Journey Through The Bible
     Old Testament Reading: Judges 13-15
     New Testament Reading: 2 Corinthians 7

I now rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death (2 Corinthians 7: 9-10).

Paul had written a strong letter rebuking the Corinthians (See 2 Cor. 2: 1-4). Paul sent this letter to Corinth with Titus. Some time had passed, and Paul anxiously waited for a report from Titus. He began to regret writing such a strong letter, fearing that his letter was too harsh, and that he might have driven them further away from him. He had second thoughts about inflecting the pain he did upon the Corinthians. Paul said, In fact, when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest. Instead, we were troubled in every way: conflicts on the outside, fears within (v5).

Paul’s regret turned to joy when he finally met up with Titus and received his report. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the arrival of Titus, and not only by his arrival but also by the comfort he received from you. He told us about your deep longing, your sorrow, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more (v6-7).

In the end, Paul did not regret sending the letter, and he rejoiced because the letter accomplished what he had hoped. Titus reported that the letter grieved you, yet only for a while (v8).Rebuke and reprimand is painful. It is difficult to have someone tell you your actions were wrong. But as painful as it is, sometimes it is necessary.

Paul’s joy was not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance. For you were grieved as God willed, so that you didn’t experience any loss from us (v9). The difference between the sorrow inflicted by God and the sorrow inflicted by the world is one is purposeful pain, while the other is pointless pain. Sorrow according to the will of God is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end.

The letter produced a sorrow in the Corinthian believers that led them to repent of their sins. Even though it caused them to sorrow for a little while, that sorrow over their sin caused in them the desire to turn from sin and restore their relationship with God.

Paul went on to say, For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death (v10).Human sorrow and remorse without producing change has no redemptive capacity. It is nothing more than the wounded pride of getting caught. That kind of sorrow leads only to guilt, shame, despair, depression, self-pity, and hopelessness. It causes something to wither and die within us, having the deadly effect of producing bitterness.

True repentance cannot occur apart from a genuine sorrow over one’s sin, and a desire to implement change in our life. Paul said repentance belongs to the realm of salvation. Repentance is at the very heart of and proves one’s salvation. Unbelievers repent of their sin initially when they are saved, and then, as believers, repent of their sins continually to keep the joy and blessing of their relationship with God.

The apostle John said, If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7–9).