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Godly RepentanceA soap manufacturer and a pastor were walking down the street together in a large city. The soap manufacturer casually said, "The gospel you preach hasn't done much good has it? Just look around. There is still a lot of wickedness in the world, and a lot of wicked people, too!" The pastor held his tongue, until they passed little boy making playing in a mud puddle. Seizing the opportunity, the pastor said, "I see that your soap hasn't done much good in the world either; for there is much dirt, and many dirty people everywhere." The soap man replied, "Oh -- well, soap only works when it is applied." And the pastor said, "Exactly, that' how it is with the gospel." The Gospel is applied when men and women turn to Jesus Christ in faith. The first step in that turning is repentance from our sins. But is repentance just a one time thing? Or is repenting something that we do throughout our lives even as believers? What comes to your mind when you hear the word “repent.” Some people think of a guy on a street corner with a sandwich sign calling out to passersby how God is angry. When I went to New York after 9/11, the first thing we did was receive a crash course in street evangelism. We went to the Billy Graham prayer center and one of the things they told us was not to just hand out materials. See in NYC there are literally hundreds of guys on the streets screaming at people about how angry God is with them. Well, our message was not a message of condemnation, but of hope. Hope in Jesus Christ, and we did not want to be scene as kooks but as the light, and as salt. So just what is this thing called repentance? How are believers to repent? How do we know if repentance is needed in our lives? As we continue our studies in 2 Corinthians, we find a very personal section of this letter. The Apostle Paul is hurt by the reaction the church in Corinth had to his exhortations. They abandoned him, they felt hurt by him, but finally they came to their senses and received what he told them. So they repented of their hard hearts toward Paul, and they repented of their ungodly actions toward God. In the bible “to repent” means “to change your mind.” Then the result of that change of mind – will be a change in behavior. To repent literally means “to change directions.” So true repentance comes not just because of a sorrowful situation but from godly conviction and seeing God's kindness. Rom 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness , tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? When a man/ a woman refuses to heed the call of God and truly repent of their sin, they are actually showing contempt for God's kindness, for it is -- his kindness that leads us toward repentance. Kindness, in that, he could wipe us out because of our rebellion, but instead he shows us mercy. So biblical repentance comes with the realization that we have offended God, which becomes godly sorrow – then accompanied by conviction from the Holy Spirit, that brings about changes in mind and behavior.
Today I want to consider the entire chapter 7,
so instead of three points we will take it in little parts as we find out about
“godly repentance.”
2 Corinthians really is Paul's most personal
letter. Paul had poured his heart out to the church in Corinth, and they had
to some degree not returned that love. The appeal in this chapter is for the
Corinthians to be “reconciled to Paul.” They had been critical of him and
disobedient to God, but now it was time to “receive”( KJV). They need to
repent of their hard hearts toward him, and their sins toward God. So Paul
beings this section with some personal comments showing his concern for them.
Notice the words he uses. Prov 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. How do you react when someone confronts you with issues? Whats your first reaction when someone give you counsel you might not want to hear? A true friend will speak the truth to you, they have no agenda except -- love and friendship. A true friend will tell you when your being a turkey. A real friend will hurt you with the truth. Then, like the Corinthians we can receive the correction or get upset. In my life, God often uses other people - sometimes it takes someone else for me to see the whole picture. Thats often how God works, he'll shows us where we are wrong, thought messengers he sends. Remember Nathan the prophet whom God sent to King David? Nathan came speaking the truth to David -- in a parable from God. He confronted the King about his lies, adultery, and cover up. Nathan was taking his life into his own hands, he was in danger but he knew that God had told him to speak so he did. And the results were good. 2 Sam 12:13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, "The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die. As soon as David repented, God forgave that sin. What comfort we have not just from that picture but the promise of scripture. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. So Paul lays out his feelings for the Corinthians, and lets them know he has only their best interest in mind. Look at the words he uses in V 4. “Great confidence in you, Great pride in you, Greatly encouraged, my joy knows no bounds.” Like the friend who gives loving wounds, Paul is speaks only for the good of others. So he's pretty excited when he hears that they moved on from their initial reaction to withhold their love from him. Every believer gets to be involved with this repentance thing from time to time. Sometimes you get to be Paul - and confront friends with the truth. Make sure you are being used by God, that your motives are pure, and that your words are seasoned with Grace. Other times we get to be on the receiving end. Have you ever had a friend, your spouse, or a church leader, comes to you with an exhortation? How did you receive it? There's a right way and a wrong way, the Corinthians did both. READ V5-7 Paul went to Macedonia, and there were plenty of troubles there, and they were compounded by how the Corinthians were treating him. But then Titus shows us with some good news, that the Corinthian Church had finally heeded Paul's word. So Paul's encouraged not only by Titus showing up, but by the news that the Church had finally taken Paul's letter to heart. If someone confronts you or gives correction to you, your reaction might be just like the Corinthians, at first they were offended, they were hurt. “I thought Paul was our friend, whys he so mean?” But after a while, probably some prayer, they came to their senses and realized that Paul really spoke only for their good. So they wanted to see him again and they proved it by how well they treated Titus. I picture Paul, in Macedonia - pacing back and forth – worried because he heard his letter was not received well. Maybe he was second guessing his motivations, and praying that God would help the church in Corinth to repent of where they were wrong. That's not unlike how God thinks about us. He sent us a letter, his word, but even more - he sent his Son, showing us his love, and urging us to repent – and that God's desire. 