2Cor.7 and verse 1 reads.
2Cor.7:1] Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
I personally start everyday with prayer and repentance, and when I know I have sinned I repent right away. This way I know I’m clean, and it is uplifting to my spirit to know there is nothing that is between my spirit and the Holy Spirit. Paul is saying to do what is right always and repent often.
2Cor.7:2] Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.
Receive us because we have done no wrong to anyone.
2Cor.7:3] I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.
Not accusing or offending anyone, we love you.
2Cor.7:4] Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
Paul is very proud of this church in Corinth. Though he had at times spoke boldly to them, it was tough love, and they had gotten over it knowing he loved them.
2Cor.7:5] For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.
[6] Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;
Though there was much turmoil, we were comforted by the Comforter. That would be the Holy Spirit, something we need to all think about. When we do the works for the LORD, he comforts us so that his work may be done.
2Cor.7:7] And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
This is saying Jesus and the Comforter are one.
2Cor.7:8] For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.
[9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
[10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
[11] For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
[12] Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
That letter of tough love was brutal. But the fact that it brought them to repentance and from repentance comes salvation. Over all they felt the Holy Spirit working through Paul and found salvation for themselves in repentance that moved them closer to the LORD can be felt within.
2Cor.7:13] Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
[14] For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
Knowing how much it helped you comforted Titus also. Now, this church being comforted and clean, can now work for the Lord more efficiently.
2Cor.7:15] And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
[16] I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
Paul is saying, all this is done for the Glory of the Lord and it has comforted him also. The most important take way from today’s study should be that sometimes churches have turmoil within. A good cleansing with repentance and tough love, discipline, goes a long way towards bringing a church back to being able to do the works of God. and that is the job of the church to begin with. Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance Of The Bible