November 13, 2016 | Bob Bartlett
Passage: 2 Corinthians 7:8-13
Something Greater 2Corinthians 7:8-13
“Living with Remorse but without Regret”
Jeremiah 21:8 “Furthermore, tell the people, this is what the LORD says; ‘See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.’”
What do people search for or desire more than anything in life? Significance!
Living without Regret
Vs 8-9: Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it… 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance.
Receiving God’s reproof and man’s correction is the p______ _ to godly sorrow.
Psalm 141:5 “Let a righteous man strike me, it is a kindness, it is oil on my head, my head will not refuse it.”
Receiving or rejecting correction reveals the p______________ of our hearts.
Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Vs 9b: For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.
The goal of godly (God) sorrow is to bring us to a place of r________________!
John 16:8 “When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:”
Vs 10: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.”
The goal of repentance is to r_____ _______ our relationship with God and with others.
Isaiah 57:15 “For this is what the high and lofty One says, He who lives forever, and whose name is holy, I live in a high and holy place…”
The Great Divide - The way of life and the way of death
Vs 11-13: “See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter…”
The path of godly sorrow always bears the f ____________ of repentance.
Matthew 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.”
Benchmark: sincere, ready, willing and swift to make it right! 1John1:9
God’s design for significance in my relationships is fulfilled
when I know the way of godly sorrow.