2 Peter 3:9 ... not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance . Jesus spoke about that as he stood outside the city God chose. Matt 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. What Jesus wanted a change of heart. Thats the heart of God, thats the message of all the prophets – thats the message of the bible. But often God's messengers were killed, stoned, or ignored. That’s exactly what happened in Corinth but finally they listened to Paul's message and they experienced true repentance. So what does it look like? Someone once said. “There is a radical distinction between natural regret and God-given repentance.” One great picture contrasting the two repentances is found in the two men who denied the Lord on the night of his arrest. Judas and Peter. Both of them disowned the Lord, both of them seemed to regret their actions. But Judas was really just sorry for the consequences of his sin, he hardened his heart and went out and hung himself. Peter on the other hand - we can read the dramatic events of his repentance. Luke 22:61-62 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and wept bitterly . Their eyes met, can you imagine what that felt like for Peter? I think we can- because in that moment Peter remembered that Jesus told him he would deny him three times that very night. So Peter runs away, and he weeps bitterly-- that means he wept from the bowels. Have you ever cried such a deep cry that it hurt physically? Peter cries not just because it hurts -- but because he hurt the one who showed him real love. That is what repentance looks like- that is what God called the Corinthians to, that is the repentance that even believers we are to have toward our actions. There are 10 men in the Bible who said, “I have sinned,” as you study it out we find only five actually repented. David, Nehemiah, Job, Micah, and the Prodigal son.” The other five, Pharaoh, Balaam, Achan, Saul, and Shimei all said words of repentance but there was no change in behavior. So when we speak of “repentance” we see that true repentance can be observed in a person's life. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ , he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
True repentance will have with it good fruit,
and a lasting change. So just what is repentance and what is not repentance?
When we sin, our conscience tells us its wrong and we feel guilty – But feeling guilty, convicted, or even sorrow is not repentance. Because there are plenty of people who feel sorrowful not for the sin, but because of the consequences of their actions. Wrong behavior often brings, tough consequences, unwanted pregnancies, AIDS, or time in jail, all can lead to feeling sorry- but that is not biblical repentance. James 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Repentance is not just feeling guilty – for that is to merely listen and not apply the word of God to our lives. 2. REPENTANCE IS NOT CONFESSION.
Confession is an important part of repentance
but it not the whole picture. Just admitting to a sin doesn’t mean you have
repented. Prisons are filled with people who have confessed - to get a
plea-bargain or lighter sentence yet they have not truly repented. Growing up as a Roman Catholic penance was something that was assigned when I went to confession but it meant little to a young boy who was only going through the motions. But I think as evangelicals we can think that penance will bring us closer to God too. “God, if you’ll forgive me I’ll go to church every Sunday and maybe even some Wednesday's for the next year.” “Lord, get me out of this mess and I'll spend 4 hours a day in prayer --- I'll clean the church --- I'll tithe 8.5 % --- I'll, I'll, I'll. Penance is not repentance. So just what is true repentance? Lets continue in our text.
READ V 8 - 10 Matt 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent , for the kingdom of heaven is near." So V8-10 becomes the heart of Paul's thoughts on repentance. Mixed in the middle of a very personal part of this epistle, we find a nugget of gold, that speaks about true repentance. 1. REPENTANCE INVOLVES SORROW.
Godly sorrow was what Paul saw in the
Corinthians that made him believe they had repented. The word for sorrow means,
“to cause pain.” Like Peter looking into the eyes of Jesus, knowing he had just
betrayed him. Like Paul who was afraid his letter was too harsh. But that
letter produced - godly sorrow. “It hurt them good.” Have you ever said something that you thought was too harsh then regretted that you said it? I think that was Paul's reaction but after he found out that they changed because of what he said, he was glad that he said it to them. Remember the Corinthian church was a worldly church, they were carnal, and had allowed all kinds of ungodly things into their mist. So Paul harshly but lovingly said some tough things in his first letter. My friends if God leads you to speak to someone some tough stuff, do it, but do it with love. There have been many times when I’ve had to say things to people that they don’t want to hear – but it was the truth. Eph 4:15 ... Speaking the truth in love , we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
“Friend your on the wrong path.” “Honey, your
not doing what God wants.” “Pastor, your sermons are too long.” Words spoken
in love, those are wounds from a friend that can be trusted. How we react when
someone lovingly confronts us will lead to what Paul is speaking about here, -
leads to death or to salvation. Paul describes it as “godly” sorrow as opposed
to “worldly” sorrow. Its like the difference between discipline and
condemnation. Have you have ever bought a cube steak? Did you know the reason they run it though the tenderizer is because its a very tough cut of meat. The butcher runs it though a machine that brakes down the tough fibers in the meat and makes it a little more tender – it transformed the meat.
