-7-
The Cup is Half-full
chapter 7:1-16
(Rejoicing in the positive)
The first verse of the chapter actually belongs to the previous one. But it serves as bridge.
2Co 7:1 ¶ With these promises ringing in our ears, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from anything that pollutes body or soul. Let us prove our reverence for God by consecrating ourselves to him completely.
What promises are alluded to in the above verse?
God promised that …. if we would come out from among the world … denounce the values of the world: Things that are appealing to our eyes, things that our bodies crave for, things that make us feel important and successful and proud … (things that are based on our desires and not on God's desires for us)
…. and learn to live lives that are 'set apart' and distinct from the world and what it offers ... that God would receive us as family. I don't think this is talking about salvation. When we called out to Him to save us from hell, and to give us eternal life because of Jesus' death for us, He saved us. We were born again. In that sense, we are in the family of God. But I think what God is referring to here is a welcome relationship around His banqueting table. He is talking about the WARMTH of His welcome and fellowship.
These promises come out of the last 3 verses of the chapter -
2Co 6:16-18 What common ground can idols hold with the temple of God? For we, remember, are ourselves temples of the living God, as God has said: I will dwell in them and walk in them: And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore Come ye out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, and will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, Saith the Lord Almighty.
So how do we 'come out' and be separate?
Separating from the 'Ways of the World' obviously comes first by way of understanding what God is asking for … then making the about face. Second it involves cleansing. This comes by confession to God and asking for cleansing. The Apostle John reminds us, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9
ESV 2Co 7:1 ¶ Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Holiness to completion? But are we not called Holy ones by virtue of Christ's goodness that He has given to us? Let me state something a number of different ways.
As far as our 'standing' goes - we are 100% holy. When we were taken out of the sinking sand and placed upon the Rock, that was His doing and we are 100% on the Rock. We are saved from the sinking sand ... Hell.
But, once we find ourselves 'on the Rock' we see that there is a road ahead of us. It is the Christian life, a narrow, difficult road. We must take the journey to the end. We will make many mistakes. We will call out for help many times. We will fail many times. This is not our 'standing', this is our 'walk'.
As far as our 'standing' goes, we are holy. As far as our walk is concerned ... it can be quite unholy at times. But as we go, our aim is to achieve a holy walk.
It is good to remember that salvation is three-fold.
We are saved. We are being saved. We shall eventually be saved.
Let's make that even more clear:
(1) Our spirit is instantly born again at salvation. So we can say that we ARE saved. We are called SAINTS because our spirits have been make alive by God's holiness.
(2) Our lives are being saved day by day. That is our walk with God. Our lives are BEING saved.
(3) Our bodies will be changed 'in the twinkling of an eye' at the rapture. That is the salvation of the body.
There are also three terms that we could use
(1)We are sanctified. Past tense. A done deal.
(2)We are being sanctified … this is 'progressional separation from sinful practices'.
(3) Our bodies will be sanctified at the resurrection.
1Th 5:23 ¶ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, Paul encourages us to 'cleanse ourselves' from the polluting practices of the world.
2Co 7:2 Do make room in your hearts for us! Not one of you has ever been wronged or ruined or cheated by us.
Here is the new subject for the chapter: Paul seems to be asking, “Are we good? Are we talking? Is everything OK between us? I certainly have nothing against you. I am certainly am not saying that I think you have a bad attitude toward me.”
2Co 7:3 I don’t say this to condemn your attitude, but simply because, as I said before, whether we meet death or life together you live in our hearts.
“We are together. We are one. We are in the family of God together!”
This is a wonderful attitude for us to remember when someone in the church has a difference with us. We are not enemies. We are family. Perhaps we need to communicate this clearly to some of our church family who have left us.
2Co 7:4 I talk to you with utter frankness; I think of you with deepest pride. Whatever troubles I have gone through, the thought of you has filled me with comfort and deep happiness.
