Repentance, as a word, is mostly lost in today culture, along with the words holiness and sin. As a church word, it has lost its meaning over the years. We hear the word, “but what,” we may ask, “has it do with me?” Everything.
We are called to be much more kind, and gentle, not wanting to offend anyone. But, we look back at those great preachers in the past, preaching fire and brimstone, hell and damnation. The fear of God was real and people were called to get right with God. The word used over and over was “repent.” Even those preachers of righteousness in the scripture were not politically correct.
Noah’s message from the steps going up to the Ark was not, “Something good is going to happen to you!”
Amos was not confronted by the high priest of Israel for proclaiming, “Confession is possession!”
Jeremiah was not put into the pit for preaching, “I’m O.K., you’re O.K.!”
Daniel was not put into the lion’s den for telling people, “Possibility and positive thinking will move mountains!”
John the Baptist was not forced to preach in the wilderness and eventually beheaded because he preached, “Smile, God loves you!”
The two prophets of the tribulation will not be killed for preaching, “God is in his heaven and all is right with the world!”
Instead, what was the message of all these men of God? Simple, one word: “Repent!” [1]
But we say, “I told God I was sorry for my sins and asked for forgiveness, isn’t that enough?” The problem is we are sorry for getting caught. We are sorry we have to suffer the consequences of our wrong doings. We are sorry, it happened and someone else suffered, but we’re not sorry we did it. The fact is, saying “I’m sorry” doesn’t cut it when we turn around and do the same things over and over again. We are called to repentance.
2 Corinthians 7:8–11
When Michigan University played Wisconsin in NCAA basketball early in the season in 1989, Michigan’s Rumeal Robinson stepped to the foul line for two shots late in the fourth quarter. His team trailed by one point, so Rumeal could regain the lead for Michigan. He missed both shots, allowing Wisconsin to upset favored Michigan.
Rumeal felt awful about costing his team the game, but his sorrow didn’t stop at the emotional level. After each practice for the rest of the season, Rumeal shot 100 extra foul shots.
A few months later at the championship game, a game that went into overtime, Rumeal was fouled with 3 seconds on the clock.
Rumeal stepped to the foul line to make two free throw shots with the national championship at stake and 3 second on the clock. Winning or losing was in those shots. Swish went the first shot, and swish went the second. Those shots won Michigan the national championship. Rumeal’s repentance had been genuine, and sorrow motivated him to work so that he would never make that mistake again. As Paul wrote, “Godly sorrow leads to repentance” [2]
Repentance, true repentance, is a theme found throughout the Bible. One commentator said: “But true repentance is not the first step toward salvation. It is salvation.” [3] He goes on to say that: “Repentance is more than an admission of guilt. It is more than an apology or an explanation for our behavior. It is even more than a promise to stop. Repentance is a well-aimed missile into the heart of our sinful nature.” [4]
What did Jesus preach, and John the Baptist before Him?
Matthew 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
This message was central in the Old Testament as well:
Ezekiel 18:32
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord GOD. “Therefore, repent and live.”
And this repeated over again in the New Testament many times.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
The very act of repentance is an integral part of our salvation and in our sanctification.
In today’s text, Paul is writing to the Corinthians, not just for the second time. Many Biblical scholars believe that 2 Corinthians was at least the third letter Paul wrote. Many of these scholars believe there was another letter that is lost to us.
2 Corinthians 2:4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.
This lost letter is what is known in the Biblical scholars circles as the “letter of tears” Paul must of written the church at Corinth at some point when he heard there were factions against him and that corruptions and sinful lifestyles where being tolerated. So a strong letter of rebuke was written that caused much pain and suffering. For whatever reason, God saw to it that that letter was not entered in our canon of Scripture. If 1st Corinthians was that letter, then it must refer to chap 5 where Paul deals with the issue of sexual immorality going on in the church at Corinth.
2 Corinthians 7:8 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while—
The word “caused you sorrow” in the Greek could also be translated “grief.” The KJV/NKJV has “made you sorry.” In usage it conveys an irritation, an offense, perhaps even an insult, resulting in a painful emotional experience. Paul does not apologize for it, but he does not like that fact that he had to be the disciplinary. It is like the parent that says to his or her child before punishment is executed, “This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you.” But the sorrow had its desired effect:
2 Corinthians 7:9 I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us.
Paul rejoices, not because they suffered emotional pain from his letter, but that the pain that was inflicted led to repentance. What does it mean when Paul said: “were made sorrowful to the point of repentance?” They were made sorrowful “according to the will of God” or in a godly manner (NKJV). Having a godly sorrow is taking God’s side against yourself and against the sin. It is the realization that you have offended a holy God. Not just that, but a holy God that had given us Jesus, who gave us His all that we might be saved.
