It Starts Small

⁶ But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, ⁷ and not only by his arrival but also by the comfort he received from you. He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more. ⁸ For even if I grieved you with my letter, I don’t regret it. And if I regretted it—since I saw that the letter grieved you, yet only for a while— ⁹ I now rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. ¹⁰ For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death. ¹¹ For consider how much diligence this very thing—this grieving as God wills—has produced in you: what a desire to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what deep longing, what zeal, what justice! In every way you showed yourselves to be pure in this matter. 

2 Corinthians 7:6-11

God who comforts the downcast

Note how Paul writes with devotion. When he speaks of God, he cannot resist the urge to include a vivid description of the divine nature. It’s as if his thoughts of God ignite a fire within him, leading to an outpouring of heartfelt praise. Just like a boy in love, Paul is endlessly captivated by the God who reigns in his heart. His words reflect a profound adoration. His writings reveal a soul deeply immersed in meditation on God’s character. Praising the Almighty becomes an instinctive response to the magnificent presence God holds within him.

Let us each strive to praise God in our own normal conversations.

God comforts the downcast.

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. ⁴ He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. ⁵ For just as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5

He is the God of all comfort. There is no true and lasting comfort from any other source than Him. He is ready and waiting to give real comfort to all who seek after Him in repentance.

He told us of your longing, mourning, and zeal for me

Titus was likely entrusted with delivering the heartfelt letter of 1 Corinthians to the Corinthians. Paul felt a swell of anxiety about how they would react. This letter was not simply a message; it was a passionate plea filled with rebuke and correction. Yet, Titus’s return wasn’t the sole source of Paul’s joy. No, it was the incredible news he carried! From Titus, Paul discovered that his heartfelt admonitions had been embraced! The Corinthians had truly repented!

Their profound repentance radiated through their transformed attitude toward Paul. With an aching desire to reunite, they yearned for the restoration of their bond. They grieved deeply over their missteps, fueled by an intense zeal for Paul. This fervor indicated their genuine concern for his well-being and ministry. Perhaps this was expressed through earnest prayers, generous gifts, and heartfelt inquiries about his life. Each of these actions exemplified a remarkable and passionate change of heart.

When Paul heard these things from Titus, he was overjoyed.

Though I made you grieve with my letter, I did not regret it

Paul quantifies this statement by saying, “though I did regret it.” Most likely this does not mean that Paul wished he could take it back. Instead it shows the reluctance with which he sent it. It was not enjoyable. He knew the anguish it would bring. Confrontation like this is not pleasant.

But in the end Paul knew that he had to send it. Though it may cause temporary grief, that was well worth it because they needed to hear it. Their spiritual growth, healthy church, and even eternal destiny were at stake. Such a rebuke would cause temporary discomfort. This was a means to bring about the desired effect, repentance.

¹¹ No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:11

¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness,

2 Timothy 3:16

According to 2 Timothy 3:16, God’s word has four vital functions: teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness. Among these, reproof stands out as the least enjoyable yet profoundly necessary. Unfortunately, many churches disregard this critical role, allowing sin to fester in silence. Comfort is prioritized over holiness, and as a result, sin often slithers in to take root. Church leaders, I implore you to embrace this God-given responsibility with fervor and courage—rebuke sin boldly! But remember, this vital call to action is not reserved for leaders. Every believer in the community is involved in this charge.

Every believer carries a profound responsibility. We must wield God’s word as a powerful tool. It is meant for uplifting those around us toward a life of holiness! In the spirit of Matthew 18, when we witness someone trapped in sin, we must bravely approach them directly. We are all instruments crafted by God’s hand. Member to member care stands as the frontline defense against the encroachment of sin. Let us not remain silent, waiting for our church leaders to carry the burden of ministry alone! With humility, we must fervently pray. We should be attuned to the Spirit’s guidance. We can use Scripture as a beacon to inspire genuine repentance. After taking that courageous step of confronting individually, we must be ready to gather together. It involves two or three people and eventually engages the whole church in this sacred mission!

Godly grief produces repentance

What is the difference between godly grief and worldly sorrow?

It is entirely possible to experience deep sorrow for one’s sins and yet never turn to God in true repentance. A compelling biblical example of this is Judas. He was tormented by overwhelming guilt and shame due to his involvement in Jesus’ crucifixion. He felt a genuine sorrow for his actions. He wished dearly he could undo them. Yet, tragically, he did not seek God or seek forgiveness; instead, he succumbed to despair and took his own life. As a result, he was left unforgiven, bearing the weight of judgment for his choices. Paul powerfully states in verse 10 that worldly grief leads to death. This grief is a death that always wreaks havoc on the spirit. In Judas’ heartbreaking case, it even resulted in physical death, sealing his tragic fate.

