6:14–7:102 C o ri n thia n s157Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness bea partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be apartner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’stemple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:“I will live in themand walk among them.I will be their God,and they will be my people.Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.Don’t touch their filthy things,and I will welcome you.And I will be your Father,and you will be my sons and daughters,says the Lord Almighty.”Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselvesfrom everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work towardcomplete holiness because we fear God.Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, norled anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. I’m not saying this tocondemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or dietogether with you. I have the highest confidence in you, and I take greatpride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despiteall our troubles.When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflictfrom every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. ButGod, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by thearrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought ofthe encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much youlong to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyalyou are to me, I was filled with joy!I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorryat first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am gladI sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repentand change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people tohave, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrowGod 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 lacksrepentance, results in spiritual death.
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