Friday Faithfuls Two: 2 Corinthians

 Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi

Second Corinthians...Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth, which had some issues.  He wrote them a pretty strong letter earlier...rebuke, instruction on discipline...and in this letter he kinda sorta says, 'Sorry, not sorry'...because he was sorry to have caused them grief, but was rejoicing at the repentance that grief brought about.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.  -- 2 Cor 7:10

I wonder if, in our reluctance to offend/ hurt people, we forget that godly sorrow is a good thing.  How can one be brought to repentance without godly sorrow...the recognition that one has done things that need repenting?

If there is no repentance, there is no forgiveness.  Repentance is KEY.    There's a big difference between 'I truly regret that I ever did XYZ; I recognize that it was wrong and I renounce that behavior and will walk away from the lifestyle that produces such things' and 'I'm sorry you caught me/ called me out for XYZ; I'll be more careful in the future,'...which implies that repeat behavior is likely, for whatever reason.

If we confess a thing as sin, and repent...he is faithful and will forgive.  However many times it takes.  But if we just confess it as a 'problem' or a 'habit' or even 'that's just how I am'...there's no repentance.  Somehow our little pet failings don't seem to be sinful.  They don't hurt anyone.  It doesn't even affect anyone else.   But if GOD says it's sin....then, my friend, we must own our sin. Agree with him.  Then we can be forgiven.

And it is quite a sorrowful battle to come to the place to admit that... whatever...is sin.  The thing that separates me from God and his blessing.  Sin cannot come into God's presence.  And, while we might believe we can drop the sin at the last minute, the plain truth is that sin has hooks.  Only repentance and forgiveness can remove those hooks. Ultimately, we don't hold sin...sin holds us. If sin is not forgiven and washed away, the hooks will pull the individual to the place where sin will ultimately end up...outside of God's presence.  The wages of sin is death.  Because sin cannot come into the presence of God any more than darkness can come into a place that's filled with light.

So...how can we, as believers carrying his truth, inspire godly sorrow...and not just plain ol' offense?  What needs to change in me?  In the way I interact with those around me?