In like manner, countless souls grapple with deep remorse for their actions. Perhaps their sorrow stems from being caught in the act. Perhaps their hearts ache due to the crushing consequences that surround them. Yet, there are those who feel a profound, genuine sorrow for the pain they’ve inflicted on others. God has instilled within us a powerful spiritual barometer, our conscience. It is a relentless guide that stirs guilt and sorrow when we stray. This conscience compels us to confront our transgressions, but people’s reactions to that guilt vary dramatically. Some desperately seek to flee from it. Others try to smother it and drown their anguish in drugs or alcohol. They do this all in a desperate bid for relief.

³⁰ And don’t grieve God’s Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:30

Worldly sorrow is not motivated by a love for God, or disappointment because we have grieved the Spirit.

Godly grief is profoundly different. It occurs when a person feels sorrow for the most genuine reasons. They recognize that their sin is not just a mistake. Their sin is a personal affront to God Almighty. In that moment of realization, they feel the weight of having disappointed their Creator. This grief springs from an intense love for God, igniting a deep desire to honor Him. Therefore, when we fail to live up to that calling, our hearts ache with grief. This sorrow comes from our longing to please Him.

David is an example of godly grief.

³ For I am conscious of my rebellion,
and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you—you alone—I have sinned
and done this evil in your sight.
So you are right when you pass sentence;
you are blameless when you judge.

Psalm 51:3-4

He recognized that his sins was against God. That grief motivated him to come to God and plead for forgiveness.

When you are confronted with your sin, do you grieve?

If you justify it, blame others, defend yourself, or deny it then your actions show that you are not truly grieving. These are incompatible with godly grief and repentance. Our sins should cause us genuine sadness. Ezra ripped out his hair and beard (Ezra 9). He fell to the ground and stayed there all day because of sin.

How do you react when you are made aware of sin?

Leads to a salvation without regret

Once a person bravely confesses their sin, a magnificent transformation takes place—they are utterly forgiven! God, in His boundless grace, removes their sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). A believer is not meant to dwell in the shadows of past mistakes; they should rise above endless grief. Embracing the joy of the Lord, they can forge ahead, leaving behind the weight of yesterday. With courage, they forget what lies behind and press on, passionately pursuing the glorious future that awaits them (Philippians 3:13-15).

The fruit of repentance

Paul recognized their repentance as profoundly genuine, a fiery sincerity ignited by their heartfelt reaction to his letter. They were filled with righteous indignation over the sin that had plagued their community. Intense anger filled them. This compelled the Corinthians to break free from the stigma that sin had cast over them. They understood the necessity of confronting and eliminating the unrighteousness that had taken root in their church. As it is declared in 7:1, “bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.” They were determined to pursue this path with fervor. They showed dedication.

That profound fear of God and the dread of punishment for sin ignited a fervor deep within their hearts. It compelled them to genuinely repent, to radically transform their attitudes, and to fervently change their behavior. Where once they had been unaware or indifferent to sin, they now burned with an intense zeal for righteousness. This fierce zeal for righteousness naturally fostered a passionate aversion to sin.

Fake repentance is merely empty words devoid of genuine action. We’ve all witnessed it—individuals uttering, “I am sorry,” only to return to the same transgressions afterward. When they are confronted once more, it’s back to the hollow apology. This cycle of repetitive behavior reveals that their supposed repentance is nothing but a facade. However, when someone genuinely seeks to transform their ways, it becomes evident that their remorse is authentic. True repentance ignites with a profound shift in attitude towards sin, acknowledging its grave implications. With this renewed perspective, true change in behavior will inevitably follow.

If you truly repent over sin, there will be fruit of a changed life. Ask yourself if you are sorry because you are caught or if you are sorry because you have grieved God. Evaluate your spiritual life to see if you are bearing the fruit of repentance or of it is only words.

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Cross-References

• 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
• Matthew 5:4
• Acts 17:30
• 2 Chronicles 7:14
• Matthew 3:8

Reflective Questions

• How has God comforted you? How does God use people to comfort others?
• What had the Corinthians been mourning about?
• What letter does Paul refer to in verse 8? Why had this caused grief?
• How did they respond to the letter?
• What can we see about the relationship between grief and repentance? Does grief always bring about repentance?
• Why had Paul written such a rebuke to them? What then can we learn about the purpose of rebuke in the church?
• What is the difference between godly grief and worldly grief?

