7:10 What is the difference between Godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world?
7:10 What is the difference between Godly sorrow and the sorrow of the world?
Godly sorrow means genuine sorrow for sin which leads to a change of heart, causing one to turn from sin to God.
This produces repentance that leads to salvation which is not to be regretted or repented of (CP V11 with 2 Sam 12:13; Psa 51; Mk 14:53-54, 66-72; Lu 18:9-13).
We see in these scriptures the outworking of Godly sorrow working repentance unto salvation not to be regretted or repented of. Now let us look at the sorrow of the world (CP Mt 27:3-5). V3 here (KJV) tells us that Judas repented of what he had done. But it was not true repentance - he was seized with remorse.
Repented here is from the Greek word metamelomai, which means little or nothing more than a selfish dread of the consequences of sin rather than a deep regret at the cause of sin, which is what true repentance is.
The radical nature of true repentance as a complete turning from sin to God is emphasized in the parable of the prodigal son (CP Lu 15:11-24).
The father's compassion toward his repentant son here portrays God's infinite love and forgiveness towards everyone who turns to Him and repents.
This not only applies to sinners, but to Christians too (CP 2Cor 7:9; 12:21; Jas 5:19-20; 1Jn 1:5 - 2:2; Rev 2:1, 5; 12, 16; 18, 22; 3:1-3; 14, 19)