“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.” – 2 Corinthians 7:9-11
As the Apostle Paul went on in his travels after his ministry in Corinth, he was distressed about the church there. This was true for a couple of reasons. First, Paul wrestled with being anxious about them as he didn’t meet Titus in Troas, and therefore couldn’t hear report of how the Corinthians received Titus when he arrived, nor could he hear how things went while Titus ministered to them. In addition, part of Paul’s distress came from the trouble he and his colleagues encountered when they arrived in Macedonia. Explaining that they had “no rest”, but were “troubled on every side”, Paul says in verse 5, “Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.” Praise God that He is the One who comforts the downcast, who lifts up the lowly and humble! (v. 6)
When Titus and Paul were finally able to connect, Titus brought good news and God used him to provide much comfort to Paul regarding the Holy Spirit’s work in the saints there. In what ways was His work evident? In the Corinthians’ earnest desire, their mourning, and their zeal for Paul. (v. 7) As Paul was faithful in his shepherding of the Corinthian flock, by God’s grace, both his instruction and correction bore good fruit. (Proverbs 28:23) Also, having heard that Titus was comforted and refreshed by his time with the saints there, Paul’s heart was comforted even more. (v. 12)
Now, why were the saints mourning? Their sorrow was largely over their sin regarding their involvement with dissension in the church, as well as not disciplining the incestuous man allowed to remain in sin in their midst. It’s true that Paul both rebuked and taught the saints about biblical discipline, and the man was excommunicated (1 Corinthians 5). It’s also true that in time, by God’s grace, the man was restored to the fellowship of the church after his sincere repentance (2 Corinthians 2). So, Paul greatly rejoiced as he heard about the work of the Spirit in their hearts as their godly sorrow led to repentance.
This is a wonderful lesson, isn’t it? Not only should you rejoice like Paul when you hear of one, or many, express genuine repentance because of their sin, but also grow in knowing that godly sorrow is what leads to repentance. You don’t choose such sorrow. The Spirit works it in you. This is really one of the only occasions when it’s good and right to rejoice in one being “made sorry”, for they were made sorry “in a godly manner”. Further, you can’t stir up repentance in your own heart. It’s a gift you’re drawn and led to. Do you see and understand this, my friend? Such sorrow should be regular and active in your own life, leading you to regular repentance. As Martin Luther famously stated in the first of his 95 Theses, “By saying “Repent,” our Lord and Master Jesus Christ willed that the whole of the life of believers should be repentance.” (What Were the Ninety-Five Theses?, Ferguson)
We find good examples of godly sorrow and repentance in the Scriptures.
- Remember, when Peter denied Christ at His arrest and trials. When he was accused of being one of Jesus’ disciples, Peter disowned Jesus, swearing that he didn’t know Him. What happened when Peter heard the rooster crow three times? He remembered the words of Jesus, who prophetically told Peter he would do just that. What did Peter do? He went out and wept bitterly (Matthew 26:74–75).
- David revealed his own godly sorrow for his sins in many of his psalms. Listen and learn from his plea in Psalm 6:6- “I am weary with my groaning; All night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears.”
- Paul described his own battles with sin: “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Then he gives the answer: “I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:24–25).
Not only does Paul address the need for repentance being an ongoing practice in the Christian life, but he also points to godly sorrow producing repentance leading to salvation. What is repentance unto life? It’s an “evangelical grace”. (Westminster Confession of Faith 15.1) “By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavoring to walk with him in all the ways of his commandments.” (Westminster Confession of Faith 15.2)
As it’s essential to understand what true repentance is and its role in salvation and life, it’s also important to understand the contrast between godly and worldly sorrow in this passage. Matthew Henry helpfully notes, “There is a great difference between this sorrow of a godly sort and the sorrow of this world. Godly sorrow produces repentance and reformation, and will end in salvation; but worldly sorrow worketh death. The sorrows of worldly men for worldly things will bring down gray hairs the sooner to the grave, and such a sorrow even for sin as Judas had will have fatal consequences, as his had, which wrought death.”
Indeed, Beloved, the end of godly sorrow and worldly sorrow are completely different. The one is life, and the other is death. Godly sorrow isn’t to be regretted. We don’t repent of repenting. However, worldly sorrow should and will be regretted. The fruits of repentance are best evidence of the genuine nature of it. For, as we’ve learned well in Matthew 13, where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed too. Praise God for what godly sorrow produced in the Corinthian saints. Praise the Lord for what it produces in you! It brings about a greater carefulness to avoid sin and walk faithfully with your Lord each and every day. It clears you and grows you in humility, in the fear of the Lord, in zeal and delight in your duties of obedience.
Therefore, hear and obey the call of James in James 4:8-10, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”