Godly Sorrow that Leads to Repentance
True Sorrow Doesn't End in Shame — It Ends in Freedom
SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV - For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
OBSERVATION:
There are two types of sorrow, godly and worldly. Both are vastly different.
Godly sorrow leads to repentance. It is grieving over one’s sin and realizing that I have sinned against God.
Worldly sorrow is being sorry for having been caught. It often leads to asking how we can do this and get away with it.
One leads to salvation, and the other leads to death. Literally, life and death are in the balance. Not so much physical death, for sin can lead to that, but ultimately a spiritual death.
If this were the end, how pitiful would we be? How much angst and depression would we feel? But Paul brings a glorious word into the equation. REPENTANCE.
Repentance (Greek: metanoia) is a change of mind and heart that leads to a change in behavior. It involves recognizing one's sins, feeling sorrow for them, and turning away from them to seek God's forgiveness.
2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV - For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
OBSERVATION:
There are two types of sorrow, godly and worldly. Both are vastly different.
Godly sorrow leads to repentance. It is grieving over one’s sin and realizing that I have sinned against God.
Worldly sorrow is being sorry for having been caught. It often leads to asking how we can do this and get away with it.
One leads to salvation, and the other leads to death. Literally, life and death are in the balance. Not so much physical death, for sin can lead to that, but ultimately a spiritual death.
If this were the end, how pitiful would we be? How much angst and depression would we feel? But Paul brings a glorious word into the equation. REPENTANCE.
Repentance (Greek: metanoia) is a change of mind and heart that leads to a change in behavior. It involves recognizing one's sins, feeling sorrow for them, and turning away from them to seek God's forgiveness.
How sorry do you think you have to be? What is the purpose of your sorrow for sin? It is to bring you to trust in the atoning work of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not your sorrow that cleanses you from sin, but His blood. It is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance. Has your sorrow for sin led you at one time or another fling all the burden of it at the feet of a crucified, risen Saviour? If it hasn’t, anything short of that is what Paul here calls sorrow that leads to death. – Alan Redpath.
In repentance there is a bitter sweetness, or a sweet bitterness — which shall I call it? — of which, the more you have, the better it is for you. I can truly say that I hardly know a diviner joy than to lay my head in my Heavenly Father’s bosom and to say, ‘Father, I have sinned, but thou hast forgiven me; and, oh, I do love thee!’ – Charles Spurgeon.
In repentance there is a bitter sweetness, or a sweet bitterness — which shall I call it? — of which, the more you have, the better it is for you. I can truly say that I hardly know a diviner joy than to lay my head in my Heavenly Father’s bosom and to say, ‘Father, I have sinned, but thou hast forgiven me; and, oh, I do love thee!’ – Charles Spurgeon.
APPLICATION:
Romans 2:4 NKJV - Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Acts 3:19 NKJV - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Remember, God’s goodness leads us to repentance. If it were not for the goodness (grace and mercy), we would not be able to repent, not unto salvation or unto restoration.
Repentance must ALWAYS be seasoned with grace, mercy, and the kindness of God, for that is the very nature of God.
John 3:16-17 NKJV - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Do you need to turn from your current direction back to the Lord today? Repent, turn back, and experience times of refreshing from the Lord. Repentance is not a bad thing. It is truly a glorious thing.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus, for the kindness You show us daily. Thank You for refreshing what comes with refreshing. May I learn to walk daily in Godly sorrow, not a sorrow that I got caught, but one that leads to change.
Romans 2:4 NKJV - Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Acts 3:19 NKJV - "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Remember, God’s goodness leads us to repentance. If it were not for the goodness (grace and mercy), we would not be able to repent, not unto salvation or unto restoration.
Repentance must ALWAYS be seasoned with grace, mercy, and the kindness of God, for that is the very nature of God.
John 3:16-17 NKJV - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Do you need to turn from your current direction back to the Lord today? Repent, turn back, and experience times of refreshing from the Lord. Repentance is not a bad thing. It is truly a glorious thing.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus, for the kindness You show us daily. Thank You for refreshing what comes with refreshing. May I learn to walk daily in Godly sorrow, not a sorrow that I got caught, but one that leads to change.
Godly sorrow isn't about feeling bad enough — it's about letting the goodness of God turn your heart around and lead you back to the refreshing that only repentance brings.
Posted in 08 - 2 Corinthians
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Words Spoken at the Right TimeHe Will SaveShining as the StarSOAPRepentance: It’s a Good ThingDawning of a New LifePerfect Not PerfectionThe Cure for AnxietyThe Way We Think About and Treat OthersRight AwayTax Collectors and SinnersChoosing Christ Above AllThe Yoke of LearningHope In His NameWhere Did He Learn ThisImmediatelyFrom the HeartOn This RockMustard Seed FaithTrue HumilityMission ImpossibleMoved with Compassion
February
Change Your MindInvitationDrop the MaskGood News ProclaimedDid or Did NotYour Accent Gives You AwayEli, Eli, Lama SabachthaniThe EndIf You Are WillingSins Are ForgivenCrazy!Silence! Be Still!Saw and Heard – Jesus Something BlessedEphphathaRight PerspectiveSalt and PeaceServe Not ServedRemoving DifficultiesAbundance vs Poverty
March
Never FailAnointing, Betrayal, and DenialCarry Jesus’s CrossRolling StonesGod Will Never FailSalvation In Three StoriesSlaves and SandalsThe Lord's Favor Has ComeCalling All SinnersActing As ChildrenDo You See This WomanPreaching and Announcing the Good NewsWhen We Can’tGo and Do the SameHow You Should PraySet on FireOne More ChanceTake the Lowest PlaceNotoriously Lost, But Now FoundHow Great a ChasmFaith to ForgivePray and Never Give Up
April
The Way to PeaceCornerstoneGiven EverythingThat’s Enough EntitledEarly on a Sunday MorningFull of Grace and TruthDo Whatever He Tells YouJoy CompleteBelieve What Jesus SaidWhen Traditions Get In The WayBelieve and KnowKnow the WordDisciples – Know the Word, Truth, and FreedomI’m The OneEternal Life & Eternal SecurityLoose Him, and Let Him GoLifted UpLast WordsBelieveChristlike LoveSorrow To Joy