Paul re-emphasizes how 'connected' he feels with the Corinthian brothers and sisters. Not knowing how they 'took' his letter had been tearing him up inside. His letter was harsh against the offenders in the church. He had just 'let the chips fall' wherever they landed. Now he was tormented in his mind. He was no doubt second guessing himself. Maybe he was too harsh? Maybe he should not have written at all and just went to them in person instead? Questions were boiling through his mind!
2Co 7:5 ¶ For even when we arrived in Macedonia we found no rest but trouble all round us — wrangling outside and anxiety within.
Have you ever experienced that? Where is God when all this stuff is going on in our lives? What do we expect God to do? Do we expect an audible voice in our ears saying, “Don't worry! I've got this.”?
Paul says, “2Co 7:6 Not but what God, who cheers the depressed, gave us the comfort of the arrival of Titus.
God, Paul says, cheers the depressed. When we are depressed, we often do not turn to God. Instead we need to see our counselor, or our 'analyst' if we are so lucky as to have one. Or we see our doctor and get a prescription. But what are our choices? We say, 'Just turn to God. He will cheer you. You need to have faith.” etc. Are we saying the right thing by saying this?
Perhaps not. Notice how God cheered Paul up. gave us the comfort of the arrival of Titus. God is a person with a body. Oh yes, I know the scriptures say that God is a Spirit. That is true. But God has a body, and He moves about accomplishing things. We know that body to be the church (and the individuals which comprise it). God had Titus arrive at just the right time. Titus is part of God's body. Paul, just as easily, could have said, 'God showed up'.
2Co 7:7 And it wasn’t merely his coming that cheered us, but the comfort you had given him, for he could tell us of your eagerness to see me, your deep sorrow and keen interest on my behalf. All that made me doubly glad to see him.
What a conversation must have happened between Paul and Titus! It was the best of news! Titus could say, 'Paul … they read it. They cried. They repented! They love you!
Wow. What relief flooded over Paul.
How well Paul remembers that first letter to them.
2Co 7:8 For although my letter had hurt you I don’t regret it now (even if I did at one time). I can see that the letter did upset you, though only for a time, 9 and now I am glad I sent it, not because I want to hurt you but because it made you grieve for things that were wrong. In other words, the result was to make you sorry as God would have had you sorry, and not to make you feel injured by what we said.
Here we can look in on an imaginary visit with Paul and Titus. It is a visit that took place before Paul wrote that first harsh letter.
(Titus) Hey Paul. What's up?
(Paul) Hi Titus. How've you been?
(Titus) Good. You?
(Paul) Mostly good. I'm working on a letter to Corinth.
(Titus) Ahhh, Corinth.
(Paul) Yeah. Good church.
(Titus) So you've told me … many times.
(Paul) Yeah. Just received some troubling news about them. Some of it is hard to believe.
(Titus) What have you heard?
(Paul) Well, to start with, divisions. They've become preacher followers, it seems.
(Titus) Really.
(Paul) Yeah. They're split four ways. Some of them worship the ground I walk on … others hate me. Some are totally sold on Apollos. Then a bunch of them think they should have Peter in there to circumcise all the men.
(Titus) Wow. What a mess.
(Paul) That's only part of it. There is so much infighting going on it is becoming an embarrassment to the community.
(Titus) How do you mean?
(Paul) If you can believe it … some of them have brought law suits against each other. Ridiculous things they should be able to settle among themselves.
(Titus) So that's why you're writing the letter?
(Paul) It gets worse. Do you know that one young fella has taken his father's wife, and he's living with her?
(Titus) No! Who does that! In all the places we've ever been … in any of the churches - I've never heard of anything that even comes close!
(Paul) Have you ever heard of ANYBODY … even the heathen, doing such a thing?
(Titus) You're right. Never. Not even in the world of unbelievers!
(Paul) Yes. He's one of the Apollos group. And they are defending him … why? Because the Peter guys are all pointing the finger at the Apollos guys and jeering. “What kind of things are you Apollos nuts teaching over there!” They are being ridiculed all over town!
