationship to sin and how it is viewed by
our Holy God.
4. By the change we see in others as a result of
what God is doing in and through us.
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