Title Under the Cross (Lent 39th, April 22nd)
Lent Morning Prayer Meeting (39th, 22nd April)
under the cross
2 Corinthians 7:8-12
8 I broke your heart for the last letter I wrote, but I have no regrets. Knowing that you were hurt for a moment by that letter, I regretted it myself, but
9 I am rather happy now. It's not because you're hurt, but because you're hurting. You were not hurt in the least because of us, because you mourned according to the will of God.
10 Sorrow according to God's will leads to repentance and salvation, so there is no regret. But the sorrows of the world lead to death.
11 Would you like to see what God's will has done for you? You've become more serious, you've proven your innocence more, you've become more angry at something, and you've become more alert. They also longed for it, became interested, and punished those who did wrong. You have shown that you are innocent in all respects in this matter.
12 Therefore, the letters I wrote to you earlier were not directed at those who did wrong or those who have suffered injustice. The letter was written to make it clear to you before God what your heart is for us.
8 I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while.
9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.
10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.
11 Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right.
12 My purpose, then, was not to write about who did the wrong or who was wronged. I wrote to you so that in the sight of God you could see for yourselves how loyal you are to us.
Key Verse: Sorrow according to God's will leads to repentance and salvation, so there is no regret. But for the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death). (verse 10)
Today's verse is verse 10. “Sorrow according to God's will leads to repentance and salvation, so there is no regret. But the sorrows of the world lead to death.” It is said that there are two types of sorrow. There is “godly sorrow”. This kind of sorrow is the sorrow of realizing one's sins and repenting. This sorrow leads us to salvation. Another sorrow is “worldly sorrow”. What is worldly sorrow? The sorrow of losing precious things, the sorrow of being injustice, the sorrow of lamenting one's own situation, these sorrows are worldly sorrows. It is said that worldly sorrow brings death. It means sadness that has no benefit. The meaning of this is well expressed in the NLT Bible. “But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” Why is Paul talking about this sorrow?
Did you not think that Paul's special heart for the Corinthian church was contained in the words we read today? Almost all the churches in the Bible were founded by Paul. And, each of those churches has a story that Paul experienced in that city. The Corinthian church was also a church with special meaning to Paul. Above all, Paul regarded “Corinth” as the strategic area of his mission. In a vision, the Lord said, “I am with you. Because my people are many in this city” (Acts 18:10).
Paul's mission to Corinth was special. First of all, the attitude toward missionary work was different from other cities. Here Paul introduced a unique missionary method called “tent-making mission.” So even now, that missionary method is setting an example for missionaries. In other words, it is to cover the expenses necessary for missionary work by working in a mission field. Paul met Priscilla and Aquila, his lifelong co-workers in Corinth. And I stayed in Corinth for a year and six months and taught the word of God.
These words are found in 2 Corinthians 7:8, which we read today. “I broke your heart for the last letter I wrote, but I have no regrets. I regretted it myself, knowing that you were hurt for a moment by that letter, but now I am more than happy.” Some claim that the “last letter” refers to 1 Corinthians, but many theologians agree that there was another letter sent after 1 Corinthians was written. Theologians call this letter the “letter of tears.” This letter does not exist. It is said that he was sent through Dido in A.D. 56. The content of the letter is known to contain Paul's harsh rebukes and advice, and calls for repentance. As the saying goes, “Give one more loaf to the ugly child and another rod to the pretty child,” Paul could not ignore the serious moral and ethical corruption of the Corinthians.
