November 15, 2021 — 2 Corinthians 7:8-16

“Now I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because your grief led to repentance; for you felt a godly grief, so that you were not harmed in any way by us. For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death. For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves guiltless in the matter. So although I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did the wrong, nor on account of the one who was wronged, but in order that your zeal for us might be made known to you before God. In this we find comfort.” 2 Cor. 7:9-13

Notice what Paul says here: that their sorrow in itself was not the cause of his rejoicing; but the nature of it, and the effect of it made him rejoice. Why? As we intuitively know, it is our sorrow for doing wrong that drives us to seek forgiveness in the first place. And the fact that we feel our wrongs can last a lifetime — but that can only lead to beating ourselves up over again and again. Feeling our sinfulness should last for a season; and seeking forgiveness and receiving absolution turns our sorrow into joy.

Two things to notice here: first, true repentance often is preceded by feeling really, truly awful about what we have done that deserves our repentance. The awful feeling is not repentance itself, but it is a good first step toward genuine repentance, and in some sense the cause that produces repentance. We, the offender, felt really awful, and we were swallowed up for a time in that sorrow; and the presence of the Holy Spirit is calling us to repentance. But this sorrow, this feeling really awful should move beyond just feeling really bad — for if it does not, then that is not repentance. The part of our feeling really, truly bad is akin to a broken and contrite heart the Psalmist speaks of: The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

Second, when we repent, this immediately leads (or is supposed to) to a change of life and our actions. The Corinthians made it evident that their sorrow was true and Godly, which led them to repentance, because it caused them to put away the behavior/feeling/action, and so freed them to live in a closer relationship with G-d.

Most importantly, at least to this pastor, is that their repentance wrought zeal, a mixture of love and anger, a zeal for change and a new direction. They were truly penitent, and therefore clear of guilt before G-d, who would pardon and not punish them.

Let us Pray,

Lord Christ, every day we come to you with broken and contrite hearts. Help us to recognize your love, your forgiveness, and your mercy. Turn our true repentance into eternal love. Amen.

Pastor Dave