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Safe Spaces (2 Corinthians 7:2-16)
David Sunman, 9 July 2017
Part of the Defending the Faith series, Sunday Evening service
In schools, colleges and universities today, there are often ‘safe spaces’ in which people know that they will be free from anything that they might find offensive and especially views with which they would strongly disagree. There is an appeal to having places like this where we can know that what we already think will be affirmed and even reinforced. However, are these places where we can really grow and develop?
Paul had a situation in Corinth that he had to confront. In doing so, he ran the risk that he would be shut out of the very community that he had founded if they found that his views offended their ‘safe space’. This evening we will look at the results of his challenge and see how we can truly find a safe space.
| Earlier: | Same day: | Later: |
|---|---|---|
| « Holiness | True Love | The God who speaks today » |
2 Corinthians 7:2–16 (Listen)
2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
5 For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort with which he was comforted by you, as he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced still more. 8 For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. 9 As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.
10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 11 For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 12 So although I wrote to you, it was not for the sake of the one who did the wrong, nor for the sake of the one who suffered the wrong, but in order that your earnestness for us might be revealed to you in the sight of God. 13 Therefore we are comforted.
And besides our own comfort, we rejoiced still more at the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14 For whatever boasts I made to him about you, I was not put to shame. But just as everything we said to you was true, so also our boasting before Titus has proved true. 15 And his affection for you is even greater, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling. 16 I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you.
(ESV)