DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- GODLY SORROW

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – GODLY SORROW

"Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death." (II Corinthians 7:9-10)

There are two kinds of sorrow. The sorrow of the world is caused when a guilty person gets caught. Godly sorrow is caused by understanding that I am guilty of violating God's standard of holiness.

When I was a child, I was sorry when Mom found out that I had raided the cookie jar when she told me to stay out of it. When the evidence was clear that I was guilty, I was sorry she caught me – not because I had disobeyed her, and even if I said I was sorry, there was no sincere repentance. The world's sorrow does not lead to repentance. Only godly sorrow produces the repentance that brings change.

In Paul's first letter to the church at Corinth, the Apostle identified some things that needed to be corrected – like pride that caused divisions in the church, permitting blatant sexual immorality in the fellowship, abuse of the Lord's Supper, disregard for other people's conscience and faith, and abuse of spiritual gifts. The Believers at Corinth responded to Paul's indictments with godly sorrow and repentance.

Confronting sin is difficult and the Apostle was sorry that he had to do it, but he rejoiced that they accepted his corrections and repented.

There is real joy when we see someone repent with godly sorrow. Jesus said that there is joy in heaven when one person comes to repentance (Luke 15:7). We also should have great rejoicing when someone comes to godly sorrow that leads to repentance and Salvation.

Love, Dad