Godly Sorrow

In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul explains how the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), the God who comforts the depressed (2 Corinthians 7:6), also works by causing sorrow (2 Corinthians 7:8).

The joy of salvation starts with a call to repentance. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’” (Matthew 4:17). The Greek word for repent is metanoéō. Metanoéō is a compound word like “pancake.” Each part of the word contributes to its meaning.

“Metá” means “changed after being with” and “noiéō” means “think.” Repentance is not merely acknowledging that our actions are a violation of God’s law (sin). We must change the way we think about our sins.

Prior to encountering the Gospel we thought of sin as a means of fulfilling our desires. After encountering (“being with” being instructed by) God’s Word we think differently about sin. We see sin as an offense to our heavenly Father and as ultimately harmful to us.

The process of repentance can cause us sorrow. The sorrow may be from experiencing the consequences of sin. Those painful consequences may help to lead us to repent. Sorrow may also come from the realization of how sin has separated us from God.

But God does not shame us into repentance, He offers the gift of forgiveness through Jesus. Jesus death on the cross was the greatest act of kindness ever performed. “The kindness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

Paul brings these truths together in 2 Corinthians 7:9-10. “I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Godly sorrow leads to repentance, resulting in salvation. Godly sorrow is without regret. Regret is the emotional scaring caused by our sin. God not only forgives our actions, He heals our emotions.

Emotional healing starts by knowing He has both forgiven and forgotten our sins. “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins” (Isaiah 43:25).

Emotional healing is completed when we realize our relationship with our heavenly father has been restored, “See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are” (1 John 3:1)

Repentance leads to salvation, emotional and a restored relationship with God which never ends. “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Romans 8:38-39).