Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation
and leaves no regret,
but worldly sorrow brings death.
II Corinthians 7:10
Sadness, regret, anguish, despair, depression … all of these come to mind when we try to describe sorrow. But while each descriptor may be used to identify the degree of sorrow, we may have never considered there are two different types.
In his letter to the Corinthian church, Paul distinguishes godly sorrow from that which is worldly. He explains the former brings life and the latter, death. Sounds like these two types are polar opposites!
Since godly sorrow brings repentance, it means it is a response to conviction and confession. It leads to turning from sin.
Worldly sorrow, in contrast, might only grieve the consequences of the sin, but not the sin itself.
Godly sorrow focuses on God, while the worldly version fixates on self.
Initially, Godly sorrow brings new life in Christ. We cannot know Jesus as our Savior until we acknowledge we are sinners in need of being saved; godly sorrow is the first step that ushers in that new life in Him. It also begins a new life of growing in Him and abiding in Him, as we continually confess, repent, and renew – all part of a healthy, growing life that exercises godly sorrow.
As life pushes and pulls us out of alignment with God, godly sorrow brings us back onto the path of fellowship with Him. In short, repentance straightens us out.
Life with Christ means every day can be a “New Year’s Day” or “first day of school” … a new beginning with fresh resolve, ripe with possibilities.
Sin keeps us immobilized, marginalized, and incarcerated. Repentance is our ticket out. We can’t break or buy our way out, but through Christ the cell door is thrown wide. Repentance brings freedom in God’s economy.
Our new identity in Christ is permanent. We are His. Nothing and no one can change whose we are and who we are in Him. Life in this mortal body brings challenges, hard things, difficult circumstances. When we mess up, we may move out fellowship … but we never lose our place in His family.
It’s as if our lives are defined by two circles:
- The Salvation Circle: this is permanent, unchanging. We are sealed as His for eternity; the ups and downs of daily life don’t affect our adoption into the family of God.
- The Fellowship Circle: we can hop in and out of this one a zillion times a day! Sin drives us out. Godly sorrow, which leads to repentance, pulls us back in.
Inside the Fellowship circle is peace, joy, and worship. Outside? Misery, tears, and loneliness.
As we grow and mature in Christ, perhaps we will find we run out of the fellowship circle less frequently, and are prompted to repent more quickly so we jump back in. Worship will help keep us in.
Godly and worldly sorrow are weighty topics, but can make for substantive dialogue with your loved ones. The next time you’re seated around the table with your children or grandchildren, try throwing this question out: What’s the difference between sorrow that is godly, and the type that is worldly? You might be surprised at the perspective and insights you hear in response.
In this week’s devotional video, Laura introduces July’s Write the WORD topic: FREEDOM. We Americans love to talk about our freedom – declaring it, proclaiming it, and (particularly during the month of July) celebrating the freedoms afforded to us by our nation. But for the follower of Christ, freedom is so much more! We invite you to listen as Laura unpacks some thoughts on freedom. Then, visit our Downloads page for your own Write the WORD verse list, optional S.O.A.P. Bible study pages, and other free resources.
