I'm SORRY................REALLY?

Image result for are you really sorry

2 Corinthians 7 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

 Paul delineates two different kinds of sorrow.  When you feel bad about something you have done, you might feel bad and be "sorry".  Often this sorrow is something you brought on yourself by making a bad decision, or pursuing the wrong thing.  Sorrow can often be a feeling that makes you feel bad,  or causes you to isolate and withdraw from others.  The bottom line is that just because you feel "sorry" doesn't mean you are going to change your behavior that is causing your problem. Sorrow only by itself doesn't produce anything except bad feelings? 

 Paul contrasts this with "godly sorrow, which produces repentance".  The difference is godly sorrow compels someone to a change of behavior from what is causing the sorrow in the first place.  When Paul confronted the Corinthians in their immoral failures, he wasn't trying to make them feel bad.  He was trying to help them see how their behavior was not only bad for them, but put an ugly stain on the church.  Though it might have made them feel bad, he cared enough to speak the truth in love to them.  Eventually they got the point and saw his true motive and made the necessary changes.   

 It is the Holy Spirit who leads you to godly sorrow and repentance, but often the message can come through a friend, pastor, or other leader.  Think about times godly sorrow led you to repentance.  Though it might not have been pleasant at the time, I'm sure you can see the positive change it produced in your life, and how it was both beneficial to both you and those around you.  

 How many times has someone said to you they are sorry only to repeat the behavior?  How many times have you said sorry only to keep doing what you were sorry for?  I think if we are honest we would all admit we are guilty as charged.  

 But godly sorrow leads to repentance, which leads to salvation.  "Salvation" in this context means deliverance from that which was destroying our lives.  There is nothing wrong with being sorry, but make sure it is accompanied with a change of behavior. It will mean a lot more to God and those around you.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why are you persecuting me!"  Paul thought he was serving the Lord, but he was persecuting him b
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in
Read more