[INTRO YOURSELF]
[ANNOUNCEMENT: ONE SERVICE NEXT SUNDAY]
[HAND OUT BIBLES]
HOOK
It might surprise you to learn that I was not a very good student in high school… that probably why I ended up in Bible College rather than a real school. Anyway, one class stood out above the others in my grade school career. That class was Chemistry 12. I was lost. Hopeless. Rudderless. After 4 weeks my grade in Chemistry 12 stood at—are you guys going to judge me? I probably shouldn’t say it. You gotta promise you aren’t going to judge me. Like 2Pac said, “Only God could judge me”. Okay. After 4 weeks my grade stood at an abysmal 12%. Like 12 out of 100. It was bad. Church. Church! it was bad.
So I went to my Chemistry 12 teacher. And church, he looked like a Chem 12 teacher. You could tell he’d done this before. It was clear he loved the subject and enjoyed being a teacher. So of course he would be eager to help develop a struggling young mind. Right?
I walked up to him and his face fell flat. His whole demeanour changed. Okay, that was unexpected. Now I’m a little nervous. Gotta lay it on thick!. “Mr. Farrell” “Yes?” “I’ve been struggling with my coursework” “I know” “And I was hoping you could help me get back on track”. Look at this a plea from a wayward student looking for guidance seasoned professional. A young in need of a mentor. A father figure. Some sage guidance. This guy was going to help me get back in the game!
Without a moment’s pause he gave me look of what might best be described as skeptical resignation and said, “Sorry. I don’t waste my time on student who don’t care.” And then he turned back to what he was doing before I approached him.
Needless to say that didn’t go quite how I was expect it to go. The next day, I flunked another test—the very one I had hoped he would help me with—and I approached him again after class to ask for help. With a sigh he said, “If you really wanted help you would have come to the tutoring sessions I hold Tuesdays and Thursdays after school. From that day forward, every Tuesday and Thursday I went to those tutoring sessions, and kept right on failing tests.
After 3 weeks I once again approached my teacher. Once again his face fell. “Mr. Farrell?” I asked. “Yes”, he questioned back. “I’m still failing”, I said. “I know”, he responded with a subtle nod. I breathed deep, surely I had proven to the man I was serious! Surely I was smart enough to figure this stuff out! Surely I wasn’t beyond hope! Sweaty fists clenched around cross fingers at my side a swallowed hard and pressed, “I was hoping you could help me get on track?”
He looked into my eye so deep that it felt like he was examining my soul. He knew that my scholastic career was in his hands to do with as he pleased and his response…?
…will have to wait until the end, so we’ll take that thought and put it in our pocket, because we will come back to it later. For now, let’s turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 7.
BOOK
(2 Corinthians 7:1, NKJV) 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation. 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 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. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. 13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
LOOK
The Call to Holiness (v1)
(2 Corinthians 7:1, NKJV) 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
This is a great verse! This verse is the daily challenge for the Christian. This verse represents a clearing away of distractions and obstacles and burdens and barriers and stumbling blocks! This passage reminds us to cast aside sin and everything that so easily entangles so that we may run with perseverance the race marked out for us. So let’s briefly look into it.
Firstly… what “promises”? Well, where you see a ‘therefore’ you ask what it’s there for. Right? Because ‘therefore’ is a summary statement. Paul is finalizing his argument from 2 Corinthians 6. In verse 16 Paul writes the ‘promise’ explicitly:
(2 Corinthians 6:16, NKJV) “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
God is here! He walks with us! And so we should “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit”. Let’s break this down so we can really understand it. And let’s work backwards.
What does Paul mean by “flesh and spirit”? The flesh is our human being, our temporal, physical, material self. Our bodies. Our minds. Our will and desire. Our hopes and dreams. And the spirit is our essence. The core of who we are. It is the deepest, most personal, most intimate part of us. It is immaterial. It is our soul.
So then our flesh and spirit is our material and immaterial being. It is all of us. And we are to cleanse our flesh and spirit, body and soul from what, exactly? Filthiness. Defilement. Pollution. Ungodliness. These are the things that want to distract us. To burden us. To block us. And so what are we to do with these things?
We are to cleanse ourselves from them! And cleanse means not merely to ‘clean’, but to clean away. So clear out. To prune.
