My grandson, Ryker

It was Real
I Corinthians 7, part four 

“For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything, you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in this matter,“ verse 11  

Lest it seem I’m belaboring this chapter, indulge me to spend one more morning here. There’s one more important point that Paul is making here that I don’t want to miss.  

Something quite amazing happened to these wandering, indulgent, divisive Christians in Corinth when Paul sent his scathing, severe letter to them. They had a COMPLETE change of heart. Most Pastors would have given up but for some reason, Paul had a love for them that transcended reason. Not only were they prone to wander into sin and immorality, easily influenced by the debauchery of the city, but they were also easily influenced by false teachers. Even to the point that many of them rejected Paul in person when he visited, choosing instead to side with the false teachers. Now that hurt Paul and hurt him deeply.  

He didn’t give up 

Despite this rejection, Paul sensed in his heart, from the Spirit, that these people were worth fighting for and he couldn’t forget them. He sent the severe letter confronting them directly and forcibly with an earnest call to repent. Paul feared that his letter would alienate them for good. But he also knew he had to it and hoped and prayed their hearts would be softened and renewed.  

Well, as you know, they responded with repentance. But what does that really mean? Verses 8ff says, 

“for though I caused you sorrow by my letter…I see that the letter caused you sorrow, THOUGH ONLY FOR AWHILE…I now rejoice that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance…according to the will of God.”  

Suffer loss 

Tucked back in I Corinthians 3:15, Paul wrote to them about how they may be saved but that the life they were living was of little use to God. It says,  

“if any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss (meaning his service to the Lord was void and without value) but he himself WILL BE SAVED, yet so as through fire.”  

In contrast, what Paul is now writing about here in 2 Corinthians, is a repentance that has led to a totally transformed Christian life. Verse 11 says (this is quite amazing)  

“For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything, you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”  

I missed the impact of this verse the first couple times I read this chapter. The descriptions are highly descriptive: 

• First, as a response in repentance, there was “earnestness” and “indignation” and “zeal.” How many of us have become complacent about sin and evil around us?  Are we indifferent to our own holiness and lacking in our pursuit of God and personal righteousness?  

• What about “vindication”? Their renewed pursuit of holiness didn’t save them, but it did validate their sincere repentance.  
• What about “fear” and renewed reverence for the Holy and awesome God.  
• What about their renewed “longing” for God. It wasn’t just external good deeds they exhibited but a longing of the heart; a longing to know Him, intimately and personally.  

All along, they were Gods chosen people, called and loved by Him, EVEN THOUGH THEY WEREN’T ACTING LIKE IT. God used Paul, who didn’t give up on them, to lead them back to full usefulness. Just like Jesus did with Peter after he denied Him. Paul never stopped loving them, praying for them and reaching out to them. 

How should we live? 

Are you the wandering believer that should repent and come back to God with full earnestness and sincerity? Or are you like Paul, praying and longing for a loved one to return to God? Either way, apply this passage to your life with great earnestness. God, may you strengthen us to do so. Amen.