Repentance with Godly Sorrow

Anneta Pinto-Young 2 Minutes
“For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).

Paul spoke to the Corinthians about repentance and cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh. He warned the church about being unequally yoked with unbelievers. “And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever” (II Corinthians 6:15)? The warning was to come out from among them and be separated. We are in the world, but not of the world (John 17:16). God does not compromise and will not share his glory and worship with any other gods. Paul wrote to the church about their wrongdoings and he was joyful that they repented.

“Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing” (II Corinthians 7:9). Paul was happy that his letters to the church made them sad. They were sad because of their wrongdoing and this led them to make changes. Their sorrow produced diligence, indignation of sin, increased their fear of God, their desire and zeal. Paul spoke about the wrongs which they did, in order to look after their souls as a good shepherd.

Ministers and leaders cannot worry about a gospel of popularity. Pleasing people is sure to cause displeasure to God. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalms 118:8). We have to ask ourselves, when we do what we do, who we are trying to please. People pleasing is a snare and we can make ourselves miserable from trying to please others. Saul lost the kingdom because he was more focused on pleasing people, than he was about pleasing God. “Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice” (I Samuel 15:24).

We have to preach the gospel and be instant in season and out of season. We teach the word to correct wrongdoing, to rebuke and to encourage. Ensuring that we address issues produces a balanced diet. Don’t just teach what is palatable or what will appeal to people’s taste and senses. We cultivate a relationship with the Holy Spirit, listen to the voice of God and teach what God wants us to say. Don’t dilute your message or stifle your conviction because the message offends someone. By all means be gracious and compassionate, but your message should convict people and lead them to godly repentance with sorrow.

A.P.-Y.

Published by Anneta Pinto-Young

I am a trained Social Worker who currently provides professional leadership on a programme to support Social Work students and Newly Qualified Social Workers entering the Social Work Profession. Born and raised in Jamaica in a Christian family where my father is an ordained Pastor and Deacon who has served for over 50 years in the ministry. My father is also a trained musician and our family can be described as a musical family. I grew up in a small farming community in St. Peter’s, St. Andrew and my parents also have a small farm. I credit my gift of writing to my father who I watched and listened to over the years as he wrote sermons, poems and other recitals in his capacity in ministry. English has always been an easy subject for me and over the years I have developed an increased interest in writing. I am a Trainer, I sing and have a passion for worship, the spoken word and the free flow of the prophetic anointing. I am married to my best friend Andrew Christopher Young who is an advanced Musician and whose music you can find on YouTube and Facebook. I am a trained Coach and Mentor and I love experimenting with food so I love cooking. I enjoy trying cultural dishes from across the world and I view food as an entry into cultures and languages.

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19 thoughts on “Repentance with Godly Sorrow”

  2. 2 Timothy 4:2
    Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

    In the mindset of ministers who fear losing their congregation or their job, truth can be obscured, or the light gets dimmer, at the very least they don’t bark (Isaiah 56:10).

    You mentioned king Saul, he did do what the people wanted, instead of what God had said.

    Saul was already on a downward spiral, he had failed when he did the sacrifice when he was impatient to wait for Samuel.

    Saul was the will of the people, though God did choose him, but Saul never really sought the Lord.

    Which leads me to ask, why are ministers taking the job if first, they are not called, and second, if they are going to do the will of the people.

    Thank you for you post.
    God bless you.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by to read and comment. People take on things that they are not called to do at times out of greed, envy, wrong counsel or advice. Some people may have a good grasp of the word and that makes people assume that the are called to be ministers. We have to know for ourselves what God and called each and every one of us to do. Some people grow up learning to please people because they may not have had acceptance from family and friends. A seed of rejection can cause people pleasing and in this case, people need counselling and deliverance before entering ministry I believe. We have to be safe to minister to people. I don’t mean perfection because that is unattainable and God can still use us in our mess. That being said, we should seek to grow continuously and also have systems of accountability. Saul had Samuel but he still made many mistakes. Long subject and I don’t believe any of us has all the answers. Primarily for me is listening the Holy Spirit and remaining yielded and submitted to God.

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      1. Amen, I believe these as well. With the calling comes boldness, even in the face of trial and rejection. The apostle Paul is the best example of one who is called by God, and rejected by men, still bold and fervent in his ministry.
        God bless you

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  3. Such an important thing, to not preach according to what the people want to hear but what God wants to say. As is from His word. We are not to add or take away from scripture.

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