Immerse: Messiah - Flipbook - Page 169
6:14–7:10
2 C o ri n thia n s
157
Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be
a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a
partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s
temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said:
“I will live in them
and 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 ourselves
from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward
complete holiness because we fear God.
Please open your hearts to us. We have not done wrong to anyone, nor
led anyone astray, nor taken advantage of anyone. I’m not saying this to
condemn you. I said before that you are in our hearts, and we live or die
together with you. I have the highest confidence in you, and I take great
pride in you. You have greatly encouraged me and made me happy despite
all our troubles.
When we arrived in Macedonia, there was no rest for us. We faced conflict
from every direction, with battles on the outside and fear on the inside. But
God, who encourages those who are discouraged, encouraged us by the
arrival of Titus. His presence was a joy, but so was the news he brought of
the encouragement he received from you. When he told us how much you
long to see me, and how sorry you are for what happened, and how loyal
you are to me, I was filled with joy!
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. 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. 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.