Image you walk over to the fruit bowl in your kitchen, you want a tasty snack and you reach down to grab an apple when you see it! A mandarin. A green and white, wet and mushy moldy mandarin orange is camped out on top of the apple you wanted to eat! Do you ignore it and take a big bite of that apple, glistening in the sunlight with moldy mandarin juice? No! Of course not! The first thing you do is get that rot out of there! Once the offending mandarin is in the compost we are ready to take a look at the other items in the bowl. Did the mold spread? Are there more items infected? Are there more items that cannot be salvaged, but need to be thrown out? And once that step is complete, the next step is to wash the fruit in that bowl. All of it. Get that STANK of mold outta there! And then, only once we are satisfied that there is no more contamination and the problem has been thoroughly dealt with do we finally grab that beautiful, juicy Granny Smith—the superior apple—and take a bite!
That is what God is calling us to do in our own lives. Get rid of those things that trying to destroy you. Perhaps subtly, perhaps overtly. Those overt things could be obvious sin like gossip, lies, cheating, or sexual immorality. But the subtle things are the ones that lead to the overt ones. Small stuff like holding onto resentment, or prioritizing comfort over obedience, or neglecting time with God, or letting entertainment dominate your time. These are the seeds of the mold of sin, and if you leave the mold of sin in your life it will eventually infect every part of your material AND immaterial being. But, if we clean, clear, and prune those things OUTof our lives with the help of Jesus, then we experience the completeness that holiness brings!
And once that transformation begins to happen within us, we will see how it spills out into our relationships.
Restoration of Relationships (v2–4)
(2 Corinthians 7:2–4, NKJV) 2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
Paul’s defence of himself is very specific. He has wronged no one, corrupted no one, and cheated no one. But you know what… I don’t think Paul’s defence is a really defence at all! See, Paul’s not worried about Paul, or about Paul’s reputation. Paul is worried about Jesus and about Jesus’ reputation! Paul is worried about this church falling victims to the predations of those who would twist and churn the Gospel message into something different for their own gain. I submit to you, church, that Paul is not saying he never wronged, corrupted, or cheated anyone primarily as a defence, but rather as a comparison. I submit that Paul is himself levelling the charge! Look at how Paul address these people more directly in chapter 11:
(2 Corinthians 11:13–15) 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.
Paul is providing evidence for why he should be trusted and thus why the true Gospel of Jesus should stand supreme! Paul’s evidence for his own trustworthiness is also an indictment against one—or more—charlatans, con-artists, and grifters who were trying to do these things to the church in Corinth. Someone who did wrong the church through unfair and non-forthright dealings, knowingly lying and deceiving them. Someone who didcorrupt the church with spiritual dishonesty and misrepresentation. Someone who did cheat the people by demanding their money in exchange for his services. Church! Do you think there are people like this operating today? I bet by show of hands most people in this room could think of someone who is knowingly twisting the Gospel for financial gain. But my goal this morning is not to “Name It & Shame It” so to speak, but—like Paul—to warn you. Look at those who ask for your resources, your time, your money… are they fair and forthright? Are they spiritually honest, using the whole council of Scripture? Are they constantly asking you for more, more, more?
To be clear, Paul’s primary concern is not finances, and he isn’t saying that anyone who asks for money is bad. In fact it is good practice to give to the work of the Lord through His church. Paul’s primary concern is the Gospel message being defaced and corrupted in order to facilitate that financial gain. Paul is telling them that they had been taken in by a false gospel which had turned their hearts against the true Gospel, but this was not a condemnation by Paul.
Paul is not declaring from on high that you are bad and I am good. You are wrong and I am right. You are a loser and I am a winner. “Winners” and “losers” is the wrong mindset. The whole idea of winners & losers is divisive by its very design. Condemnation seeks to divide and destroy. Friends! This is not the role of the church. The church exists not to condemn, but to correct. Correction seeks unity, repentance, and restoration with love at its core. If our goal is not unity and our motive is not love what we are not really offering correction… we just want to be right.
We could take a lesson from Paul, these people have caused him so much grief and yet here he is still ‘ride or die’ with the Corinthian church. Paul—of course—did not invent this approach on his own. His “ride or die” approach is the heart of Jesus. The heart of the Gospel. And—at least should be—the heart of the Christian. Are we “ride or die” with those who have hurt us, but still call themselves Christians? Are you still earnestly praying for God’s best for someone did you dirty?
