Transcript

Repentance Without Regret - Part Two

2 Corinthians 7:8-16
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Pastor Randy Smith

I read a story this week about a pig that some years back traveled on a six-hour US Airways flight from Philadelphia to Seattle with his own chairs (that's plural!). Somehow two passengers convinced the airline representative that the pig needed to fly with them as a "therapeutic companion pet" something akin to a seeing-eye dog. Only in her case the woman had a heart condition and she claimed the pig relieved stress. So in this age of tolerance the pig was permitted to sit with them, not in coach, but in the first-class cabin of the plane.

Passengers described the 300-pound pig as "enormous, brown, angry, and honking." He was seated taking up three seats near the front of the plane, but the attendants reportedly had difficulty strapping him in. According to one attendant, "[The pig] became restless after takeoff and sauntered through the cabin. One passenger said, "He kept rubbing his nose on people's legs trying to get them to give him food and pet him."

Upon landing, things only got worse. The article reports, "the pig panicked, running up and down through economy class squealing." Many passengers were also seen screaming as they stood on their seats. It took four attendants to escort the pig out of the airplane. Upon reaching the open terminal, the pig ran for his freedom. Eventually the pig was re-captured and returned to his owners.

When asked to comment on the story, US Airways spokesman, David Castelveter said, "We can confirm that the pig traveled, and we can confirm that it will never happen again."

Have you ever made a decision that seemed good at the time, only to realize that you used poor judgment? Regardless of how you arrived at the course of action, you came to understand that it's a road you no longer wish to travel. Usually the mind first draws the conclusion. Then your heart is filled with regret or remorse or guilt. Then you seek to correct the foolish choice and vow to never commit the same action again.

A comment you said to someone. Trying out for a sport's team or attempting a hobby. Eating at a certain restaurant. Not changing the oil in your car. An emotional purchase. Texting while driving.

This procedure that I believe we can all identify with is an indispensable element of the Christian life. The Bible calls it repentance. And biblical repentance deals specifically with acknowledging and then turning from behavior that is offensive to God. The first words out of Jesus' mouth when He began His public ministry were, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt. 4:17). In Luke 13:3 He said, "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Without it we have no salvation. With it we have peace and fellowship with God.

Repentance initiates our Christian faith. We receive Christ through faith and repentance - two sides of the same coin. In other words, we believe upon the Lord and His work for us on the cross to remove our sins, and we also make a vow to turn from our sins in favor of Him. We cannot add Christ without subtracting sin, turning to Christ by turning away from sin.

And then once we are in, repentance continues to mark the true child of God. Through reading and hearing the Scriptures, we are made aware of our sin by the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge that sin and by God's grace turn away from it in the pursuit of righteousness. This is a lifelong process as God is in the lifelong process of continually conforming us to His own image. As Jim Elliff once said, "Repentance is a change of mind regarding sin and God, an inward turning from sin to God. Repentance is hating what you once loved, and loving what you once hated, exchanging irresistible sin for an irresistible Christ."

This morning, as promised, we will examine one of the most comprehensive passages in the entire Bible that deals with the subject of repentance. The goal is that all of you will understand what repentance is, how repentance is accomplished and what fruits give evidence of true repentance. This is definitely one of those sermons that we must fully understand before we depart from this sanctuary.

Since this is a "part two," let me first see if I can briefly bring you up to speed.

The Corinthian church which Paul founded is overrun with false teachers that were pulling the young Christians after themselves and preaching a damning gospel. Paul makes an emergency visit to rectify the problem and the ring leader of the sect demoralizes Paul to his face. The church does nothing to support their pastor. There was no "Pastor Appreciation Day" for him!

Paul leaves dejected. He returns to Ephesus and from there writes them a letter. It's a stern letter, one that he calls them out on their sin. He's praying for radical repentance. He sends it to the church via Titus. Chapter 2 verses 4, "For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you."

Paul can't wait to hear how the church responded so he leaves Ephesus and hopes to rendezvous with Titus in Troas now returning from Corinth. He arrives in Troas and no Titus (2 Cor. 2:12-13). Depressed, he pushes north into Macedonia and finally he is reunited with Titus (2 Cor. 7:5-6). What does Paul tell us about the church's response in verse 7? Titus reported the church's mourning over their sin, their longing and zeal for Paul. Paul rejoiced! Why? Because the Lord used the letter to bring the church to genuine repentance.

