Godly Sorrow Works Repentance 2 Corinthians 7:10

Paul the apostle told the church members in Corinth “now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to repentance” because they “were made sorry after a godly manner, that” they “might receive damage by” Paul and his companions “in nothing”. In chapter seven and verse ten of Second Corinthians, Paul shared with the church members how, “godly sorrow works repentance” where we read:

For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of:

but the sorrow of the world works death.

The verse begins, “For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of:” Paul began with the word, “for” which means “even as, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, verily and therefore” “godly” which refers to “whatever can in any respect be likened unto God or resembles him in any way” “sorrow” which means “pain, grief, annoyance and affliction” “works” which means “performs, accomplishes and achieves” “repentance” which means “change of mind and a purpose he has formed or of something he has done” “to salvation” which means “toward deliverance, preservation, safety and deliverance” “not to be repented of” or “to a change of mind, purpose or turned away from something they did”. Paul acknowledged that true “God like change of mind and purpose” brings “deliverance and safety” that never has to be “changed or altered”.

The verse goes on to say, “but the sorrow of the world works death.” Paul added the word, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “the sorrow” or “pain, grief, annoyance and affliction” “of the world” which refers to “the circle of the earth where the human family dwells” “works” or “performs, accomplishes and achieves” “death” which means “separation whether natural or violent of the soul and the body by which the life on earth is ended”. Paul contrasted “worldly sorrow” to “godly sorrow” and concluded that “worldly sorrow” “accomplishes” “death”.

When we think through words of Paul, we see the difference between “godly sorrow” and “worldly sorrow”. “Godly sorrow” produces an effect that is lasting and eternal because a person realizes they have sinned against God. “Worldly sorrow”, however, is temporary and of this earth because a person is “sorry” they were “caught” in their sin. “Godly sorrow” is produced when a person understands their sin is against Jesus and all He stood for both as He lived and died upon the earth, and “worldly sorrow” comes when a person is only concerned and thinking about themselves. God desires for people to turn from their sins with a “sorrowful” heart toward Him, and should they only be “sorry” because they were “caught in their sin”, let them remember, that kind of “sorrow” produces “death”.

Next time Paul shares with the church members about, “indignation, fear, vehement desire, zeal and revenge”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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