“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
Being sorry for something can mean two different things. Paul points out that there is a godly sorrow and a worldly sorrow. One is a true sorrow, while the other is a false sorrow.
People will often have a sorrow that is like a child’s sorrow: they are sorry that they got caught. Think of a little brother and sister fighting. The brother hits the sister and hurts her. The parent tells the boy to say “I’m sorry”. He does but with no meaning behind it. In his heart he is still glad that he hit her. He is only doing it because he got caught and had to do it.
This is the type of sorrow that the world has. There is no meaning behind their words. It does not change how they live or react. According to Paul this will ultimately bring about death. It brings about death because there is no repentance being done. Without repentance God cannot forgive a person, thus they must die in hell.
Godly sorrow, however, works differently. This sorrow knows that one did wrong and is extremely sorry for doing it. It brings about great remorse for doing the wrong. In this sorrow a person will then seek forgiveness and strive to change and never do it again.
There are some who have a “godly sorrow” but refuse to forgive themselves or believe that God can and does forgive them. They continue to live in regret of the sin and constantly ask for forgiveness for the same sin. This is not Godly sorrow. God’s sorrow knows that sin was done and that God can and does forgive. In His sorrow there is salvation offered.
Where are you at with your sorrow? Are you sorry you got caught by God? Or maybe someone else?
Or are you sorry that you did the sin? Are you will to repent and turn away from that sin?
Seek God’s Holy Spirit to reveal the forgiveness you are offered and the strength to turn from the sin. Have no regrets. Do not bring on death to yourself.
I pray today that God will help you have true sorrow for sin in your life; that God will guide you in turning from all sin; that you will know the forgiveness Jesus offers; and that you will not have any worldly sorrow in your life.
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