(Titus) Wow. Some church!
(Paul) No Titus, don't think that. Everything I told you about them is true. They are basically good people. That's why I'm writing this letter.
(Titus) You really think it will do any good?
(Paul) I'm sure of it. You know, some of this probably ought to wait until I could get there in person, but I think I will write it anyway.
(Titus) Why?
(Paul) Well, Titus, deep down, I think they will want to do the right thing. I am just going to send it as sort of a test of their loyalty to me and to God, and see how they respond.
(Titus) Yeah. Lot's of luck.
(Paul) No, seriously … I really have faith in them. Oh, and Titus … would you be so kind as to take this over there when I am done? I would like you to read it publicly in all of the groups and see what happens.
(Titus) ….... OK. Hope they don't take it out me.
Well, Paul sent it, and it worked!
Paul explains the very basis for this hard letter.
In other words, the result was to make you sorry as God would have had you sorry, and not to make you feel injured by what we said.
And it did make them sorry.
He explains that Godly sorrow is different from the ordinary sorrow that is expressed by the world around us.
The world (outside of God) has sorrow for lost goods, lost friends, death of relatives, and they weep. This sorrow often produces diseases, increases those that already exist, and often leads people to lay desperate hands on themselves to end it all. This sorrow leads to destruction, God's sorrow leads to salvation; the one leads to heaven, the other to hell.
2Co 7:10 The sorrow which God uses means a change of heart and leads to salvation without regret — it is the world’s sorrow that is such a deadly thing.
Paul is so relieved to be able to say;
2Co 7:11 “You can look back now and see how the hand of God was in that sorrow. Look how seriously it made you think, how eager it made you to prove your innocence, how indignant it made you and how afraid! Look how it made you long for my presence, how it stirred up your keenness for the faith, how ready it made you to punish the offender! You have completely cleared yourselves in this matter.”
Here comes the 'half cup'.
In a later chapter we will clearly notice that Paul still has opponents in the Corinthian church. A large segment of the church completely cleared themselves in Paul's eyes. And he rejoices in this. He is excited. How very important it is for us to notice that Paul is not here dwelling on those who did NOT repent. He is not letting this group spoil his joy. His cup is not half-empty. He dwells on the 'full' word. He will deal with the others later, but for now he is over-joyed.
Let's move on to what Paul says next:
2Co 7:12 ¶ Now I did not write that letter really for the sake of the man who sinned, or even for the sake of the one who was sinned against, but to let you see for yourselves, in the sight of God, how deeply you really do care for us.
This is interesting. Three possible motives. The first two make perfectly good sense as reason enough to write the letter. But Paul is claiming that he wrote it for the last reason. What can we learn from this? Paul wanted the Corinthians to see for themselves …the true meaning of connection to the body. There are a great number of believers around us who, for one reason or another, have no connection to a body … this would break Paul's heart. He waited with great trepidation, with bated breath. And then Titus showed up!
2Co 7:13 That is why we now feel so encouraged, and, in addition, our sense of joy was greatly enhanced by knowing what happiness you all gave to Titus by setting his mind at rest.
14 You see, I had told him of my pride in you, and you have not let me down. I have always spoken the truth to you, and this proves that my proud words about you were true as well.
15 Titus himself has a much greater love for you, now that he has seen for himself the obedience you gave him, and the respect and reverence with which you treated him.
16 I am profoundly glad to have my confidence in you so fully proved.
Paul is happy. Titus is happy. The church is happy.
Psalm 23 has a phrase which goes, “My cup runneth over”. If Paul were to comment honestly I don't think he would say, with reference to the Corinthian church, that he had a cup of joy filled to the brim. Paul knows he will have to address something in the church that is still lacking, but he is not letting it affect this moment.
We can learn to think like Paul. We can focus on what we have, not on what we have not.
