“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV)
Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ with a friendly hug and kiss. Simon Peter denied Jesus Christ three times with curses and oaths. Afterward, both admitted their sins, regretted their actions, and were remorseful.
But while Peter’s sorrow produced repentance and restoration, Judas’ sorrow produced death and destruction (Matt. 26:69-75, 27:1-5).
There is a great difference between Peter’s sorrow leading to life and Judas’s sorrow leading to death. What is the significant difference?
The sorrow experienced and expressed by Peter was godly sorrow!
The sorrow experienced and expressed by Judas was worldly sorrow!
Paul writes, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” (2 Cor. 7:10 NKJV).
It is wisdom for us today to know and understand the difference between the godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation and the ungodly sorrow (the sorrow of this world) that leads to eternal death.
First, it is essential to understand that showing remorse or sorrow for sins is not the same as repentance from sins, although godly sorrow produces or leads to repentance.
It is possible to admit and regret your sins, express sorrow, and even weep for your sins but still not repent, forsake, or turn away from them.
Repentance goes beyond feeling sorry for your sins, confessing your sins, or even weeping or mourning for your sins. Repentance is essentially renouncing, forsaking, or turning away from your sins.
The Psalmist aptly explains what repentance entails.
Psalms 119:59-60 – NKJV
59 I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.
60 I made haste and did not delay to keep Your commandments.
That is true repentance!
Repentance is making a U-turn from your sinful ways to keep God’s commandments. If a corresponding change of action follows no change of mind, it is not genuine repentance!
If all you do after falling into sins is to feel sorry, regret your actions, and weep, but remain or continue in your sins, you know nothing about true repentance.
True repentance primarily involves remorse or sorrow for sins, confession of sins to God and receiving or appropriating God’s forgiveness by faith, renunciation or turning away from sins, restitution of the wrongs you have done to others, and resolution to walk in obedience to God’s Word and God’s Spirit.
Godly sorrow for sins is the effect or result of the conviction of sins brought upon the soul by the Holy Spirit. It is the temporary deep or intense grief a true believer experiences due to disobedience to God’s Word and Spirit. Why?
Because the natural or innate desire and delight of the new creation is to obey God’s Word and Spirit!
Paul testifies, “For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.” (Rom. 7:22 NKJV).
If you are truly born-again, you will not desire to continue in sins or delight in practicing sins!
Apostle John writes, “No one born of God commits sin; for God’s nature abides in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:9 RSV).
Therefore, anyone genuinely born again cannot continue to relish or enjoy sins or feel at ease while living or walking in disobedience to God’s Word.
Anyone who claims to be a new creation in Christ and still enjoys sinning or feels no inward disturbance, turmoil, or sorrow as he walks in disobedience is nothing but a mere liar, an impostor, a fraud, or a hypocrite.
John states, “Whoever is a child of God cannot go on sinning, because his seed is abiding in him; and he cannot go on sinning because he is a child of God.” (1 John 3:9 MNT).
A lifestyle of sin or disobedience to God’s Word and Spirit is inconsistent and incompatible with God’s Life, Nature, and Spirit in the born-again believers.
Paul queries, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Rom. 6:1-2 NKJV).
Fear of punishment or judgment does not produce godly sorrow but ungodly sorrow (the sorrow of this world).
Godly sorrow is the direct effect of God’s Word upon a heart that has been softened and broken by God’s Spirit. It is inward grief experienced and expressed by a heart that loves to obey and serve God but fails or falls short of God’s expectations.
Though it starts inwardly, godly sorrow could result in weeping, wailing, mourning, loss of appetite, or sad countenance.
Godly sorrow never keeps or chases you away from God but always draws or drives you to the waiting arms of the merciful God.
Godly sorrow will always drive you to the throne of grace to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness and to find grace to obey God (Heb. 4:16).
On the contrary, ungodly or worldly sorrow will always drive you away from God’s presence (a place of prayer and fellowship). It will fill your heart with the terror of God’s judgment and completely blind your mind to God’s love and mercy.
Ungodly sorrow always casts or drives souls into the prison of self-pity, guilt, regret, despair, shame, and fear.
When a soul is wholly overwhelmed with ungodly or worldly sorrow, as in the case of Judas Iscariot, suicide becomes attractive.
Friend, are you presently living in sins yet feeling no sorrow, internal turmoil, or disturbance?
That is a true indication that you are still utterly dead in your sins (Eph. 2:1-3)!
Your spirit needs to be revived, quickened, and transformed. How?
By receiving the gift of everlasting life through faith in Jesus Christ!
Beloved, are you presently weighed down with sorrow due to your sins to the extent that you cannot even cry out to God for mercy, forgiveness, and help?
Beware! That is not godly but ungodly sorrow that leads to death and destruction. Therefore, don’t let it linger on in your soul. Remember Judas Iscariot!
Any remorse or sorrow for sin which keeps you away from God is not a godly sorrow that produces repentance and leads to salvation or restoration.
Instead, it is a manipulation of the devil to keep or lock you in prison or a valley of despair, sorrow, shame, and regret. Eventually, it drives you to untimely physical death and eternal separation from God in hell.
Therefore, like Simon Peter, rise today and go before God in humility, repentance, and faith to appropriate God’s mercy and forgiveness available to you in Christ.
The Scripture assures, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NKJV).
“So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.” (Joel 2:13 NKJV).
Prayer: My Dear Heavenly Father, I reject today the ungodly or worldly sorrow which leads to death but embrace the godly sorrow which produces repentance leading to salvation, in Jesus’ name. Amen.