Last week in part one we looked at Paul's passion for the Lord as seen in his love for the church. This week in part 2 we will look at the church's passion for the Lord as seen in their desire and ability to repent.

2. PASSION FOR THE LORD AS SEEN IN THE CHURCH (verses 9-11)

We can break the characteristics of true repentance down into three parts, all are necessary. There is an intellectual element and an emotional element and a volitional element. First, the intellectual element.

Intellectual-

The Lord has given us a mind, and the mind is responsible to ensure that we think and process in an accurate and reasonable way in line with the Scriptures. It goes without saying that in order for true repentance to take place, the mind first needs to be informed of what needs to be changed. Without this intellectual component we will have no idea of where we need to repent! There is a place for our emotions and heart, but the emotions and heart must first be guided by the mind or they will be all over the map.

So we affirm our love for God's holy character, admit we fall short of His standard and agree that we need to be continually open to correction. The standard is the Bible and the truth of the Bible often comes to us through personal reading, Bible lessons or comments from others. Such was the case of the Corinthian church. We know that they received a rather stern and confrontational letter from the apostle Paul. And after receiving a letter like that, some type of a response is guaranteed.

Now, there is a wrong way and a right way this church (and we in general) can respond.

The wrong way is to hear the specific areas that need correction and immediately activate our defense mechanisms, a sure indication that we are filled with pride and are not open to spiritual growth in an effort toward self-preservation and the dismissal of the facts. There are usually some predictable attitudes that dismiss the content. For example, in the case with the Corinthians:

The judge: "Why did you give this letter to Titus? How do you know he didn't read it? You should have come to us in person with your concerns. Did you tell your concerns to anyone else? We think you gossiped. Have you received gossip? Why did you wait so long to express your feelings? Your process is flawed. Any bitterness in your heart, Paul? Your tone was too harsh."

The whiner: "How can you treat us like this, Paul? I thought you had our back? Our feelings are hurt. You never say anything nice to us. You wounded us so deeply I just don't think we'll be able to respond. It's going to take a long time before we'll ever be able to forgive you. We just don't want to think about it anymore."

The attacker: "Who do you think you are, Paul? You're not among us so how can you draw your conclusions? Do you think you are perfect? We've been overlooking your sins for quite some time, but now we feel led of the Lord to tell you what we think about you. As a matter of fact, and I didn't want to say this, but we already have a lot of people that have expressed various problems with you."

The cheerleader: "How can you say those things? We are ten times better than all the churches in Macedonia. People love us as all the reports we receive have indicated. Absolutely no one is saying these things about us except you."

The attorney: "We have received your concerns, Paul, and have convened a council composed of pastors from every church in northern Greece to examine these accusations and prove to you where you are wrong. In the meantime, we'd like to have you read this sixteen books that support our position. We'll be sending you a four page letter every day in preparation for the final letter that will delineate and disprove every accusation you have against us. Perhaps we'll have this matter settled within the next sixteen months."

And might I add, the people that are really good at really doing it wrong have the skill to combine all of these caricatures in one meeting as they can seamlessly transition from one personality to another.

Proverbs 9:7, "He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself." Proverbs 9:8, "Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you." Proverbs 13:1, "A scoffer does not listen to rebuke."

You know, there is a neat story in 1 Kings 22 that captures a dialogue between Ahab (the king of Israel) and Jehoshaphat (the king of Judah) that really captures what I am getting at.

Ahab wanted to capture Ramoth-gilead presently under the control of the king of Aram. He requested the assistance of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat agrees. "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses" (verse 4). But Jehoshaphat basically says, "Before we do this, I think it would be a wise idea to seek the Lord's will." So Ahab gathers together the prophets of Israel, about four hundred of them and he says, "Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?" (verse 6). And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king" (verse 6).

It didn't take long for Jehoshaphat to smell something fishy. He understood that Ahab couldn't take people who didn't always agree with him and sought to correct him and in doing so surrounded himself with people who told him what he always wanted to hear. He even rounded up four hundred so-called "prophets." Yet these guys weren't prophets; they were puppets, "yes men." Jehoshaphat says, "Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?" (verse 8). I love Ahab's response, "The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, 'There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.'"

