2 Corinthians 7:8-16

Times Of Refreshing or Regret?

Paul:

Visited Corinth on his 2nd missionary journey & planted

a church there [Acts 18:1ff]

He later wrote several letters to the believers there,

two of which are included in the Bible

His 1st letter written to the Corinthians is lost [1

Corinthians 5:9-11]

Times Of Refreshing or Regret?

Paul:His 2nd letter to them is our book of 1

CorinthiansHis 3rd letter is lost [2 Corinthians 2:6-9; 7:12]His 4th letter is our book of 2 Corinthians (this

was written less than a year after his 2nd letter)

Times Of Refreshing or Regret?

“My letter”

Paul’s 3rd letter to the Corinthians [now lost]

It had caused the people to begin to change

(repent). Receive pardon for sin [Isaiah 55:7;

Jeremiah 3:12; 31:9]

Times Of Refreshing or Regret?

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

V10 – “Godly sorrow brings repentance that

leads to salvation...” refers to the sorrow of

our sins that results in changed behaviour:Peter’s remorse & repentance [Luke 22:54-62]

King David’s broken and contrite heart when the

prophet Nathan came to him after he had committed

adultery with Bathsheba [Psalm 51]

Other Examples

Ahab 1 Kings 21:27

Josiah 2 Kings 22:19

Israel in Ezra’s time Ezra 10:1

The Ninevites Jonah 3:6-9

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

Vs 10 – “... But worldly sorrow brings death”

refers to people who are sorry only for the

effects of their sins or for being caught:

Judas Iscariot’s sadness for selling Jesus [Luke 22:3-6;

Matthew 27:3-5]

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

Vs 10 – “... But worldly sorrow brings death”

What we’ve just seen in Judas is spiritual death

Revelation 20:8-15

Revelation 21:6-8

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow

It is difficult to be confronted with our sin, and even

more difficult to get rid of sin.

Paul commended the Corinthians for clearing up an

especially troublesome situation

[2 Corinthians 2:5-11]

Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly SorrowVS11

EAGERNESS: Can’t wait to change, no delay

EARNESTNESS: Serious about real/honest/sincere/genuine changes

INDIGNATION: Hate sin, anger towards sin

ALARM: Fear of the consequences of sin

LONGING: Strong yearning to put things right

CONCERN: [Zeal to change] & have real concern for God & people

READINESS FOR JUSTICE: Eager to make the wrongs right

Times Of Refreshing or Regret?

Today I urge you, choose life, embrace

Godly sorrow, repent of your sins

and enjoy TIMES of REFRESHING!