Godly Sorrow Leads to Repentance!

“Godly sorrow” is often confused with “regret”. Tears and remorse are no true indication that a person has repented of a sin. The real test of repentance is submission, actions that show one has submitted to the authority of another. After challenging the Corinthian believers to discipline a brother who had fallen into immorality, Paul said that they responded to his letter of instruction to them with “godly sorrow.” This “godly sorrow” produced earnestness, eagerness to clear themselves, indignation, alarm, longing, concern and readiness to see justice done (2 Corinthians 7:11). “Worldly sorrow” is simply regret. It produces blame shifting, emotional shows, dodging of facts, half- confessions (“If I’ve done anything wrong…”), and insincere promises to change (2 Corinthians 7:10).

The Corinthians were alarmed over their sin, sincere to right the wrong, eager to address the issue and ready to make things right. In a word, they “submitted” to Paul’s authority and were willing to take the necessary steps to right their wrong. Such action, not regret, is “godly sorrow.”