Paul does.
Paul starts bragging on the Corinthians! “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf”! He is encouraging them to keep on trucking. He says, “Christ has brought you so far already! Keep going! Stay the course!” Not only does Paul never give up on this church, he spurs them on in Christ, and even beyond that he goes on to say that—in the midst of the trials that he has been enduring—the progress of the Corinthians has brought him great joy!
Paul had poured everything he could give into the Corinthian church to provide for and protect them. To rebuke and correct them. To reconcile them to himself and to draw them back to Christ. And now, when Paul was in a time of trial, to hear the good report from Corinth in turn provided for him. Let’s read on.
Comfort in Tribulation (v5–7)
(2 Corinthians 7:5–7, NKJV) 5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
Paul paints a bleak picture of his state upon arriving in Macedonia. Things were not great. If you read through Acts you see Paul ends up in trouble over the Gospel on a pretty regular basis. And he is being vulnerable here because he doesn’t just talk about external pressures, but internal fears. Not just people who wanted to see him beaten, imprisoned, or worse! But also his own weariness and concerns for himself, his fellow leaders, and those in the church. Paul admits to them that he struggles and absolutely is not perfect. Paul was going through some stuff.
But Paul doesn’t tell us what he was experiencing. Paul doesn’t list out his struggles. Because it doesn’t matter. This is something we can all relate to it’s something personal. Paul needs us to know that we all gotta struggle sometime. What those struggles are is different. Maybe I can go through what you’re going through and it wouldn’t shake me. And maybe you can go through what I’m going through and it wouldn’t shake you. We all experience life a little differently depending how God has wired us up, but we have all gone a valley at some point!
Anyone in here ever go through a valley? I know it’s not just me. Somebody give me an ‘amen’ if you been through something! Someone give me an ‘amen’ if you’re in that valley right now! But we know that God is still good. And we know that God is still with us. And we know that God is—somehow—gonna use what we’re going through for his kingdom purposes! Amen.
And I believe that, church. I really, really do. Because God is faithful and He promised us that He would cause all things to work together for the good of those who love Him. And I believe in the promises of God. And so did Paul. We see that in how he frames Titus’ return.
Titus comes back from his visit to Corinth with good news, the Corinthians have expressed ‘desire’, ‘mourning’, and ‘zeal’ for Paul! Let’s clarify these terms! ‘Desire’ is a longing for reunion with Paul. ‘Mourning’ is repentance, an expression of sorrow—likely at how they had treated Paul and the Gospel of Jesus. And ‘zeal’ means devotion and concern—they were back on Paul’s team, which is Team Jesus.
And so Paul is comforted by 1) Titus’ presence, 2) The reception Titus got in Corinth, 3) the report Titus brought back about the health of the Corinthian church, and 4) The faithfulness of God who orchestrated all of it. And what makes this so incredible is the role-reversal. Paul is the messenger bringing Good News and tiding of great comfort, but now it is the Corinthians who have become the comforters and Paul is on the receiving end.
That’s the way of life. See, none of us will always be the comforted just like none of us will always be the comforter. Each of us will go through seasons where we are one or the other in the life of someone else. Church, there are no one-sided relationships!
Except the one we have with God. He is the only one who always comforts. Because God—who sits enthroned above all of creation, everything material and immaterial, all time, space, matter, and energy—never needs to look up. We will have seasons where we look down to help someone, and seasons where we look up to receive help, but God is self-sufficient. He has no need of anything. And he is always present to comfort us. To be with us. To be for us.
But sometimes… sometimes we need those sorrows. Let’s continue reading:
The Power of Godly Sorrow (v8–11)
(2 Corinthians 7:8–11, NKJV) 8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 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.
And here we come to Paul’s infamous ‘lost letter’. The angry letter. The harsh letter. The letter Paul regretted sending… but now he no longer regrets it. He did regret it because he feared it would hurt them, and it did. But having seen the fruit borne by the letter he now rejoices that it was sent. Because sometimes, church, we need our butts kicked! Sometimes we need to be told what’s what. Because the mark of a true friend is not flattery, but frankness.
I make it a habit to consult my wife on… most things. And on more than one occasion when I have asked for her thoughts on an idea I had or something I had written she would tell me why it was bad. And when I protested she would reply, “Do you want the truth, or do you just want me to agree with you?”
