Text: “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” – 2 Corinthians 7:10.
Comment: Once we are able to identify any sinful deed, we need to show remorse, be displeased by it and see it as an offence against God. It is the feeling or experience of genuine penitence or remorse that paves the way for a change in heart, and hopefully a change in behaviour; and ultimately God’s forgiveness by His grace. King David, a worshipper of God after God’s heart, shared his experience or feeling of “godly sorrow” in Psalm 51:16,17 to wit: “For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (See also Psalm 51:2-4). King David declared: “For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin.” (Psalm 38:18) When we fail or refuse to regret our sins, or be displeased by them, or fail to see them as offences against God, then repentance cannot occur and neither can we receive God’s forgiveness. This state is harmful for our salvation as St. Paul makes us to understand: “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:” – Romans 2:4-6.