Are They "just words"? (2 Corinthians 7:8-13)
Gary McManus, 02/06/2022Part of the Words that Divide, Words that Unite series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
February 6, 2022 2 Corinthians 7:8-13
The Bible is against lying; Ninth Commandment.
Gossip is playing around with the Ninth Commandment.
If a person enjoys it; that’s worse.
On line in social media the Ninth Commandment is broken regularly. But God DOES know. How can social media statements NOT be public?
Another gray area: people say things they shouldn’t say. Then, some folks regret their words.
(Ever see an apology or retraction on line?)
Amelia King, Virginia, School Board meeting; words said.
Amelia King apologized saying she was not referring to "actual firearms." What if Ms. King’s children said the very same things? It is criminal behavior.
There are numerous examples just this week.
Or take Buster Hernandez of Bakersfield, California
whose life goal is/was to be the “worst cyber-terrorist who ever lived.”
But all he did was use words. A person can’t claim “freedom of speech” for those crimes.
Speaking correctly to say what you mean to say is hard.
Today’s Bible reading uses words: regret, grieved, sorrow, repentance, suffered wrong. . .They all have to do with WORDS SPOKEN or WRITTEN.
Paul and his churches had letters and in-person conversations. But not everyone in those churches understood clearly what Paul said to them.
The Apostle Paul wrote a “strong letter”. Then wondered if he should have sent it. (Ever write/compose one of those?)
(“Though I did regret it.” 2 Corinthians 7:8)
Still, the strong letter had the affect Paul wanted:
“a godly grief that led to repentance”(2 Corinthians 7:9. )
The Corinthians not only had sorrow and repentance, for what
was said but they worked to make things right.
(2 Corinthians 7:11)
--"a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret.”
Look back on the examples. . .
“I’m sorry” is not enough.
Grief and “I’m sorry” are not enough.
FOR THE JESUS FOLLOWER, if your grief is godly,
the Jesus Follower will want to make amends.
(mend what is broken, restore what was lost,
replace what was taken)
Often, it is not easy.
The Bible has several words that it uses:
Sorrow, sorry, (related), remorse,/ regret,/ grief/
and grieved. . .and repentance.
godly grief / worldly grief
Our salvation is not an event—our salvation is a lifestyle. We aren’t saved, we are BEING saved—salvation is an ongoing action. (See Matthew 5:24)
2 Corinthians 7:9; once the amends are made, once what was broken is mended, then a brother can bring his offering to the Lord with a clear conscience—knowing that he has done everything to make things right with his neighbor.
Professor Ernest Best:
“To attain salvation, continual repentance is necessary, so repentance is not JUST the way we enter the Christian Life but is an ongoing part of it.”
It is all a part of loving deeper and loving smarter.
(Philippians 1:9)
Amen.
Second Corinthians, Ernest Best, pp.69-73
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