Monday, October 17

Sorrow

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

       This verse speaks of two kinds of sorrow.  Our world is filled with sorrow, so these two kinds of sorrow should give us some interest.  The first one we shall consider is the sorrow of the world.  It is like Judas after he had betrayed the Lord.  He saw himself condemned, so he repented himself and took the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests.  His repentance was because he had seen himself condemned, not because he was sorry for what he had done.

        Godly sorrow is different.  It is according to the will of God, and it produces a change.  See 2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  Godly sorrow worketh repentance :10.  See also 2 Tim. 2:25 "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;" 

        The Effect then of Godly sorrow is repentance.  One effect would be conscious guilt of sin Ps. 51:3-5 "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.  Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me."  Another effect is hatred for sin Psa. 119:128 "Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way."   Another effect will be the turning of the rebellious unbeliever to faith in Christ Lam. 5:21 "Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old." 

        Have you experienced the Godly type of sorrow?

 

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