Remember, these are Christians that Paul is writing to. Though the message is the same to unbelievers, we as Christians should know better. We tend to make out the grace and mercy of God to be cheap. In our minds we either consciously or unconsciously think that we can do wrong because God will forgive us. Paul had something to say about that:
Romans 6:1–2 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
When we sin, we ought to be full of remorse and on our face before God. Worldly sorrow begins when we are deprived of something as a consequence of our wrong doing, we lost some material possession or opportunity. Worldly sorrow is self-centered. Godly sorrow begins and ends with Him. We have wronged God, and cause His anger. We deeply regret offending Almighty God. Peter exhibited Godly sorrow when he denied Jesus:
Matthew 26:75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
When Peter realized what he had done, how, in his mind he betrayed Jesus, and how that hurt Him. He was remorseful, and his remorse led to repentance and Jesus restored him in John 21.
Judas, he was remorseful too, but his was a worldly sorrow.
Matthew 27:3–5 Then when Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that He had been condemned, he felt remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to that yourself!” 5 And he threw the pieces of silver into the temple sanctuary and departed; and he went away and hanged himself.
Judas was upset that his plan did not work. It was focused on himself, not that he did wrong. The focus was not on Jesus, but himself. And what was the result? Death.
2 Corinthians 7:10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.
The results of “sorrow that is according to the will of God” or godly sorrow (KJV/NKJV) and worldly sorrow are vastly different. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Repentance in Greek means literary, a change of mind, a change of direction. Godly sorrow is active. It is not sitting and bemoaning. It is agreeing with God that our wrong was vile and we hate what was done. We own up to what was done, take ownership of the deed and accept the consequences (yes we may be forgiven of our sins but there are still consequences).
It is making adjustments in our lives that insure it will never happen again. It is the changing of our minds. It is the changing the direction we are heading. Keeping the focus on Jesus.
On the other hand “worldly sorrow” results in despair and bitterness. Often it results in paralyzing the individual, resulting in self-pity – or pity parties.
As worldly sorrow continues to break down the individual, it leads to blaming others. “Look what the world made me do” and the perpetrator of the sin moves on to make himself out to be the victim. They say “I’m a victim of my circumstances” and refuse to take ownership of the their sins. And this leads to death, at least spiritually, if not physically.
How many people do you know, perhaps it may be a lot closer with self-examination, people that are walking around dead, who firmly believes their condition is everyone else’s fault but their own. But Godly sorrow produces repentance, and this repentance leads to salvation.
Salvation here is not just the saving of our souls, but remember that Paul is writing to already saved people. Salvation here also mean deliverance from the bondage of that sin. Remember godly sorrow moves outward and upward. Godly sorrow has its focus on Jesus.
2 Corinthians 7:11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
Look at what transpires, all description of true repentance: “what earnestness” this “godly sorrow” was resulting in them doing what is right.
“what vindication of yourselves” the act of clearing and cleaning themselves from all association with the sin. This is not trying to justify or excuse themselves from the sin but making a resolute action to put distance between them and the sin.
“what indignation” against or intolerance of like sin in their midst or in themselves. Having no more tolerance for the this sin in their lives.
“what fear” of God, of His anger and wrath towards sin.
“what longing” or vehement desire to right the wrong, to make restitution.
“what zeal” for God’s glory, for God to be honored in our doings.
“what avenging of wrong!” – corrective action being taken to insure this will not happen again. The consequences of the sin, including punishment, is being accepted and not avoided. Sometimes the consequences are worst than any punishment.
“In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.” Everything that is possible has been done due to the Godly sorrow they expressed.
We are talking about restored relationship. In this case, not only with God, but between the those in the church of Corinth and with Paul.
Godly sorrow leading to true repentance will result in visible changes. Visible changes is the evidence that true repentance occurred.
John the Baptist told the religious crowd (Pharisees and Sadducees):
Matthew 3:7–8 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;
Does the fruit we bear in keeping with the repentance we profess?
Our conversion, our salvation, hinges on our repentance. But if nothing is changed, nothing is affected by our repentance and life is as it has always been, did repentance really occur. Has salvation been truly realized?
True repentance is motivated by inner conviction. False repentance is motivated by outer pressure.
True repentance abhors sin. False repentance seeks to minimizes sin.
True repentance accepts the consequences. False repentance seeks to avoid them.
True repentance fears the disfavor of God, False repentance is just looking to avoid hell.
True repentance is changed behavior. False repentance is cyclical (repeating) the same confession over and over again.
True repentance begs forgiveness. False repentance only promises to do better.
True repentance is a habit. False repentance is a debut.[5]
In true repentance, we conform to the image of Christ. False repentance keeps us just as we are.
As a Christian, I live a life of repentance. God continually shows me my imperfections for which I repent. My repentance is dependent of Jesus, to Jesus I surrender all.
[1] Michael P. Green, 1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000), 301.
[2] Craig Brian Larson, 750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers & Writers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002), 449–450. Verified by YouTube video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc-9GbuLA2I (2/19/22)
[3] Steve DeNeff, The Way of Holiness: Experience God’s Work in You (Indianapolis, IN: WPH, 2010), 64.
[4] Ibid., 62–63.
[5] Steve DeNeff, The Way of Holiness: Experience God’s Work in You (Indianapolis, IN: WPH, 2010), 64-71.
