2 Corinthians 6:1-18

(2 Corinthians 7:1-16)

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. Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. 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. 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. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;  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.  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. 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.  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 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.  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.  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.  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.  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.  I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.

 

It is holiness that distinguishes the church from the world and makes it church. Just as the light in the dark reveals more light, this holiness was even more necessary for the church built in Corinth, the representative city of darkness and corruption. So Paul exhorted the members of the Corinthian Church, "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."

 

However, among the Corinthians, there were people who conspired, criticized, and attacked Paul. In addition, the Corinthians were sloppy about the content of blaming and condemning Paul, who founded the Corinthian Church, and some took an attitude of sympathy. So Paul exhorted: 『Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man. .I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you』

 

Even in the world's organizations, if you try to correct what is wrong and do the right thing, there will always be slander and contempt. As with the labor of dissolution, Paul established the Corinthian church and preached the gospel, but after Paul left, there were some people who slandered and reproached Paul. Paul tried to revisit the Corinthian church, but he did not visit again, knowing that a person who slandered and blamed him was among the Corinthian church. Instead, Paul wrote a letter of reproof and admonition to the Corinthian Church and sent it through Titus. This letter is another letter written by Paul between 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians.

After Paul sent a letter of reproof through Titus, the members of the Corinthian church felt a lot of anxiety, so he felt hurt and regretted it. Just as the right parent hurts after punishing children who go the wrong way, Paul, as a spiritual parent, was heartbroken after rebuking Corinthian church members like his children through letters. Paul also became worried and discouraged about how the Corinthians would react when he received the letter. Because, instead of correcting their mistakes, they might be more rebellious against Paul.

 

But God is a God who comforts those who are discouraged.『Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 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. 』 God used three methods to comfort Paul, who was discouraged. First, God comforted Paul by sending Titus back to Paul. Secondly, God comforted Paul with the fact that the Corinthian church members received Titus well and comforted him. And thirdly, God comforted Paul by saying, "The members of the Corinthian church who received the letter of reproof are mourning and loving him and showing zeal."

 

In this way, the Corinthian church members received a letter of reproof from Paul through Titus, but through that letter they repented, received Titus well, comforted him, and sent it back to Paul. The members of the Corinthian church made Paul anxious and discouraged, but later brought great comfort to Paul, overflowing with joy. So Paul said: "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."『For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.』

 

 Therefore, there are only two kinds of people's worries. It is a sorrow according to God's will and worldly sorrow. The distinction between these two worries is the most important distinction in our lives. It is said that the sorrow of God's will leads to repentance that leads us to salvation without regret. Worldly sorrow ultimately leads to death, but God's sorrow is the spiritual foundation for repentance that leads to salvation.

 

The members of the Corinthian church who received Paul's letter of reproof became sorrowful for doing God's will, and produced beautiful fruits of repentance. So Paul says.『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.』 Paul was delighted to learn that his love and faith toward the members of the Corinthian church was not in vain. Paul said Titus, the spiritual son of faith, was sincerely received and comforted by the members of the Corinthian church.『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. 』