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¹² So even though I wrote to you, it was not because of the one who did wrong, or because of the one who was wronged, but in order that your devotion to us might be made plain to you in the sight of God. ¹³ For this reason we have been comforted.

In addition to our own comfort, we rejoiced even more over the joy Titus had, because his spirit was refreshed by all of you. ¹⁴ For if I have made any boast to him about you, I have not been disappointed; but as I have spoken everything to you in truth, so our boasting to Titus has also turned out to be the truth. ¹⁵ And his affection toward you is even greater as he remembers the obedience of all of you, and how you received him with fear and trembling. ¹⁶ I rejoice that I have complete confidence in you.

2 Corinthians 7:12-16

Not for the sake of the one who did the wrong or suffered the wrong

Paul’s desire in penning 1 Corinthians was to rouse the Corinthians from their spiritual slumber! If they truly were believers—and it certainly appears they were—then his passionate words would jolt them out of their complacency. Their devotion to God and loathing of sin would emerge vividly, shining through the shadows! It had always been there, waiting to burst forth, but had grown dimmer under the weight of worldly distractions.

We are comforted

Paul’s unwavering trust in them and his fierce confidence in their response were profoundly justified. He held steadfast beliefs in their potential to rise. He fervently believed that his heartfelt letter would ignite a revival of their spiritual vitality. He hoped it would guide them back to the embrace of God. It did, and in that breathtaking moment, Paul found immense comfort.

Our boasting before Titus proved true

Paul conveyed to Titus his unwavering conviction that the Corinthians would ultimately embrace a heartfelt repentance. Perhaps Titus felt a pang of anxiety at the prospect of delivering such a powerful message. Maybe he even harbored doubts, considering the Corinthians a lost cause. Yet, Paul passionately urged him, practically imploring, “Do not lose hope in the Corinthians! They will return to God; they simply need a strong nudge to awaken their hearts!”

His affection for you is even greater

Titus vividly remembered the way the Corinthians welcomed him—not with hostility or anger, but with palpable fear and trembling. Their hearts were gripped with fear, haunted by the weight of the sin they had allowed to fester. This emotional turmoil went beyond fear. It was a powerful response. It reflected their deep yearning to obey and find redemption.

I have complete confidence in you

⁷ It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7
(Bold for emphasis)

Paul exemplifies the profound mindset every Christian worker should embody when thinking of the people they serve! He had every reason to become cynical. He could have become skeptical. The persistent sin of those under his care could have easily hardened his heart. Yet, over time, instead of succumbing to frustration, he chose to embrace each moment with compassion. He refused to be irritated by the faults of the flock he passionately loved!

Some individuals entrenched in the same occupation for years may develop a distinctive attitude. We’ve all encountered those DMV employees or airline attendants who appear to carry an unyielding chip on their shoulder. They’re poised to challenge you at the slightest hint of a provocation. Years of witnessing people disregard the rules or ignore basic instructions might change them. This experience possibly turns them into jaded cynics. These cynics and skeptics harbor a relentless belief in the worst of humanity, perceiving others through the bleakest lens imaginable.

Love believes all things. Paul embodies this hopeful spirit in his ministry, consistently demonstrating unwavering faith in those he served. He envisioned the best in them, filled with anticipation that they would embrace his message with open hearts and minds.

Don’t let cynicism creep into your heart toward those you serve! When you find yourself grumbling about them or seeing them merely as a burden, rush to God in prayer. Repent of that negative spirit. Invite God to overflow your heart with genuine love for each one of them. Remember, God is committed to completing the beautiful work He initiated in someone’s heart. Jesus cherished them so deeply that He sacrificed His very life for their sake!

Attitudes toward people can profoundly shape their lives. Tragically, some parents relentlessly label their children as worthless and dumb. These toxic beliefs become deeply embedded within their souls. They internalize this negativity. In a heartbreaking twist, it manifests as a self-fulfilling prophecy. This traps them in a cycle of self-doubt and despair.

Jesus called Simon, “Peter,” which means “rock.” At the time, Peter was not a rock. But Jesus saw what he could become. Then He helped him get there.

Believe the best about others. Help them to press on. Encourage them to grow in Christ. Guide them to be all that God wants them to be.

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Discussion Questions

• Who did Paul hope to touch through his letter (12?)
• How could this letter reveal their earnestness?
• What lessons can we learn from these interchanges about communication?

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