The Apostle John quotes Jesus as telling His disciples: Jesus said, I have told you this so that you can share my joy, and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11
Then, years later John would write these words in his 'epistle' (letter, book) ... And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1John 1:4
2Co 7:1 ¶ With these promises ringing in our ears, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from anything that pollutes body or soul. Let us prove our reverence for God by consecrating ourselves to him completely.
What promises are alluded to in the above verse?
God promised that …. if we would come out from among the world … denounce the values of the world: Things that are appealing to our eyes, things that our bodies crave for, things that make us feel important and successful and proud … (things that are based on our desires and not on God's desires for us)
…. and learn to live lives that are 'set apart' and distinct from the world and what it offers ... that God would receive us as family. I don't think this is talking about salvation. When we called out to Him to save us from hell, and to give us eternal life because of Jesus' death for us, He saved us. We were born again. In that sense, we are in the family of God. But I think what God is referring to here is a welcome relationship around His banqueting table. He is talking about the WARMTH of His welcome and fellowship.
These promises come out of the last 3 verses of the chapter -
2Co 6:16-18 What common ground can idols hold with the temple of God? For we, remember, are ourselves temples of the living God, as God has said: I will dwell in them and walk in them: And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore Come ye out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, and will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, Saith the Lord Almighty.
So how do we 'come out' and be separate?
Separating from the 'Ways of the World' obviously comes first by way of understanding what God is asking for … then making the about face. Second it involves cleansing. This comes by confession to God and asking for cleansing. The Apostle John reminds us, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1John 1:9
ESV 2Co 7:1 ¶ Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
Holiness to completion? But are we not called Holy ones by virtue of Christ's goodness that He has given to us? Let me state something a number of different ways.
As far as our 'standing' goes - we are 100% holy. When we were taken out of the sinking sand and placed upon the Rock, that was His doing and we are 100% on the Rock. We are saved from the sinking sand ... Hell.
But, once we find ourselves 'on the Rock' we see that there is a road ahead of us. It is the Christian life, a narrow, difficult road. We must take the journey to the end. We will make many mistakes. We will call out for help many times. We will fail many times. This is not our 'standing', this is our 'walk'.
As far as our 'standing' goes, we are holy. As far as our walk is concerned ... it can be quite unholy at times. But as we go, our aim is to achieve a holy walk.
It is good to remember that salvation is three-fold.
We are saved. We are being saved. We shall eventually be saved.
Let's make that even more clear:
(1) Our spirit is instantly born again at salvation. So we can say that we ARE saved. We are called SAINTS because our spirits have been make alive by God's holiness.
(2) Our lives are being saved day by day. That is our walk with God. Our lives are BEING saved.
(3) Our bodies will be changed 'in the twinkling of an eye' at the rapture. That is the salvation of the body.
There are also three terms that we could use
(1)We are sanctified. Past tense. A done deal.
(2)We are being sanctified … this is 'progressional separation from sinful practices'.
(3) Our bodies will be sanctified at the resurrection.
1Th 5:23 ¶ Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, Paul encourages us to 'cleanse ourselves' from the polluting practices of the world.
2Co 7:2 Do make room in your hearts for us! Not one of you has ever been wronged or ruined or cheated by us.
Here is the new subject for the chapter: Paul seems to be asking, “Are we good? Are we talking? Is everything OK between us? I certainly have nothing against you. I am certainly am not saying that I think you have a bad attitude toward me.”
2Co 7:3 I don’t say this to condemn your attitude, but simply because, as I said before, whether we meet death or life together you live in our hearts.
“We are together. We are one. We are in the family of God together!”
This is a wonderful attitude for us to remember when someone in the church has a difference with us. We are not enemies. We are family. Perhaps we need to communicate this clearly to some of our church family who have left us.
2Co 7:4 I talk to you with utter frankness; I think of you with deepest pride. Whatever troubles I have gone through, the thought of you has filled me with comfort and deep happiness.
