“But for a Season”...the Wayfarer 3/30/14

“But for a Season”

 3/30/14

“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.”

(2 Corinthians 7:8)

But for a season!  Today we go to the second letter to the church at Corinth written by Paul, necessitated by the fact that after cleaning itself up, getting rid of most of the false teachings that brought about that first letter, they once more started to forget the very purpose of worship, the very point of Christianity, the very truth of what was taught by Jesus, allowing once more worldly things to creep in among the church and lead it away from what was intended.

The Previous chapter opened with the plea that the grace of God was not given in vain, only to be cast aside once more. This I save for yet another day, to be given detailed consideration then, I reference it in hope that the reader also search for the complete context given in this letter that requires far more time  than allotted to a single sermon.

Today, I reference only the parts that must be referenced not to lose that context, which if not given, would otherwise be a misinterpretation of it.

“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.

Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man,”

(2 Corinthians 7:1 &2)

The promises mentioned come from the previous chapter and are in reference to the adoption of these Gentiles into the family of God, previously only available to the Jews, before the coming of that New Covenant given through Christ Jesus.

That second verse comes about as Paul worries about how he will be received after having given that first letter  that pointed out the many failings and false teachings creeping in that made that people unacceptable in their worship, and unacceptable to God altogether because of them adhering to those teachings of men, rather than those of Christ Jesus.

Far too few “men of the cloth” can today make the statement made here by Paul!

 Many are in fact doing exactly the opposite while proclaiming that same self-righteousness that the Pharisees chose to exhibit.

Harm is being done daily by them to all they profess to support because of the way that they present both themselves, and the way in which they misrepresent those very teachings of Christ. This in turn corrupts that message of love, and turns it into a means to defraud those listening into lining pockets of teachers instead of providing and giving the solace to those in most need of the love that was taught by Christ.

Paul is clarifying why the original letter was written, and continues on to give praise for progress made, while gently reminding them of progress still needed to teach the Way, Truth and Life that is the purpose of this and all assemblages both then and now.

“I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorifying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.

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.

Nevertheless, God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;

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.”

(2 Corinthians 7:3-7)

Paul reminds this church that what was written in that previous letter, and that what is also being given in this one is given not in pure and abject reproach of this church, but through love intended for it both by himself and Christ Jesus.

The corrections to behaviors not even considered by them to be wrong or sinful required the chastisement that had been given to be approved in that love, not as a condemnation and rejection of them altogether that would have been the alternative had they not begun to make those corrections.

The fightings from without, continue constantly today, created by a society that still clings to the same misleading teachings of men rather than those of Christ. It seems at times that all effort to stem the tide of those teachings is futile, wasted effort, and it would be far easier to just allow them to swallow the entire populace of the world about us because of the fact that those attempting to teach that Truth Way and Life are so few.

I would be easier to retreat into the confines of a “church” and fall back into that self-righteousness that only sees the sins of that world, and never holds a mirror to ourselves and search out the scriptures instead to show others the love required of us instead of the condemnation most give in its place only.

It would be easier to retreat into the feel good philosophy, and listen to the ones teaching only the blessings available, and ignore any chastisement for sin in our lives.

In short, it is far easier to choose to follow men, rather than to find and follow God, and the love intended for us by Him, simply because as men, we see only with the eyes of men instead of accepting the sight given our souls of that Truth Way and Life.

Paul stated in that opening verse that it gave him pain to have to give the corrections given, to show them where they had deviated, and to lead them back to the love and salvation provided them.

He also stated that that pain was removed by the fact that they had listened and made corrections…for a season.

Here is the meat of today’s message.

“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.

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”

(2 Corinthians 7: 9 & 10)

There is that little bitty short word again  that is either forgotten completely or used only in reference to those not already within the confines of the cliques of folks calling themselves churches today; REPENTANCE!

Few today find any sorrow in their behavior, or for the teachings taken over those of Christ, preferring condemnation and judgment of others instead. The sorrow required to come to that repentance is ignored, because of the rejection of the need to even see where the teachings of men have corrupted what was and is taught in the scriptures, taught and expected by Christ.

Without first finding that sorrow, no repentance is possible, and no redemption is available.

Paul took no glee in the sufferings of others; neither should any take glee in the suffering of any about us in the misery caused by failure to accept the Truth, the Way and the Life given us.

He did take joy in the ones who found that sorrow, not in others, but in themselves that led to a true repentance and through it the redemption that he sincerely and zealously taught… AS DID JESUS, for the ones capable of both the sorrow, and repentance it brought.

There is never a need to feel badly about pointing out the need of that sorrow and repentance, but there is a definite need to first find it for yourself before attempting to teach only the condemnation of not having done so, without first finding and teaching the love, and showing that same love demanded of us by that only Way, Truth, and Life, that has no corruption, intends no harm, and accepts no fraud!

The demand made by that Way, Truth and Life, is not but for a season, not to put back into the closet when church is over Sunday evening, but must be continual… as must also the search for both godly sorrow and repentance if any joy is to be found.

Again, before any questions arise as to any need for Christians to be miserable continually, this is not the case! What is the case is that to have and to maintain any joy requires constant and consistent daily effort to truly live that one commandment of loving one another given by Christ. That love must exist and be shown, anything less is to take only the fallible and false teachings of complete denial of Christ by denying any portion of what was given us.

All or nothing! He gave us all. He deserves our all. Too many attempt to give a little for a season, and reality give nothing but death instead of that promised life.

We are imperfect. That imperfection demands sorrow to repentance, not just once as we accept Christ as savior, but continually as well, because we are only perfect when the soul is finally released from the imperfection that houses it.

Despite that imperfection, we must strive for perfection, and can only do so by means of the scriptures… and prayer. That prayer must include sorrow, to repentance, first for us, then for others, not in condemnation of them, but prayer that they too find the sorrow and repent allowing both forgiveness and redemption.

To cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, to perfect holiness in the fear of God is the only acceptable goal that can allow for that sorrow, lead to that repentance and the grace given through the promised redemption.

That cleansing must come for each from each with each finding that fear that can perfect holiness.

Again, this is an individual responsibility, and individual choice, made only by the individual for that individual. It cannot be made by others. It may only be pointed out as available through the love commanded of us.

I close in prayer that all find that same sorrow I found long ago when I accepted Christ Jesus, and that I still find daily because of the imperfection of my own humanity. I pray that all come to that initial repentance that grants eternal life, and that each remembers that that repentance is not to be given but for a season, but throughout life until perfection is achieved only through the intercession of Christ Jesus.

I remain a simple sinner saved by grace that is sufficient to be kept in His hand and granted eternal life through my faith in that constant intercession made by Him, still imperfect, still striving for that perfection with sorrow that still requires repentance.

I remain also still that imperfect but adamant soldier, who with love only, would defend and promote the teachings of Christ Jesus alone, while combatting the teachings of men that come only from Lucifer because of his hatred of mankind with the intent of separating us from the love given and demanded in return by my Savior, also not only for a season but forever.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer