I'm Sorry
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2 Corinthians 7:8-10, “For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. [9] Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. [10] For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Paul, in writing a letter to Corinth had made the sorry (2 Corinthians 7:8-10). Being sorry is a good thing when one has done wrong, but the sorrow is not always what it should be. Were the people of Corinth sorry that Paul caught them doing wrong? Were they sorry that they were embarrassed by Paul confronting them? Or were they truly sorry that they had done wrong?
Paul then continues to tell them that he is not rejoicing because they were sorry, but rather because they were sorry enough to repent. Sorrow does not always lead to repentance, but Godly sorrow does. Godly sorrow is when we are truly sorrowful of the fact that we have done wrong and are willing to change from the wrong that we have done to do right.
Paul then goes on to describe the effect that Godly sorrow had on them. 2 Corinthians 7:11 says, “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”
-Godly sorrow produced “Carefulness” or “eagerness, diligence”. It caused them to put forth effort towards doing right.
-Godly sorrow produced “clearing of yourselves” or their answer and defense for doing right.
-Godly sorrow produced “indignation” or being displeased with themselves.
-Godly sorrow produced “fear” or respect for God and that which is right.
-Godly sorrow produced “vehement desire” or an overwhelming desire to do right.
-Godly sorrow produced “zeal”. They were very motivated to change to doing right.
-Godly sorrow produced “revenge” or vindication. They wanted to make their wrong right.
Sorrow of the world is common. Sorrow of the world is worthless. Yet when we have Godly sorrow and someone points out sin in our lives, then we will put forth every ounce of our energy into changing our heart and mind to be right. The only way we can ever be right with God is if we are willing to have Godly sorrow when we are wrong.
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I shall be a penitent man.