Agree with me, of course! Tell me how awesome I am! What kind of stupid question is that?!
I’m kidding, of course, and once I get over the initial shock of my world-changing idea being critiqued, I am grateful to have a wife who is able to sharpen me and make me better. But sometimes it needs to be worse than that, more direct. Sometimes we need to be looked in the eye by our Chemistry 12 teacher and told that he doesn’t want to waste his time on us!
Yes, sorrow can be a good thing. But only when it’s the good kind of sorrow, because there are both Godly and worldly sorrows. Let me explain by looking at two of the original Apostles as case studies.
Peter, when he denied Jesus three times, experienced deep sorrow when he realized his failure. But Peter’s sorrow was godly because it led him to repentance. After Jesus’ resurrection, Peter had a personal encounter with the risen Christ (John 21), where he was asked three times, “Do you love me?” This confrontation wasn’t to shame Peter, but to restore him—three times denied, three times affirmed. His sorrow over his betrayal was met with the grace of restoration, and Peter’s response was to be transformed into a bold and effective leader of the early church. His grief led to humility, change, and—most importantly—to the cross and a renewed commitment to follow Christ, culminating in a life of powerful ministry.
In contrast, Judas also felt sorrow after betraying Jesus, but his sorrow was worldly. He regretted what he did, but instead of seeking forgiveness, he became consumed by shame and guilt. Judas’s sorrow led him to despair, and in his hopelessness, he took his own life (Matthew 27:3–5). His sorrow was not a sorrow that sought redemption from Jesus; it was a sorrow that couldn’t see a way out of failure. It focused on him, on hisactions, rather than leading him to look up to God.
The key difference between the two is the direction of their sorrow. Peter’s sorrow, though painful, turned him upward—toward God, into a place of repentance and transformation. Judas’s sorrow, however, turned inward, leaving him trapped in despair. The sorrow of the world leads to death because it is fixated on the self and its failures, whereas godly sorrow leads to life because it seeks restoration at the foot of the cross.
Peter’s example shows us that even the worst failures don’t have to lead to final destruction. When we experience godly sorrow, it will move us toward repentance, reconciliation, and ultimately, the grace and forgiveness of God. Judas’s example, on the other hand, warns us that when we focus on our sin to the exclusion of God’s mercy, it can lead to despair and spiritual death.
BUT—and this is important—I want to make sure we notice that Paul did not relish the opportunity to rebuke the church. He worried over it. He regretted it. And the letter itself is lost to history. The heart of it MUST be love. It must be. It is true that sometimes a wound is best healed by making it hurt more, but we are doing it wrong if we enjoy the hurting! if my son skins his knee playing sports I don’t eagerly await the moment he recoils in pain as I pour the iodine on the wound! Just the thought of it is so strange and wrong that it feels more like the actions of a cartoon villain than a loving father.
Nonetheless, while our goal should not be pain and sorrow for their own sake, we also cannot pull our punches because we are afraid to offend. I’m going to pick on Joel Osteen for a minute not because he’s a bad guy, but because he’s a nice guy. Too nice. He has routinely expressed the sentiment that he doesn’t want to tell people they’re sinners, he wants to encourage them that God forgives them. But forgiveness assumes there’s something to be forgiven, doesn’t it? Without acknowledging our sin, the full power of God’s grace is diminished. If we skip over the truth of our need for a Saviour, we risk presenting a gospel that soothes but doesn’t save.
See if someone is about to get smushed by a bus I’m not going to tell them there’s a way to life if they walk toward me! I’m going to run up and tackle them like Ray Lewis, or Dick Butkus, or Bill Goldberg! You need to know what the danger is if you are going to understand why it is so desperately critical that you avoid it!
This is why repentance is born of both law AND Gospel. The law shows us where and how we fell short. The law shows us what the standard is. The law shows us how far up the creek we are without a paddle! And then the Gospel steps in and offers to lift us out of that danger. Without the clear call of the law, without the unvarnished truth of our rebellion we risk becoming the “This Is Fine” dog. Enjoying our coffee in the middle of a raging inferno while the exits disappear around us.
