Godly Sorrow
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/6/2018 PM |
Text: | II Corinthians 7:10 |
Psalters: | 111, 102, 363, 83 |
Preparatory to the Lord's Supper |
- What it is.
- Paul was comforted (7) and rejoiced (9) at their godly sorrow.
- Godly sorrow is better understood over against its counterfeit: “sorrow of this world.”
- The sorrow of this world (looks genuine, but is an imitation) is found in the world of wicked men, and is only this worldly.
- It is when one is overwhelmed or cast down by earthly afflictions, disappointments, discouragements: Esau or Judas.
- It is rooted in love of self, so they remain proudly defiant against God (even in sorrow) as Cain or Esau (Heb. 12:16,17).
- Godly sorrow is a sorrow that is “according to God.”
- It springs from the new man in Christ which is conscious of God, my loving Father and of His relationship to me, even me!
- It is rooted in love for God, so I hurt because I have sinned against One Who only loves me and Whom I love.
- It longs after God because I feel the pain of separation my sin has caused.
- Godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of.
- This kind of sorrow is the cause and origin of genuine repentance.
- Repentance begins with grief and self-reproach. Unless I know this sorrow, I will never be converted to God.
- Repentance means there is a change of mind and of life, which are the “fruits meet for repentance” (Matt. 3:8).
- Such repentance will not be regretted, i.e., “not to be repented of.”
- This kind of sorrow is the cause and origin of genuine repentance.
- What is the fruit?
- First, there is deliverance from the guilt and from the bondage of sin (for that moment).
- Second, the outcome is the consciousness of rich and wonderful salvation and of amazing grace.