Godly Sorrow
“For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter.”
2 Corinthians 7:11
In this verse there are many descriptions of genuine godly sorrow. Some of them are feelings that happen within a sinner, but there are also specific changes in thoughts and actions that prove the sorrow is truly repentance and not just a bad feeling.
Paul talks about eagerness being produced by godly sorrow. The Greek word is “spoude" which means “to make haste” or “to make oneself diligent”, to deal with something quickly. We should “make haste” to deal with our sin when we are first convicted of it. If something is extremely important or a top priority for us, we deal with it in a way that demonstrates that.
Next, from 2 Corinthians 7:11 we see an eagerness to clear yourselves. The Greek word here is “apologia” which means to answer for oneself or to make a defense with reasoned argument or statement. This is not a defense of the sin or explaining the sin or excusing the sin! It is an eagerness to clear yourself by demonstrating that you want to change and are different. When a situation arises that in the past has led you to sin, you are thankful to be able to demonstrate that you changed and want to honor God.
The next description from 2 Corinthians 7:11 is indignation. The Greek word is “aganaktesis” which means “to be much displeased”. When we are indignant over sin we hate the sin! We think through what God thinks about sin. Scripture clearly states that God hates sin and calls it an abomination before him. Have you thought about how your specific sin is viewed by a holy God? Take time to think about God and his nature. What aspects of God’s holy attributes are you defiling and rebelling against in your sin? Examine yourself. What thoughts reveal that you hate your sin and take it seriously? Indignation over sin doesn’t make excuses or blame others. It is an emotional response to not wanting to offend God.
Fear is the next description listed for genuine godly sorrow which leads to repentance. The Greek word is “phobos” which just means to be in fear of. It is a dread or a terror. This can be a fear of remaining in the sin. This is a healthy fear that takes into account the seriousness of sin. To fear being in sin is to recognize that sin separates us from God, that sin will grow if it is not dealt with biblically. To fear the sin is to take God’s honor and glory seriously and not want to displease God. Fear is also the awareness of God’s glory and honor. God is just. God disciplines his children when they are wayward. It is good and right to fear the discipline of the Lord and to fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28). If we truly fear our sin, we will take steps to avoid temptation and prepare to take the “way of escape” that God provides (1 Corinthians 10:13).
Next, Paul talks about having a longing, or desire regarding holiness and purity. The Greek word is “epipothesis” which means to greatly desire or earnestly want something. This means that we long or desire to be godly. We desperately want God to change us and make us more holy and more like Christ. This involves praying for God to change us. Not once, but continually confessing and pleading with God to change our hearts, to give us a great love for him, and to work godly thoughts, desires, words, and actions into our souls. This serious longing means that every time we sin in thought, word, or action we confess and repent again. We take thoughts captive to Christ and don’t allow sinful thoughts to continue or go unchecked.
Paul asks, what zeal are you demonstrating that displays your godly sorrow? The Greek word is “zelos” which means fervent or excitement in the mind, a love of defending, embracing or pursuing something. To be zealous about sin is to want to protect and defend the people who have been hurt and affected by your sin. Having zeal is a demonstrated eagerness to treat others more significant than yourself (Philippians 2:3-4). Rather than justifying or blaming sin on others, zeal openly embraces the other person’s view and actively puts into practice words and actions that demonstrate change has taken place. Zeal, like all the other descriptions of genuine godly sorrow, starts in the heart that hates sin and longs to honor and please God, but it doesn’t stop in the heart. Zeal is noticeable. Zeal is evidenced in words and actions that demonstrates change on the inside has happened.
Next, 2 Corinthians 7:11 describes godly sorrow as “what punishment”. Other translations use the word vindication. The Greek is “ekdikesis” which translates as avenge or revenge. The bible uses this Greek word to mean meting out justice or avenging a wrong. Godly sorrow accepts the consequences of sin without complaint or grumbling. A truly repentant person doesn’t chafe at not being trusted for a while or refuse to accept whatever consequences match the sin. Rather than protecting self, a person with godly sorrow sees the need for justice to be done and patiently handles the consequences of sin. Yes, a believer is forgiven in Christ, but sin still has earthly consequences and a repentant person willingly absorbs the cost of that sin. Restitution is made through repayment and that is not just financial. It may be restitution through accountability of time, internet use, limited interactions with specific people, or whatever is necessary to begin rebuilding relationships with those who have been hurt.
Paul finishes the list with “proving yourself innocent” in the matter. The Greek word is “hagnos” which means holy. It is a desire to prove yourself pure and set apart for God. Proving yourself innocent means that moving forward, you are eager to honor God and be known as a person who is pursuing a holy life and is genuinely changed by God. Holiness is a pursuit. We are told in Hebrews to pursue holiness. This pursuit is an intentional, specific, life-long determination to be more and more like Christ as God continues works in our lives to bring our justification, sanctification, and glorification to completion. He will complete the work he has started in us (Philippians 1:6)! We do need to use the disciplines of grace made available to us - studying the Word, meditating, sitting under the teaching of God’s word, fellowship, baptism, communion, etc. We need to prove ourselves by taking new actions that reflect Christ.
As you consider the ways that you have sinned against God in your mind (thinking about your sin) and in your desires (wanting comfort, control, or approval from places other than God), spend time talking to God in prayer. Humbly come before Him, regularly, to seek His forgiveness and grace. To request His help to change your mind and heart. You cannot change on your own. It is only through the grace and power of the Holy Spirit that you become more like Christ and live to please God.
Questions:
How has your understanding of repentance changed through this study?
How does keeping the gospel in mind change your response to sin?