Godly Sorrow And Repentance

“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 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.”  II Corinthians 7:10,11

Having grandchildren in our home from time to time has brought back many memories of when our own children were small. These memories include the JOY of little ones running around, playing, and just having a good time being children. But, also included in these memories are times when some sort of correction must be applied toward one who has just committed an offense. 🙁  When this happens, the offender most always begins saying:

“I’m sorry…Nanna, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Nanna….”

Hmmmmm

Now, if an onlooker were to hang around long enough, they would soon find out that the offender wasn’t really that sorry after all. Before long, that very same little tyke would be found guilty of the very same offense and here we go again:

“I’m sorry…Nanna, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Nanna…”

Even though our little one was SAYING they were sorry, the evidence was not there. If they were sorry at all, it was only because they were missing out on the present fun and laughter going on in the living room.

Just saying, “I’m sorry” does not always mean true sorrow is present in an individual’s life. How often are those very words spoken with not one bit of sincerity whatsoever? Some possible scenarios come to my mind…

“I’m SORRY….OKAY?!?!?!”  (accompanied by a rolling of the eyes)

“I’m sorry…I never do anything right….”  (accompanied by a “woe is me”…”poor me”…pity-party attitude”)

“Ok, I messed up…I’m sorry…but…”  (while they proceed to tell everything the other person did)

One major problem with the attitudes like the above is, that although the individual may be SAYING they were sorry, in their heart they were not truly convinced of their guilt.

True sorrow begins when a person is confronted with and convinced in their own heart of their sin. The verse at the beginning of this post gives a very clear picture of what godly sorrow will produce in a person’s life. A portion of Matthew Henry’s comments are as follows:

“The happy fruits and consequences of true repentance are mentioned (2Co 7:11); and those fruits that are meet for repentance are the best evidences of it. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed too. The Corinthians made it evident that their sorrow was a godly sorrow, and such as wrought repentance, because it wrought in them great carefulness about their souls, and to avoid sin, and please God; it wrought also a clearing of themselves, not by insisting upon their own justification before God, especially while they persisted in their sin, but by endeavours to put away the accursed thing, and so free themselves from the just imputation of approving the evil that had been done. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments; it wrought fear, a fear of reverence, a fear of watchfulness, and a fear of distrust, not a distrust of God, but of themselves; an awful fear of God, a cautious fear of sin, and a jealous fear of themselves. It wrought vehement desires after a thorough reformation of what had been amiss, and of reconciliation with God whom they had offended. It wrought zeal, a mixture of love and anger, a zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought, lastly, revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make all due satisfaction for injuries that might be done thereby. And thus in all things had they approved themselves to be clear in that matter. Not that they were innocent, but that they were penitent, and therefore clear of guilt before God, who would pardon and not punish them; and they ought no longer to be reproved, much less to be reproached, by men, for what they had truly repented of.” ~ Matthew Henry

Our pastor has been preaching an EXCELLENT…EXCELLENT series on Biblical evangelism and my, my…how the Lord has used these messages to give our church family a better understanding of this subject of true repentance and salvation vs. false professions. No, we can’t see into a person’s heart. No, we can’t judge a person’s sincerity. But, according to God’s Word (and that IS our final authority, right?), there are evidences in a person’s life when true repentance has taken place.

This past Sunday morning, our pastor pointed out a very good thought concerning conviction. The passage he was referring to was in Acts 22, where Paul is giving his own testimony of salvation while on the road to Damascus. In verse 9 we read:

“And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.” Acts 22:9

Although there were others present with Paul on that journey to Damascus, Paul was the ONLY one who heard God’s voice that day. As our pastor pointed out, a room may be filled with people yet the Holy Spirit’s voice of conviction may be heard by only one individual.

The girls and I were discussing these thoughts earlier this week and here’s a thought to ponder that will end this post. At the time of your profession, had God Himself spoken to you and convinced you of your lost condition?

There may have been a family member who lovingly dealt with you at home.

There may have been a member of your church family who, with concern, opened up their Bible and showed you where God’s Word says, “For all have sinned…”

But, although you may have heard the voice of an individual telling you that you were a sinner…and although you may have read with your own eyes Romans 3:23…had God troubled your heart of your lost condition? Were you convinced, not by man but by GOD, of your guilt?

Those sweet little grandbabies of mine may hear Nanna’s voice tell them they have done something wrong, but too often it is very evident by their actions that they are not convinced in their own heart of their wrongdoing. Their “I’m sorry” is simply an attempt to receive a free “get out of jail” card…(or should we say “get off the chair in the corner” card) back to the toys.

My friend, without true conviction – where GOD has convinced you of your guilt – there is NO salvation. Any “I’m sorry” that was not accompanied by true repentance is nothing more than an attempt at a “free pass” to heaven.  We must remember, however, that when it comes to our eternal destination, we’re not playing Monopoly or any other game. Salvation is real. Heaven is real. Hell is real. Please, please take time today to ponder your own spiritual condition.

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves…”  II Corinthians 13:5