ll CORINTHIANS LESSON 9
We will begin this lesson in II 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."
The promises spoken of here, are that Christians are sons and
daughters of God, and that the Spirit of God lives within the
Christian. Paul is saying, here, taking all of that under
consideration, we must clean ourselves up inside and out. Not many
people want to talk to you about holiness. Perhaps, it is because they
do not understand the meaning. "Holiness" is just allowing God to make
the decisions. We would be doing things with great respect of God's
wishes. Holiness, has to do with being separated from the filth of the
world, both in spirit and in body. No one, but the individual being
cleansed can do this cleansing. It must be an act of our free will.
Fear, in the verse above, has to do with reverence. The statement
"dearly beloved" says it all. God loves us dearly. The question is, do
we love Him dearly? If we do, then we want to do everything in a
pleasing way to Him.
II Corinthians 7:2 "Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have
corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man."
Paul is still answering accusations here. He is just saying that
he had dealt with each person in the very same way the Lord would
have. He had not harmed anyone. He is saying, there is no reason for
you not to accept us.
II Corinthians 7:3 "I speak not [this] to condemn [you]: for I
have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with
[you]."
Paul is just explaining that he is not angry with anyone there at
Corinth, not even the ones who had been complaining. Whatever they
were, Paul felt he was a part of, because he had started the church at
Corinth. He loved them, and would always claim them as his own.
II Corinthians 7:4 "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."
Paul felt that this church at Corinth was to be an example to the
evil religions around them. He had been bold with them, to get them to
set a good example. He was proud of these Corinthians who had made a
stand for God in the midst of such evil in their city. The few
tribulations {problems} that had come should make them stronger. If
they could iron out the problems and go on, this would be an example
of true Christianity. He is saying, they should rejoice that the Lord
thought them strong enough to face this tribulation and come out of it
victorious.
II Corinthians 7:5 "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."
On Paul's journeys, he had been facing problems all along. The
Jews and the idolaters as well, had tried to do away with Paul. The
fears inside had been for Paul's safety.
II Corinthians 7:6 "Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that
are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;"
This is almost a problem by problem recollection of Paul's. When
Titus came to him, he was encouraged. God always sends someone to
build us up, when we get really down.
II Corinthians 7:7 "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."
The main good news that Titus had brought was, that the people at
the church at Corinth loved Paul. He had been harsh with them, but
they realized it was because he loved them. Paul had been really
concerned about how the church at Corinth had received his letter.
Titus brought good news.
II Corinthians 7:8 "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 had felt real badly about the letter of correction he had
sent them. He realizes now, that even though it hurt temporarily, it
was the right thing to do. They had repented and straightened out the
problem.
II Corinthians 7:9 "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."
His rejoicing was in the fact that they repented. He felt badly
about having to correct them, but now he is pleased that he did not
run them away from God. It not only did not run them away, but made
them stronger.
II Corinthians 7:10 " For godly sorrow worketh repentance to
salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh
death."
The penalty of sin is death. Praise God! the penalty is paid in
full for those who have godly sorrow and repent of their sin. The
first step to salvation is to be truly sorry for our sins. Worldly
sorrow has no rewards.
II Corinthians 7:11 "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."
Paul is just saying, he is pleased that they have repented in all
areas where they needed to, and are completely forgiven. There is
nothing against their record. They are completely cleared.
II Corinthians 7:12 "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."
God would have held Paul responsible, if he had known of this
terrible sin in the church, and had not done anything about it. This
was not just a misdemeanor. The sin was fornication, which had been
specifically mentioned as one of the four things required of the
Christians to abstain from. Paul had written to help the whole church,
not just specifically for the one man.
II Corinthians 7:13 "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."
Titus had been well treated by the church in Corinth. Paul was
very pleased with that, and with the good news that Titus had brought
about the church.
II Corinthians 7:14 "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 had given the truth to Titus. Paul had every confidence in
the church at Corinth, and they did not let him down. Paul said that
what he said was not to boast, but to state a fact.
II Corinthians 7:15 "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."
Paul is still speaking of Titus here. Titus was overjoyed that
the church there at Corinth had received Paul's message so well and
had repented of their sin. They were in obedience to Paul. This
obedience to Paul showed Titus that these people in Corinth had real
character.
II Corinthians 7:16 "I rejoice therefore that I have confidence
in you in all [things]."
This is just Paul saying, one more time how pleased he was at
their attitude. He reminds them, he had confidence that they would do
the right thing. He will have more confidence in them now.
ll Corinthians 9 Questions
1. Quote 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 1.
2. What are these promises?
3. Why do you suppose most people do not like to speak of holiness?
4. Who is the only one who can do this cleansing?
5. What 3 things did Paul say, he had not done to any man in verse 2?
6. Paul did not say these things to __________ them.
7. Why did Paul feel that he was part of whatever they were?
8. Who was this church at Corinth to be an example for?
9. What was an example of true Christianity they did?
10. What did Paul face in his journeys?
11. What comforted Paul?
12. Paul had made them sorry with what?
13. What caused Paul to rejoice?
14. Godly sorrow worketh ___________.
15. In verse 11 what emotions had this stirred up in the people?
16. Who had Paul written this letter for?
17. How had the church at Corinth treated Titus?
18. Even Paul's boasting was ______.
19. Paul had confidence in them in ____ _______.
20. Paul was pleased with their ________.
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