Paul re-emphasizes how 'connected' he feels with the Corinthian brothers and sisters. Not knowing how they 'took' his letter had been tearing him up inside. His letter was harsh against the offenders in the church. He had just 'let the chips fall' wherever they landed. Now he was tormented in his mind. He was no doubt second guessing himself. Maybe he was too harsh? Maybe he should not have written at all and just went to them in person instead? Questions were boiling through his mind!
2Co 7:5 ¶ For even when we arrived in Macedonia we found no rest but trouble all round us — wrangling outside and anxiety within.
Have you ever experienced that? Where is God when all this stuff is going on in our lives? What do we expect God to do? Do we expect an audible voice in our ears saying, “Don't worry! I've got this.”?
Paul says, “2Co 7:6 Not but what God, who cheers the depressed, gave us the comfort of the arrival of Titus.
God, Paul says, cheers the depressed. When we are depressed, we often do not turn to God. Instead we need to see our counselor, or our 'analyst' if we are so lucky as to have one. Or we see our doctor and get a prescription. But what are our choices? We say, 'Just turn to God. He will cheer you. You need to have faith.” etc. Are we saying the right thing by saying this?
Perhaps not. Notice how God cheered Paul up. gave us the comfort of the arrival of Titus. God is a person with a body. Oh yes, I know the scriptures say that God is a Spirit. That is true. But God has a body, and He moves about accomplishing things. We know that body to be the church (and the individuals which comprise it). God had Titus arrive at just the right time. Titus is part of God's body. Paul, just as easily, could have said, 'God showed up'.
2Co 7:7 And it wasn’t merely his coming that cheered us, but the comfort you had given him, for he could tell us of your eagerness to see me, your deep sorrow and keen interest on my behalf. All that made me doubly glad to see him.
What a conversation must have happened between Paul and Titus! It was the best of news! Titus could say, 'Paul … they read it. They cried. They repented! They love you!
Wow. What relief flooded over Paul.
How well Paul remembers that first letter to them.
2Co 7:8 For although my letter had hurt you I don’t regret it now (even if I did at one time). I can see that the letter did upset you, though only for a time, 9 and now I am glad I sent it, not because I want to hurt you but because it made you grieve for things that were wrong. In other words, the result was to make you sorry as God would have had you sorry, and not to make you feel injured by what we said.
Here we can look in on an imaginary visit with Paul and Titus. It is a visit that took place before Paul wrote that first harsh letter.
(Titus) Hey Paul. What's up?
(Paul) Hi Titus. How've you been?
(Titus) Good. You?
(Paul) Mostly good. I'm working on a letter to Corinth.
(Titus) Ahhh, Corinth.
(Paul) Yeah. Good church.
(Titus) So you've told me … many times.
(Paul) Yeah. Just received some troubling news about them. Some of it is hard to believe.
(Titus) What have you heard?
(Paul) Well, to start with, divisions. They've become preacher followers, it seems.
(Titus) Really.
(Paul) Yeah. They're split four ways. Some of them worship the ground I walk on … others hate me. Some are totally sold on Apollos. Then a bunch of them think they should have Peter in there to circumcise all the men.
(Titus) Wow. What a mess.
(Paul) That's only part of it. There is so much infighting going on it is becoming an embarrassment to the community.
(Titus) How do you mean?
(Paul) If you can believe it … some of them have brought law suits against each other. Ridiculous things they should be able to settle among themselves.
(Titus) So that's why you're writing the letter?
(Paul) It gets worse. Do you know that one young fella has taken his father's wife, and he's living with her?
(Titus) No! Who does that! In all the places we've ever been … in any of the churches - I've never heard of anything that even comes close!
(Paul) Have you ever heard of ANYBODY … even the heathen, doing such a thing?
(Titus) You're right. Never. Not even in the world of unbelievers!
(Paul) Yes. He's one of the Apollos group. And they are defending him … why? Because the Peter guys are all pointing the finger at the Apollos guys and jeering. “What kind of things are you Apollos nuts teaching over there!” They are being ridiculed all over town!
(Titus) Wow. Some church!
