2 Corinthians 7 - Introduction

Understanding True Repentance

Second Corinthians Seven

God has made wonderful promises to His people. He said, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17-18) God made these promises to us also. We must stay away from everything that keeps our bodies and spirits from being clean. "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." (2 Corinthians 7:1) This appeal of God is simply an appeal for spiritual purity and godliness among Christians everywhere.

In this chapter Paul returned to talk about his search for Titus, the joy he had when he was found and of his thankfulness for how the Corinthians had received and treated Titus and of their reaction to his letter. He said, "Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 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." (2 Corinthians 7:6-7)

Paul's earlier letter had caused much sorrow at Corinth. However, it was a good kind of sorrow in that it brought about repentance. Out of deep concern for them Paul wrote that first letter knowing that, "godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7:10) At Corinth Titus observed how the brethren obeyed God with fear and trembling. Paul had much confidence that the obedience of these brethren would continue.