AUSTRALIAN BIBLE CHURCH

REPENTANCE, REALITY AND REST

February 6, 2005

II Corinthians 7:2-16

Communion Sunday

 AUSTRALIAN BIBLE CHURCH February 6, 2005

REPENTANCE, REALITY AND REST

II Corinthians 7:2-16  -   Communion Sunday

Sermon Notes

 I Rest after trials, troubles  7:1-6

Paul was human, and holiness did not efface, but completed this aspect of his life. How deeply troubled he had been when he came to Asia (then used to cover the South West coast of Turkey, and somewhat inland), looking for Titus. Filled with works, perils, needs for the churches, he was not funded by the UN, without a NY spot in the high-rise where they rough it. However, he found Titus, and the traffic jam of labours was resolved, good news came from Titus regarding the church at Corinth, and Paul was enabled to write to them with knowledge, hope and challenge for their edification, growth and godliness.

After all, they had fallen morally to the point of no return, and they had repented ... their new chastened life, in need of direction. Accordingly, Paul charges them to open their hearts; for has he not, for his part, been faithful to them, and does he not have a strong pastoral tie (7:3) ?

Let us look back a little. earlier in this vein, we find Paul reveal this(1:9), "if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer", and just as "when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled one every side" (7:5), so that "Outside were conflicts, inside were fears", so now by contrast,  "God who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more." In Paul's distress, God acted; in his need, God supplied. This is His wonderful way.

Christianity never has been a rest cure, but in Christ restlessness becomes rest, not from due labour or enterprise for the kingdom of heaven, but in the care of His counsel and might, who also gives His beloved sleep; and it is here that Sunday rest becomes part of your inheritance in Christ, so that your business can be placed aright, perspectives regained and wisdom fill the heart as air the sky. We must remember the ardour of Paul for the body of Christ, the living Church (II Corinthians 11:28-29):

"besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? "

Is this then your heart's concern ? You see how important church prayer meeting is, to find, forge and seek results in the affairs of the kingdom of heaven.

II Repentance not to be repented of ... 7:7-12

Paul was refreshed not least because in Corinth there was now strong evidence of hearty faith, and thus of real action regarding the former fault, and the return to holy living.

"For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (II Cor. 7:11).

Paul regretted having to write to them so strong a letter, but now rejoices that this, like an operation, was indeed grievous, but produced joyful results in their zest and zeal to put everything right, in order, in godliness. He therefore is "comforted in your comfort" since their restoration is his heart's desire. So let us be comforted when our spiritual longings for others are met, and our lives refreshed with that divine grace which spreads the word, and spills outward from us like living waters (John 4:14, 7:37).

This is the repentance that matters, the repentance not to be repented of; for "the sorrow of this world produces death" but "godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation" (II Cor. 7:10-11).

III Reality in restorations  7:13-16

As a result, Titus is comforted (II Cor. 7:13), Paul is comforted, the church is cleansed, charity is crisp, standards are met, righteousness is relished and God is both honoured and glorified (II Cor. 7:13-16, 7:12). The Corinthians, instead of bucking when the apostolic spur was used, for their slouchiness, responded and what a gallop it was! How wonderful that they treated Titus, when he visited them, with such an awareness of his godly mission, since they were willing to obey necessary instructions for their restoration, and that then they showed that fear and trembling in the presence of God which betokens a living and saved soul!

Such is the message this morning. Be zealous, repent of sin, clear it as one clears rubbish from the garden, place it in the bin of the rescuing redemptive death of Christ, and arise forgiven and given strength for godly living, at rest in His pardon, zestful in His zeal, awake to His seal (Ephesians 1:7,13-14), and not as if parading but rather promoting and publishing the truth in word and in deed in the power of the Spirit of the Lord, who dwells in all Christians (Romans 8:9). Show the reverence for the word of the Lord which is due, and the willingness to be corrected, so that in all things all may be comforted and many helped.

This morning as we approach the Lord's Table, to be regarded in the light of His words, in remembrance of Him, not as a sacrifice, for as to that, there is one only: let us consider this, that His passion was not to make puppets, but holy people. Consider the words of I Peter 1:2:

"elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ", and in II Peter 1:2-3:

"To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,
as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given
to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

ELECT ? then as He foreknew, chosen for sanctification, obedience and sprinkling of His blood. This precious faith is from God, who chose His sheep before all time (Ephesians 1:4), and keeps them to the end, who came at the beginning (John 10:9).