(Paul) No Titus, don't think that. Everything I told you about them is true. They are basically good people. That's why I'm writing this letter.
(Titus) You really think it will do any good?
(Paul) I'm sure of it. You know, some of this probably ought to wait until I could get there in person, but I think I will write it anyway.
(Titus) Why?
(Paul) Well, Titus, deep down, I think they will want to do the right thing. I am just going to send it as sort of a test of their loyalty to me and to God, and see how they respond.
(Titus) Yeah. Lot's of luck.
(Paul) No, seriously … I really have faith in them. Oh, and Titus … would you be so kind as to take this over there when I am done? I would like you to read it publicly in all of the groups and see what happens.
(Titus) ….... OK. Hope they don't take it out me.
Well, Paul sent it, and it worked!
Paul explains the very basis for this hard letter.
In other words, the result was to make you sorry as God would have had you sorry, and not to make you feel injured by what we said.
And it did make them sorry.
He explains that Godly sorrow is different from the ordinary sorrow that is expressed by the world around us.
The world (outside of God) has sorrow for lost goods, lost friends, death of relatives, and they weep. This sorrow often produces diseases, increases those that already exist, and often leads people to lay desperate hands on themselves to end it all. This sorrow leads to destruction, God's sorrow leads to salvation; the one leads to heaven, the other to hell.
2Co 7:10 The sorrow which God uses means a change of heart and leads to salvation without regret — it is the world’s sorrow that is such a deadly thing.
Paul is so relieved to be able to say;
2Co 7:11 “You can look back now and see how the hand of God was in that sorrow. Look how seriously it made you think, how eager it made you to prove your innocence, how indignant it made you and how afraid! Look how it made you long for my presence, how it stirred up your keenness for the faith, how ready it made you to punish the offender! You have completely cleared yourselves in this matter.”
Here comes the 'half cup'.
In a later chapter we will clearly notice that Paul still has opponents in the Corinthian church. A large segment of the church completely cleared themselves in Paul's eyes. And he rejoices in this. He is excited. How very important it is for us to notice that Paul is not here dwelling on those who did NOT repent. He is not letting this group spoil his joy. His cup is not half-empty. He dwells on the 'full' word. He will deal with the others later, but for now he is over-joyed.
Let's move on to what Paul says next:
2Co 7:12 ¶ Now I did not write that letter really for the sake of the man who sinned, or even for the sake of the one who was sinned against, but to let you see for yourselves, in the sight of God, how deeply you really do care for us.
This is interesting. Three possible motives. The first two make perfectly good sense as reason enough to write the letter. But Paul is claiming that he wrote it for the last reason. What can we learn from this? Paul wanted the Corinthians to see for themselves …the true meaning of connection to the body. There are a great number of believers around us who, for one reason or another, have no connection to a body … this would break Paul's heart. He waited with great trepidation, with bated breath. And then Titus showed up!
2Co 7:13 That is why we now feel so encouraged, and, in addition, our sense of joy was greatly enhanced by knowing what happiness you all gave to Titus by setting his mind at rest.
14 You see, I had told him of my pride in you, and you have not let me down. I have always spoken the truth to you, and this proves that my proud words about you were true as well.
15 Titus himself has a much greater love for you, now that he has seen for himself the obedience you gave him, and the respect and reverence with which you treated him.
16 I am profoundly glad to have my confidence in you so fully proved.
Paul is happy. Titus is happy. The church is happy.
Psalm 23 has a phrase which goes, “My cup runneth over”. If Paul were to comment honestly I don't think he would say, with reference to the Corinthian church, that he had a cup of joy filled to the brim. Paul knows he will have to address something in the church that is still lacking, but he is not letting it affect this moment.
We can learn to think like Paul. We can focus on what we have, not on what we have not.
The Apostle John quotes Jesus as telling His disciples: Jesus said, I have told you this so that you can share my joy, and that your joy may be complete. John 15:11
Then, years later John would write these words in his 'epistle' (letter, book) ... And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. 1John 1:4