When Saying Sorry Doesn't Mean Very Much!

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2 Corinthians 7:8-10

I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. 9 Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. 10 For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

We have all been in situations where someone says they are sorry but it is disigenuous. Why? Because there is no intention of changing the behavior they are saying they are sorry for. After a while their "sorry" doesn't mean much of anything. 

If that is true for human beings, how much more is it true for God. We may be able to fool the people around us, but we can't fool God. Paul had challenged the church at Corinth to turn from some pretty aggregious sins.  It was a painful letter for Paul to write and a painful letter for them to hear. But the result was that the Corinthians turned from their sin. The sorrow they experienced is what we call a "godly sorrow". It was not driven by human emotion, but by the conviction of the Holy Spirit. 

Many people try to repent based on their own willpower and it rarely works long term. They may resist temptation for awhile but without the power of God giving them a strength beyond themselves they will not be successful. And Paul says this results in salvation. Since he is talking to existing Christians, he is not necessarily talking about their coming eternal salvation. The word "salvation" also means "deliverance". In this case the deliverance is from their sinful nature which led to spiritual death.  Spiritual death is when we are cut off from a relationship with God. 

Paul cared enough about the Corinthians to confront them in their sin. It was not easy for him to write this painful letter but in the end it produced godly sorry that led to repetance. God used Paul's courage and obedience to deliver the Corinthians from harmful and destructive behaviors which affected them not only indiviually but also as the body of Christ.

Where are you feeling convicted by the Holy Spirit to turn from a behavior that is not pleasing to God? Allow the Holy Spirit to produce in you a godly sorrow that leads to repentance which will lead you to new life in Christ !

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