"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly Sorrow Produces Change
2 Corinthians 7:10 talks about a godly sorrow that isn't regretted. This is compared to a worldly sorrow; one that leads to death. What does Paul mean? This godly sorrow Paul talks about comes from realizing what our sin has done to ourselves and to others. Godly sorrow enables us to see how we have failed Christ. Godly sorrow produces change. It produces repentance.
Grieve Your Sin
In James 4:9 James says to grieve, mourn and wail over our sin. When Peter realized that he had betrayed Christ just as Jesus told him he would, he weeps with bitterness (Matthew 26: 74-75). David tells us in Psalms 6:6 that he "flooded my bed with weeping" over his sin. Paul himself, in Romans 7:24, says he is a wretched man and asks who will rescue him "from this body of death". Paul knows the answer to his question. It is Jesus and Jesus alone who rescues us.
Worldly Sorrow - Oops I Got Caught!
Worldly sorrow is different from godly sorrow. I may grieve over what I have done that has hurt someone but more likely I am grieving because I got caught in my sin. I grieve for the personal embarrassment that that sin caused me. I grieve because I can't continue doing that sin. Worldly sorrow doesn't lead to change. When a person only has worldly sorrow, they continue making the same mistakes, the same poor decisions, the same sins. Their sorrow is temporary and most likely selfish. Worldly sorrow leads to death.
A Changed Life
Without true repentance there is no true salvation. Salvation leads to change. We aren't just sorry because we got caught, we are sorry and want to change the course of our life because we have sinned against God. When we realize that we have offended the God who has given us His only Son for our sins, we can do nothing but sorrow. But we don't stop at sorrow. We don't stay there.
The next verse, 2 Corinthians 7:11 says this,
"For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter. "
Sorrow Produces Something Good
This great sorrow, verse 11 says, has produced something in the Corinthian Christians. It has produced diligence (consistent persistence in following God), it has caused them to eagerly and earnestly try to make things right, it has caused indignation (anger) towards the opponents of Paul, it has produced a godly fear that respects God and respects His judgment. They now have a zeal, a great desire, to do what is right in the sight of God.
The sorrow that is worldly only leads to more sorrow. Godly sorrow however leads to something good. A transformed life, a life that determines that by the grace of God and His forgiveness we can move forward. We can stop being fornicators or adulterers or liars or proud or selfish or anger filled people with God's help. We may not be a perfect people but we are a forgiven people who have a heart to learn to "sin no more" (John 8:11).
Blessed to Be Forgiven
When we have godly sorrow we can join David when he says in Psalm 32:1-2 (NIV),
"Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit."
Doesn't it feel wonderful to know that we are blessed in such a way by God? Our sins are covered, the Lord does not count them against us! There is no regret for that old life, that old way of sin, when we turn our faces toward Jesus and accept His forgiveness. Giving up those sins we used to be guilty of doesn't cause us regret. We don't long for that life that was lived that led to death. We look forward to our hope - our Savior - Jesus Christ.
Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
O to grace how great a debtor
daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace now, like a fetter,
bind my wandering heart to thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
here’s my heart; O take and seal it;
seal it for thy courts above.