Paul describes seven qualities produced by godly sorrow—diligence, clearing, indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal, and vindication. Each one reflects a life transformed by repentance, and together, they show how sorrow, when directed toward God, leads to life.
- Diligence: This is the eagerness to act and correct wrongs. For us, this might mean addressing a strained relationship, setting healthy boundaries, or seeking accountability to overcome a recurring sin. It’s a shift from avoidance to action—owning our part and moving forward in faith.
- Clearing: Think of this as clearing your name, not through denial but through restitution and transparency. It might look like apologizing for a hurtful word or repaying a debt. Clearing demonstrates integrity and a commitment to rebuilding trust.
- Indignation: Godly sorrow stirs righteous anger—not at others but at the sin that entangled us. It’s a decisive “enough is enough” moment, like tossing out alcohol after realizing it has become an addiction or cutting off toxic influences that lead you into temptation.
- Fear: This is reverence and awareness of God’s holiness, prompting a healthy respect for the consequences of sin. It’s not terror, it’s respect. Like the ocean. We don’t need to sail or swim with a constant feeling of dread or worry, but a healthy respect for it will ensure your safety. Similarly, fear of God is to recognize that our actions have eternal weight and to turn to God with a posture of humility and awe.
- Desire: A longing for restoration drives us toward God and others. This might be the determination to reconnect with your family after neglecting them or a deep craving for the peace that only comes from being in God’s will.
- Zeal: Repentance renews our passion for what is good and right. This could manifest as an eagerness to serve in ministry, share the gospel, or take bold steps to align your life with God’s purposes. Zeal is the joy of knowing you are back on track.
- Vindication: This isn’t about seeking revenge or proving yourself right; it’s about embracing justice. Whether it’s accepting the consequences of your actions, reporting your wrongdoing, or championing others who are hurt, vindication shows a willingness to stand on the side of truth.
These qualities aren’t abstract—they are practical, transformative steps that reflect true repentance. Godly sorrow doesn’t leave us wallowing in regret; it propels us into action, restores our relationships, and refocuses our hearts on God’s will. When these fruits appear, it’s a sign that sorrow has fulfilled its purpose: not to condemn, but to transform. And look how Paul responds!
In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
The Apostle’s enthusiastic forgiveness is a picture of how sin is totally wiped away under the Gospel when true repentance happens! Hallelujah! True sorrow brings obedience. And obedience brings life. And life is the joy Paul talks about in verses 12–16.
Joy in Obedience and Fellowship (v12–16)
(2 Corinthians 7:12–16, NKJV) 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you. 13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.
Paul starts by clarifying his intentions in writing the harsh letter. It wasn’t written to air his frustrations or to take sides. It wasn’t about shaming the person who caused the harm or defending the one who was wronged. Instead, Paul wrote it for the Corinthians themselves. Why? So they would know just how deeply he cared for them in the sight of God. This wasn’t a blame game—it was about reconciliation, about bringing the church closer to God and closer to one another.
Isn’t Paul’s joy here contagious? He rejoiced exceedingly! He’s not just happy for himself; he’s thrilled because Titus is thrilled. I remember doing batting practice with Teddy this past fall and he was trying to hit the ball more than 100 feet. We did a whole bucket and he came so close so many times. 90 feet. 95. 97. 99! And he just kep asking for “one more ball Dad”. And then he hit one and it just sounded different. It had that sound. He watched it soar, hope in his eyes, I turned my head to follow it and start to stand up. Bam! 110 feet! I ran up to him he jumped into my arms, you’d think he just walked off the World Series. I’m not sure who was more excited between the two of us. I mean, I didn’t actually DO anything, but his joy became my joy. Titus had gone to Corinth a little unsure of what to expect. (I mean, Paul had been dealing with some serious drama there.) But instead of finding hostility, Titus found a church ready to repent, eager to welcome him, and full of respect and obedience. That’s refreshing! And Paul’s heart soared because of it.
Here’s a takeaway: When others in the faith grow, we get to rejoice too. Seeing someone else overcome a struggle or grow deeper in their walk with Christ should refresh our spirits. Why? Because we’re all part of the same body—when one part thrives, we all benefit.
Now, Paul had a lot riding on this visit. He had boasted about the Corinthian church to Titus before sending him. Imagine telling your friend, “Oh, you’re going to love these people! They’re amazing, faithful, obedient, generous…” knowing full-well that your last interaction with them was… rocky. That’s risky!
