Paul wrote, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV). Notice two contrasts in this verse: (1) Godly sorrow and sorrow of the world; (2) Salvation and death. One can learn several truths from this verse: (1) Godly sorrow will bring about repentance, (2) Worldly sorry brings death – spiritual death, (3) Repentance is not salvation, but can lead to salvation, (4) Repentance produced by godly sorry will not cause one to have any regrets.
Repentance Defined
Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words defines the Greek word for “repent” as “to change one’s mind or purpose for the better, to amend one’s life.” There are two actions involved in repentance: (1) Changing one’s mind and (2) Changing one’s life. A simple definition is “a change of mind that leads to a change in action.” Sometimes, the Bible uses the word “repent” when only one of those actions has happened. When Judas saw what had happened to Jesus the Bible says, “Then Judas, which had betrayed him (Christ), when he saw that he (Jesus) was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,… And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:3, 5 KJV). Notice the KJV says that Judas “repented.” The NASB and other versions use the word “remorse” trying to show that this was not true repentance. Judas changed his mind, but he did not change his life – he went out and hung himself. Thus, he did not manifest true repentance. Today, even though one might change his or her mind, but does not change the actions of life, biblical repentance has not been accomplished. In Matthew 21:28-30 Jesus gave a parable about two sons. The father asked the first son to go work in the vineyard and he said he would not but later he went (He repented). The second son said that he would go but did not go. The actions of the first son demonstrate what repentance is – a change of mind that leads to a change in action.
Repentance Required of Alien Sinners
There are two “kinds” of sinners: (1) Those who are not in the family of God, and (2) Those who are in the family of God. Those who are not in the family of God are called “alien sinners” because they are not citizens in God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:21; Ephesians 2:12). Speaking about that kind of sinner, Paul said, “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent” (Acts 17:30). Jesus stressed the necessity of repentance by comparing those who do not repent with the terrible fate of two events in history. He summed up one’s condition who does not repent by saying, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5).
Only by repentance can one show that he or she is truly converted. God expects a change in one’s life. Too often today, too many people want to be part of God’s family without changing their lives – without truly being converted. Having one’s sins washed away by the blood of Christ when one is baptized, does no good unless there is a change in one’s life. This is the principle stated in our text – repentance will lead to salvation only when one changes his or her life. That kind of repentance comes because one has godly sorrow. Godly sorrow is when one is sorry for his or her past life and not just sorry that one got caught in some sin. Sorrow of the world is when one is only sorry that he or she got caught.
Repentance gets one out of the sinning business, but repentance does not get it off one’s record. Sin is removed from one’s record when that one is immersed in water for the forgiveness of sin. When the people in Jerusalem asked Peter what they had to do to be saved he said, “Repent and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). Repentance had to be followed by being baptized. Saul, who later came to be called Paul, became a believer in Christ on the road to Damascus. Even though he became a believer, he was not saved on the road. Even though he fasted and prayed for three days (Acts 9:9, 11), he was not forgiven until he obeyed the command, “Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name” (Acts 22:16).
Repentance Required of Christian Sinners
Christians can be lost eternally if they sin and do not repent. Simon the magician became a Christian when he was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins (Acts 8:13). Sometime after then he sinned and Peter said to him, “Your heart is not right before God. Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you” (Acts 8:21-22). Since he was a Christian who had sinned, he did not have to be baptized again. He had to pray and ask for forgiveness. In addition to this example, John commands all Christians who sin to, “confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8-9).
Again, just with the alien sinner, a Christian sinner, must change his or her life to prove that repentance has taken place. Without the change of life, the Christian has not repented and will be lost eternally.
Conclusion
Just as our text indicated, the key to true repentance is “godly sorrow.” Without godly sorrow, one is not truly repenting. This is true whether one is an alien sinner, or one is a Christian who has sinned. May those who are not in God’s family repent and be baptized because of their godly sorrow. May those who are in God’s family, who sin, repent because of their godly sorrow. May all who claim to repent, show it by their changed life!
Wayne Burger