Now Paul is talking about the letter. Paul said that he was very saddened by the letter he sent through Titus. He was afraid that the church in Corinth might be hurt by this letter. However, contrary to what Paul was concerned about, the church in Corinth came to repentance because of this letter. Paul writes his gratitude for that work in the verse he read today. “When I found out that you were hurt, even for a moment, by that letter, I regretted it myself, but now I am rather happy. It's not because you're hurt, but because you're hurting. You were not hurt in the slightest because of us, because you mourned according to the will of God.” (Verses 8-9)
Isn't this saying a lesson for us today too? Today, we have a tendency to unconditionally cover what we have done wrong. However, unconditional coverage is not in the best interest of the person. See what kind of forgiveness God has forgiven us. God did not unconditionally close our eyes to our sins, but rather highlighted our sins as a serious issue. And God did not directly judge the person who committed the sin, but imputed that sin to his son. He punished his own son and forgave those who sinned. It is not unconditional forgiveness. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “God loved us sinners enough to impute our sins to his Son and to forgive us our sins. Now everyone who believes in this fact and believes in the Son of God will be saved.”
It is not love to unconditionally cover up the wrongdoing. Rather, it is beneficial to all to know how much it pays to expose the wrong and forgive it. Paul's way of solving problems in the Corinthian church was not unconditionally covered up. However, bringing up that problem is very painful for the community. It makes everyone hard. However, if you don't bring up the problem, the problem becomes more serious as a result. This is just like saying that if surgery was performed at an early stage, a life could be saved, and a life would be lost because the operation time was missed. Even if there is a difficult treatment process, you have to have surgery to survive.
That is what Paul is writing about in 7:10. “Sorrow according to God's will leads to repentance and salvation, so there is no regret. But the sorrows of the world lead to death.” This verse is stated as follows in the NLT Bible. “For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.” According to these words, sorrow for sin brings repentance, and repentance brings salvation.
God never wants his children to suffer. Jesus said this for the purpose of his coming into this world. “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” Jesus came to give us “abundant life.” Therefore, God's children will ultimately enjoy an abundant life. This is the conclusion of the life of all God's children. No matter what our lives are now, the process doesn't matter. Because in the end we will enjoy abundant life in Jesus Christ. If so, isn't it more dramatic that there are ups and downs in our lives now? What's the fun if you just eat well and live a good life from the beginning? Isn't it fun to have a groove in life? The word groove refers to a dent. A depression in the road is also called a groove. This word is sometimes used to mean “an enjoyable time or experience” to mean having fun.
There are grooves in our lives. There are dents in my life. There are deep wounds. However, these wounds are not necessarily bad. What if this wound is a surgical scar? What if these dents were surgical scars from the rot on our bodies? Those grooves are the marks that gave us new life. It was scary and painful at the time, but if we can live a healthy life today because we endured it, how grateful are those wounds?
When things that were morally and ethically unacceptable happened to the Corinthian church, Paul did not just try to cover it up. Rather, it brought those problems to the surface. It was painful and difficult for the whole community, but it made them suffer. The whole community mourned and repented of their sins, knowing that it was not pleasing to God. As a result, it has now become a healthy faith community.
On Good Friday morning, at the end of this Lent, God invites us to come down to the cross of Christ. To give us “godly sorrow” as a gift. He makes us realize and grieve our sins under the cross of Christ and confess our sins. It puts you in shame and shame. At the foot of the cross we must be prepared to be utterly ruined. And, it makes us look at Him who was hung on the cross. Only courageous people can walk this road. Because this road is a difficult road that is accompanied by pain and suffering. However, this way is the only way in Christ
It is the way to enjoy the promised “abundant life”.
Ladies and gentlemen, take a look at what kind of results God's sorrow brings to us. “Be more serious about life,” “feel anger at what is wrong,” “be vigilant,” “long for the right,” “take an interest.” What do you mean? Those who know God's sorrow will have a deeper insight into their own lives to the extent that they become honest with God and become human.
You will restore your dignity.
Do you know the lyrics to “At the Cross”, a hymn written by I. Watts? “At the Cross, at the Cross, Where I first saw the light, And the burden of my heart rolled away, It was there by faith I received my sight, And now I am happy all the day!” “Under the cross, under the cross I saw the light for the first time, there my heart was unburdened. There I saw by faith. I have lived a happy life.” Isn't this a compliment?