II Corinthians Chapter 7
We often mistakenly think that we are living righteously as long as we are not committing those outward sins that we see the world committing. Paul admonishes us to take a deeper look at our spirit and to recognize that we need to cleanse our spirits. There is a lot that goes on within our mind and our spirit that keeps us from a close relationship with God.
Paul wrote about bringing holiness to completion, this does not mean that we will become perfect. No one is perfect. It has to do with becoming whole. I see it as a desire to continually come before the Lord and ask Him if there is any sin in my heart, and to ask God to cleanse me. I should desire to cleanse away anything in my life that will impede me from becoming more like Christ and would limit my usefulness for Him.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.
“How can those expect God to purify their hearts who are continually indulging their eyes, ears, and hands in what is forbidden, and in what tends to increase and bring into action all the evil propensities of the soul?” [Clarke]
Let's Reflect
1. In verse 1 does Paul include himself in the need to be cleansed from sin?
2. Paul wants the church at Corinth to see how genuinely he cares about them. He wants them to open their hearts toward him and his ministry. What phrases did Paul use that show his great love of the brethren in Corinth?
3. Paul had been tough on the Corinthian church, but he was also proud of them. He talked about a report that Titus brought back to him regarding the church at Corinth that really encouraged him when he needed it. What was happening to Paul when Titus brought this encouraging report?
4. One of the things that encouraged him was to hear that the church really wanted him to come back and visit them. Paul feels that his letter to them was tough, and he grieves that he had to be so tough on them, but he also is happy that the letter did what it was meant to do. What did the letter Paul wrote cause the church to do? See verse 9.
5. Paul said that godly sorrow produces repentance. You can make a person feel bad with your words and it can lead to more destruction in their life. What Paul was careful to do was to present the truth of the scripture. He pointed out their sin by lining it up with God’s truth. The first step is sorrow over sin. The second step is true repentance. And the result is salvation. What does worldly grief over sin result in when there is no repentance?
6. Paul did not want the church to keep rehearsing the past problems of an individual’s known sin. He wanted them to move forward with the purposes of God. Paul was happy because he felt they were doing exactly that. How does he sum up his feelings in verse 13?
7. Paul had boasted about the Corinthian church to his friend Titus. What did Titus feel about the church after his visit there?
