2 CORINTHIANS 7
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.
– 2 Corinthians 7:10-16
2 CORINTHIANS 7 GODLY GRIEF PRODUCES REPENTANCE
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When you know Christ, you are not overcome with worldly sorrow
Instead, your grief brings about repentance which doesn’t include regret
It doesn’t dwell on the loss but on the hope that you have been vindicated
Godly grief gives hope that your penitence liberates you from bondage.
Paul writes in this letter about how thankful he was that the letter he wrote to them rebuking them of their sins turned out to produce repentance to them and though he was concerned that they may take it badly and be angrier at him, he was glad that he did the right thing to confront them which led to their change of heart.
Spurgeon comments “Repentance must never be thought of as something we must do before we can come back to God. Repentance describes the very act of coming to God. You can’t turn towards God without turning from the things He is against.”
Many people think that when they sin, they have to live in the shame of what they did and condemn themselves for what they did. Jesus died for us so we can repent.
REFLECTION
- What is the difference between godly grief versus worldly sorrow?
