2 Corinthians 7
Repentance Leading to Salvation
In Chapter 7, verses 8-10, Paul realized the issues he addressed in 1 Corinthians made the church sorrowful and that bothered him. He knew what he had to say must be said but he regretted having to say it. However, they received it well and he said that the result of their sorrow was repentance that was without regret which led to salvation in verse 10. In the same verse he also said that the sorrow according to the world leads to death.
In thinking of this I cannot help but think of Peter who denied Jesus and Judas who betrayed Jesus. Both realized what they had done and both regretted doing what they did. Jesus warned Peter that he would deny Jesus. Peter claimed that would never happen. He would stand with Jesus no matter what. Jesus also said that one of the twelve would betray Him and He later identified Judas as the betrayer. Judas went out anyway and betrayed Jesus to the high priest for 30 pieces of silver. When he realized what he had done after Jesus was arrested, Judas tried to make things right by returning the money. But, the deed was done and there was no going back. When Judas realized this he went out and hung himself and died.
There was no going back for Peter either. He denied Jesus three times just as Jesus said he would. He couldn’t take his words back. The scripture tells us he went out and wept. Jesus had taught Peter and the disciples about forgiveness. Sadly, it is often through the hard experiences of life that we not only learn the lessons but we finally understand them in ways we never could have without having gone through the experience. That was the case with Peter.
Do you know how much the forgiveness of your sin cost Jesus? I didn’t until I came to a point in life where I realized that I had committed a sin that could never be reconciled no matter what I did. I was guilty and there was nothing I could do to make things better. I was stuck with my sorrow until I realized that this was the very kind of sin that Jesus went to the cross for. It was then that I finally realized just how much my sins cost my Lord. I want to say this carefully. When I realized this I sought the Lord’s forgiveness regretting that my sins had nailed Him to the cross I deserved. It was then I finally understood my Lord’s forgiveness for my sin. Realizing this freed me from regret and led to life. I will never be free from the consequences of my sin and I am grateful for that for I never want to presume on God’s forgiveness. I am well aware that I am a sinner in need of forgiveness, but from this I understand that this is the very reason my Lord went to the cross. I cannot fix my sin. I need a Savior.
I believe that is what happened to Peter. Peter, like all of us, was a sinner in need of a Savior. Jesus had a plan for Peter’s life. Peter’s sin did not catch Jesus by surprise but it did catch Peter by surprise and there was nothing Peter could do.
Jesus went to the cross to pay for Peter’s sin, my sin, and your sin. Have you asked Him to forgive your sin? Do you really know the cost?
Pastor Dave