2 Corinthians 7:1-16
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.
The purpose of a promise isn’t to displace us from any responsibility, but to provide an opportunity for deliverance, freedom, and blessing for those who will access the opportunity provided in the promise. There is a promise from chapter 6 that we will be sons and daughters of the Most High. But, this comes with us choosing to be separate from the world. Jesus indicated that the identity of our father is determined by the actions of our heart. So, in this first verse, the cleansing that is our responsibility is accomplished by accessing the promise already stated – abiding in the presence of the Father. To be in His presence as His child is a cleansing process where He is actually doing the cleansing as we simply access the promise. It’s like submitting to the cleansing power of a shower. There is assurance of being cleansed by it, but only if garments are removed and there is time spent under its stream.
Though there is a very real opposition for those who choose the promises provided in Christ, there is access to comfort that comes in the presence of brothers and sisters. This is why the enemy promotes isolation and separation from a body, instilling the notion that we are better off on our own. Paul, the one you might think could make it on his own with his Father, indicates that a very necessary comfort in the times of trials is found in the presence of each other as we access the Presence together. Through the times of necessary repentance, when uncomfortable changes are required, it is by encouragement and rejoicing that comes with fellowship that strength and renewed vision/purpose is found in its salvation. (Another promise of cleansing and triumph under the spout)
Though Paul is tasked with speaking the truth, he doesn’t take a domineering tone that is insensitive to how the recipients are affected. The condition of their souls and the confidence they have to continue in faith is ever a heavy consideration of his. Without walking in the freedom provided in the truth, there is no benefit in its sharing. The movements of faith are dependent upon the encouragement and motivation found in the presence of the Father, but also in connection and fellowship with His body.
Sometimes a correction brings some pain and sorrow, but Paul reminds us that our sorry is in a godly way which leads to repentance and the burning off of the flesh. We don’t get down and depressed, we fix the area we need to and draw closer still to God.