2 Corinthians 7:10; Godly Sorrow Worketh Repentance to Salvation

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

A man who is truly sorry for his sins mourns with godly sorrow with a mind-settled to stop sinning. Such a one finds forgiveness with God in Jesus Christ.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The church in Corinth consists of believers who were not walking right with God and needed to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. They needed to be delivered from their sins. The Apostle Paul prayed that there would be genuine contrition of heart to put sin away once for all. He encouraged them to understand such deliverance will bring God’s peace and joy to their hearts again. There shall be no regret for their godly courage to repent of their sins will bring God’s blessing to their lives again.

He contrasted with the worldly type of sorrow for sin that is not genuine which MacDonald observed well, “The sorrow of the world is not true repentance but mere remorse. It produces bitterness, hardness, despair, and eventually death. It is illustrated in the life of Judas. He was not sorry for the results which his sin brought to the Lord Jesus, but only remorseful because of the terrible harvest which he himself reaped from it.”

Indeed, there is as much joy in the heart of God when He forgives, as there is in the heart of the sinner when he is forgiven. God is as blessed in giving as we are in receiving. [Spurgeon] Amen.