They call for Micaiah. While the others are flattering Ahab they ask the opinion of Micaiah. Micaiah responds with sarcasm. "Yeah, you're a great king, Ahab. Whatever you say. Guaranteed victory." Ahab is outraged over the mockery, "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" (verse 16). Micaiah responds, "You want the truth?" "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep which have no shepherd" (verse 17). Does Ahab humble himself? Of course not! His reply to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" (verse 18).

If we are serious about repentance, it must start in the mind, minds that are open. We can't just keep on defending ourselves from every accusation we hear against our character or actions. We all have blind spots. Ironically, these are spots we so often see in others and have a really tough time identifying in our own life. Don't think you're that important. Don't think you've arrived. Don't think there is no room for personal growth. Crucify the pride. Proverbs 29:1, "A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy." Ahab is a living testimony of that!

Perhaps a reason you feel people gossip behind your back is because you made yourself virtually impossible to be approached to your face. Your responses to criticism of any type are met with such fierce resistance or nauseating drama (everything becomes a "federal case") that people are simply fearful to speak with you. Perhaps your pride is so deep and your heart is so hard that that's what you've intended all along.

Brian Borgman in his book, "My Heart for Thy Cause" said, "There is something very unbecoming about a man of God who is always defending himself. Whenever one makes an observation, raises a question or offers a rebuke, if walls of defense immediately go up, it erodes respect" (p. 99).

So what's the right way?

The right way is to always be humble; willing to receive correction, providing it is based on biblical content. The humble person welcomes every chance the Holy Spirit might be using to burn off the rough edges and forever make us more like our blessed Savior. The humble person doesn't respond harshly, regardless of the criticism or the messenger, but is concerned with the content and takes everything with a grain of salt, considering it, praying about it and diligently seeks to determine where the correction, to whatever degree, is appropriate. Energy and contemplation is placed on, "What is the Lord saying to me" and "how can I learn from these comments" as compared to, "How am I going to defend myself against this attack." It is about not flying off the handle when corrected, but exercising self-control. Don't we know that "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (Jas. 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).

Folks, I think I have some personal credibility to speak to this subject. I'm an easy target. I've probably received more of this than any of you. I speak thousands of words publicly to hundreds of people each week and that is not counting the whole radio audience. I teach the Bible (I'd say a controversial Book) where at some points Christians rightly and wrongly disagree. My life is continually lived in a fishbowl. I take overall responsibility for every decision made in this church. And most of all, though redeemed, I am still a sinner.

In seventeen and a half years of ministry I think I can say by now I have heard it all. Critique on my character. Critique on my ministry. Critique on my decisions. Much of it valid and I have grown tremendously. Some of it, let's just say has been unique.

I had one schedule a personal conference with me because she was offended when I said, "Boaz had to deal with a bitter mother-in-law" when we were studying Ruth. After the discussion I came to realize that she always identified with Naomi and therefore was hurt with those remarks. Another made an appointment to tell me he was offended when I said, "Suicide is a selfish act" because his father took his own life. Even these cases required of me time to think things through, clarify the comments without attacking the person and pray about what the Lord might be saying to me. And though I still stand by my remarks in these two areas, I hope I handled even these people with humility, gentleness and respect. And though that's my goal, I admit I don't always do it this way.

You see, when we run away from even the slightest hint of criticism, we forfeit the very means by which the Lord wants to make us more godly.

Proverbs 13:18, "He who regards reproof will be honored." Proverbs 17:10, "A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool." Proverbs 9:8, "Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you."

So this Corinthian church receives a strong rebuke from the Apostle Paul. The church isn't widely regarded as the most godly and humble church in the New Testament. They gave very little evidence of repenting in the past. But for some reason this time, God got a hold of their hearts. They didn't get defensive and immediately dismiss the charges. They gave time for God to work. They sat on it. They prayed about it. They meditated on it. And the majority walked away as they were guided by the Holy Spirit and Scripture convicted by the fact that Paul was right. They came to an intellectual conclusion that they had were off base and needed to make things right. Their intellect was changed which is not complete repentance, but the first and necessary step in the right direction - the change of the mind.

We are out of time, but as the Lord permits, next week, we will dive back into chapter 7 and observe some key verses that outline the other two indispensable components - the change of the emotions and the change of the will - that are necessary of true repentance.