1. 2 Corinthians 7:8-16

2. Times Of Refreshing or Regret? Paul: Visited Corinth on his 2 nd missionary journey & planted a church there [Acts 18:1ff] He later wrote several letters to the believers there, two of which are included in the Bible His 1 st letter written to the Corinthians is lost [1 Corinthians 5:9-11]

3. Times Of Refreshing or Regret? Paul: His 2 nd letter to them is our book of 1 Corinthians His 3 rd letter is lost [2 Corinthians 2:6-9; 7:12] His 4 th letter is our book of 2 Corinthians (this was written less than a year after his 2 nd letter)

4. Times Of Refreshing or Regret? “My letter” Paul’s 3 rd letter to the Corinthians [now lost] It had caused the people to begin to change (repent). Receive pardon for sin [Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 3:12; 31:9]

5. Times Of Refreshing or Regret?

6. Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow V10 – “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation...” refers to the sorrow of our sins that results in changed behaviour:  Peter’s remorse & repentance [Luke 22:54-62]  King David’s broken and contrite heart when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba [Psalm 51]

7. Other Examples Ahab 1 Kings 21:27 Josiah 2 Kings 22:19 Israel in Ezra’s time Ezra 10:1 The Ninevites Jonah 3:6-9

8. Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow Vs 10 – “... But worldly sorrow brings death” refers to people who are sorry only for the effects of their sins or for being caught: Judas Iscariot’s sadness for selling Jesus [Luke 22:3-6; Matthew 27:3-5]

9. Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow Vs 10 – “... But worldly sorrow brings death” What we’ve just seen in Judas is spiritual death Revelation 20:8-15 Revelation 21:6-8

10. Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow It is difficult to be confronted with our sin, and even more difficult to get rid of sin. Paul commended the Corinthians for clearing up an especially troublesome situation [2 Corinthians 2:5-11]

11. Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly Sorrow VS11 EAGERNESS: Can’t wait to change, no delay EARNESTNESS: Serious about real/honest/sincere/genuine changes INDIGNATION: Hate sin, anger towards sin ALARM: Fear of the consequences of sin LONGING: Strong yearning to put things right CONCERN: [Zeal to change] & have real concern for God & people READINESS FOR JUSTICE: Eager to make the wrongs right

12. Times Of Refreshing or Regret? Today I urge you, choose life, embrace Godly sorrow, repent of your sins and enjoy TIMES of REFRESHING!