But here’s the beauty: Paul’s confidence wasn’t ultimately in the Corinthians themselves; it was in the Gospel’s work within them. He wasn’t blindly optimistic or naïve. He believed that the power of God’s grace was stronger than their flaws. And guess what? They didn’t disappoint, or—more appropriately—God didn’t. Titus came back with glowing reports, and Paul’s faith was vindicated.
I hope this challenges us. How often do we trust in God and choose to believe the best about people, especially those who’ve let us down before? Paul’s faith in the Corinthians wasn’t based on their track record but on the transforming power of Christ in them. That’s a perspective worth adopting.
Now, let’s talk about that phrase in verse 15: “How with fear and trembling you received him.” Like with the ‘fear of God’ before, this isn’t about terror, it’s more like watching a thunderstorm roll in. You don’t need to cower and hide, but you probably don’t want to run around with a metal rod in your hand either. You need to respect this beautiful awesome thing. That’s the kind of reverence the Corinthians showed Titus. They took his visit seriously, recognizing the weight of his message and their responsibility to respond.
Paul also models how to give encouragement. He’s essentially saying, “Attaboy, Corinth!” Sometimes, people need a little nudge in the right direction. Maybe they’ve taken one tiny step forward in their faith journey. Celebrate it! Encouragement fuels growth. Sure, there’s a time for correction, but don’t forget to cheer people on when they’re moving in the right direction. Especially at the start of our journey it can feel daunting, let’s encourage one another whenever we can!
Finally, Paul’s joy points us to the ultimate source of reconciliation: the Gospel. He didn’t want the Corinthians to be loyal to him; he wanted them to be loyal to Christ. That’s why he’s so ecstatic about their repentance and obedience. It’s not about personal vindication—it’s about seeing God’s work in their lives.
And what about us? Are we willing to forgive and restore relationships like Paul did? Are we quick to encourage, slow to condemn, and eager to see God’s grace at work in others? Let’s not forget: forgiveness is one of the clearest reflections of the Gospel. When we forgive completely, we mirror the way Christ forgave us.
TOOK
So as we bring today’s message to a close, let’s pull Chem 12 back out of our pockets. After putting in 3 weeks of after-school tutoring without any success I went back to Mr Farrell and bashfully asked if he would consider helping me get on track. And after being told that he wouldn’t waste his time on me when I first approached him I was rather apprehensive the second time, but I was stuck. I couldn’t do it. And just like before his face fell when I approached him and asked for his help. But this time he smiled and said, “Of course”. And he spent the next couple of months walking me through the equations and process and principles and I walked away from Chemistry 12—a course in which I was getting TWELVE PERCENT 6-weeks into the semester—with a respectable 68% after the final exam. But it all started with a harsh rebuke. A harsh, but warranted rebuke. I wasn’t putting in the time or effort. I wasn’t holding up my end and he called me on it. And you know what? I was—and still am—better for it. And Mr. Farrell was just as happy about it as I was.
Paul’s closing words in this passage are simple but profound: “I rejoice that I have confidence in you in everything.” That’s not just optimism—that’s Gospel confidence. He’s confident not because the Corinthians are perfect, but because God is at work in them. And if God is for us, who can be against us?
Because God doesn’t leave us in our failure. When we fall short, He doesn’t turn away in frustration. Instead, He draws near, pointing us to the truth, not to condemn, but to correct and bring us back to Himself. Jesus came not to just tell us what we’re doing wrong but to provide the ultimate solution to our shortcomings—His perfect life, death on the cross, and resurrection to make us right with God. And through the Gospel, we are sharpened, transformed, and restored to the purpose we were created for.
My favourite verse in all of Scripture is Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so a brother sharpens a brother.” We should be afraid neither of sharpening nor being sharpened. Let that sharpening bring Godly sorrow, life, joy, and peace. And let us do so with a motive of love, a spirit of unity, and in pursuit of the holiness of God!
And as we are motivated by love, let’s strive to live lives which demonstrate that love. Lives that bring joy to others. Lives that embrace the transformative power of the Gospel, and always, always encourage one another. Because sometimes all it takes is a single moment can ignite big changes.
Now, let’s worship Him, church, as those who have been sharpened, forgiven, and transformed by the grace of Jesus.