WITH FAITH ? then let all use it to obtain what relates to godliness, through knowing the Lord, for the promises enable you to partake of the divine nature of Christ, the world's lust to bust you foregone, the uplifting power of the Prince of peace moving on the newly remade premises of your life, whether this be from the new birth of this year, last year or last century. If it lived, it lives now (John 14:19, 10:27-28).  By this faith, then, labour, prosper and prevail in your God-appointed tasks.

I Rest after trials, troubles  7:1-6

Paul was human, and holiness did not efface, but completed this aspect of his life. How deeply troubled he had been when he came to Asia (then used to cover the South West coast of Turkey, and somewhat inland), looking for Titus. Filled with works, perils, needs for the churches, he was not funded by the UN, without a NY spot in the high-rise where they rough it. However, he found Titus, and the traffic jam of labours was resolved, good news came from Titus regarding the church at Corinth, and Paul was enabled to write to them with knowledge, hope and challenge for their edification, growth and godliness.

After all, they had fallen morally to the point of no return, and they had repented ... their new chastened life, in need of direction. Accordingly, Paul charges them to open their hearts; for has he not, for his part, been faithful to them, and does he not have a strong pastoral tie (7:3) ?

Let us look back a little. earlier in this vein, we find Paul reveal this(1:9), "if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer", and just as "when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled one every side" (7:5), so that "Outside were conflicts, inside were fears", so now by contrast,  "God who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced the more." In Paul's distress, God acted; in his need, God supplied. This is His wonderful way.

Christianity never has been a rest cure, but in Christ restlessness becomes rest, not from due labour or enterprise for the kingdom of heaven, but in the care of His counsel and might, who also gives His beloved sleep; and it is here that Sunday rest becomes part of your inheritance in Christ, so that your business can be placed aright, perspectives regained and wisdom fill the heart as air the sky. We must remember the ardour of Paul for the body of Christ, the living Church (II Corinthians 11:28-29):

"besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? "

Is this then your heart's concern ? You see how important church prayer meeting is, to find, forge and seek results in the affairs of the kingdom of heaven.

II Repentance not to be repented of ... 7:7-12

Paul was refreshed not least because in Corinth there was now strong evidence of hearty faith, and thus of real action regarding the former fault, and the return to holy living.

"For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter" (II Cor. 7:11).

Paul regretted having to write to them so strong a letter, but now rejoices that this, like an operation, was indeed grievous, but produced joyful results in their zest and zeal to put everything right, in order, in godliness. He therefore is "comforted in your comfort" since their restoration is his heart's desire.

This is the repentance that matters, the repentance not to be repented of; for "the sorrow of this world produces death" but "godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation" (II Cor. 7:10-11).

III Reality in restorations  7:13-16

As a result, Titus is comforted (II Cor. 7:13), Paul is comforted, the church is cleansed, charity is crisp, standards are met, righteousness is relished and God is both honoured and glorified (II Cor. 7:13-16, 7:12). The Corinthians, instead of bucking when the apostolic spur was used, for their slouchiness, responded and what a gallop it was! How wonderful that they treated Titus, when he visited them, with such an awareness of his godly mission, since they were willing to obey necessary instructions for their restoration, and that then they showed that fear and trembling in the presence of God which betokens a living and saved soul!

Such is the message this morning. Be zealous, repent of sin, clear it as one clears rubbish from the garden, place it in the bin of the rescuing redemptive death of Christ, and arise forgiven and given strength for godly living, at rest in His pardon, zestful in His zeal, awake to His seal (Ephesians 1:7,13-14), and not as if parading but rather promoting and publishing the truth in word and in deed in the power of the Spirit of the Lord, who dwells in all Christians (Romans 8:9). Show the reverence for the word of the Lord which is due, and the willingness to be corrected, so that in all things all may be comforted and many helped.

This morning as we approach the Lord's Table, to be regarded in the light of His words, in remembrance of Him, not as a sacrifice, for as to that, there is one only, let us consider this, that His passion was not to make puppets, but holy people. Consider the words of I Peter 1:2:

"elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ", and in II Peter 1:2-3:

"To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."

ELECT ? then as He foreknew, chosen for sanctification, obedience and sprinkling of His blood.

WITH FAITH ? then using it to obtain what relates to godliness, through knowing the Lord, for the promises enable you to partake of the divine nature of Christ, the world's lust to bust you foregone.