Spiritual Growth: True Repentance
“… your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2Cor 7:9-10)
For human beings who are prone to error, and in a world where the tempter is constantly active, repentance is an essential part of living harmoniously with one another and with God. John the Baptist preached repentance at River Jordan; Jesus Christ started in Galilee preaching repentance; Simon Peter began in Jerusalem preaching repentance; Paul preached repentance in Athens and elsewhere. It is truly the message of the Prophets and the Apostles – this is the first action to which they call their listeners.
Repentance means turning, changing direction in heart, mind and actions; because it is voluntary, out of self-realization, it can come with panting and sighing, emotionally expressing care, deep concerned about what is observed. A season of fasting must include repentance as a result of drawing near to God and realizing one’s faults, failures and deficiencies, or those of one’s community. Confession of sins and failures is part of sincere and deliberate repentance, exposing the works of darkness and putting the Devil to public shame.
Who should repent? While the sinner must repent to start their salvation journey walking with Jesus Christ, the saint also needs to repent whenever they are straying, or when they realize an area for improvement, or even on behalf of their community. Paul often confesses his continuous need for the grace of God; he often rebuked members of churches to which he wrote, calling them to repentance. John the Apostle in the book of Revelation brings the message of repentance to some churches that had both strengths and some weaknesses. Today’s key passage celebrates a repentance that happened in the Corinthian church.
Paul had an interesting relationship with the Corinthians: he planted the church and ministered there for many months, but when those believers started interacting with other men of God, they started weighing and comparing, and as a result divisions emerged. When Paul wrote his first letters to the Corinthians, they were not well received, and he caught wind of their challenges – some of which tantamounted to errors in their walk with God. Enraged and incensed with holy anger, Paul wrote to them a sharp rebuking letter that really hurt them; but thankfully, it caused them to turn away from their errors and return to God truly.
Paul got to know how hurt they were, but also got to know the good effects of that ‘painful injection’; he now rejoices and brings a universal lesson to us: “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” In fasting or facing correction, may godly sorrow bring you ever closer to God.
God bless you all!