If you have ever felt like God is taking you
through the meat tenderizer – it's probably what he is doing. He is trying to
breaking down the tough stuff, your self will, getting rid of the old
person, so that you can become tender in His hands. He brings us to repentance,
transform us into his image, so we become useful to his purposes. Discipline and godly sorrow says “this is going to hurt, but in the end you are going to thank me.” So first we see, repentance is about godly sorrow – and that leads to salvation. True repentance brings with it the desire to let go of self, and give up the old ways. 2. TRUE REPENTANCE TURN US TOWARD GOD.
Not too many years ago newspapers carried the
story of Al Johnson, a Kansas man who came to faith in Jesus Christ. What made
his story remarkable was not his conversion, but the fact that as a result of
his newfound faith in Christ, he confessed to a bank robbery he had participated
in when he was nineteen years old. Because the statute of limitations on the
case had run out, Johnson could not be prosecuted for the crime. Still, he
believed his relationship with Christ demanded a confession then he voluntarily
repaid his share of the stolen money! John Calvin asked. “Can true repentance exist without faith? By no means.” A repentant life is like the encouragement Jesus gave the woman found in the act of adultery, when she was found guilty and the law said she was to be stoned to death. Jesus did not condemn her, nor did he allow others to. Rather he spoke to her about repentance. John 8:10-11 Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin ."
Change your direction. We can't always change
our situation, but we can turn to God and allow him to work within our
situations.
They were not ready to just go back to what they
were doing wrong. They were earnest about this repentant state they were in.
When you or I truly repent before the Lord -- we’re not going to just go out as
soon as we think it's safe and sin again – that’s earnestness.
Eagerness to clear yourselves – to make it
right, because now you hate sin. You want a new reputation. Someone once
said, sin to the believer is like dog pooh -- you want to wash it off soon as
possible.
Comes from a root word that means “to be greatly
afflicted.” Not only do we hate the sin, but we hate what the sin has done to
us, and to others.
That's the Greek word “phobos” or fear. The
true effects of sin should cause us to fear – fear that the enemy has gained
ground, fear of the consequences of sin, fearing God. Fear him because he is
God, he is holy -- and all sin is anti-God. To “earnestly desire” something – lust would be the negative term. But repentance brings a longing / a earnest desire, to be free from sin and from its influence and consequence.
Kjv says “Zeal.” A truly repent person is passionate and never wants to sin again – and they become zealous watching out for themselves. Avoiding people or situations that might tempt them to sin. Phil 2:12 ...Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
Like a reformed smoker, true repentance becomes
zealous, concerned about the sin that God has delivered you from.
Ready to see justice done.” In his Grace, God
doesn’t punish our sins in Jesus – but the value of “making it right” is
important. Sometimes we have to go back and pay back to the one we have harmed.
Sometimes we have to go and repent before those we hurt, asking them for
forgiveness, and restoration. In the final verses, Paul expresses his joy
at how Titus was received by them: In closing today I want to consider the Psalm that King David wrote after Nathan called him on the carpet. Its a Psalm of repentance, it has many gems for us today.
TURN TO PSALM 51
No excuses made, desiring mercy, and he owns up to his sin. Look at what he calls it, transgressions, iniquity, sin. Not “a mistake, an affair, or a fling.” Knowing that sin is against God alone - David has a right view of sin. 2. A RIGHT VIEW OF GOD. V6-9 You desire truth, you teach wisdom. Cleanse me, wash me, let me hear joy, blot out my iniquity. Just as he knew his sin was against God, so he knew that only God can forgive sin, and he tosses our sins as far as the east is from the west. David has a right view of God. 3. A RIGHT VIEW OF RESTORATION. V10-11 Look at six things he speaks of. A pure heart, steadfast spirit, keep me close, I need your presence (the Holy Spirit), bring back your joy, and strength to sustain me. Living in true repentance, by changing his direction. David has a right view of restoration. 4. A RIGHT WAY TO LIVE. V13-19 Evangelistic, I will teach others your ways. Worshipful, My tongue will sing. He gives testimony, and praise, “my mouth will declare.” And he understands what God wants. Ps 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. The only sacrifice God wants from you and me, is a broken spirit and contrite heart, as we offer up to him our lives as living sacrifices holy and pleasing to him.
Too often people in the church think that
repentance is only when you give your life to Christ. But a truly honest
believer will repent over and over again as we, like Peter deny the Lord with
our actions. We need to continue to repent as we like David disobey the Lord
with our behaviors. But we will also continue to grow in the grace of our Lord
as we repent and turn away from the things that are not pleasing to him. PRAY, INVITE, BENEDICTION, SING. Series: 2 Corinthians
-Through the Bible |
(C) High Sierra Fellowship 2008 |
