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Godly Sorrow

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To the church of Corinth, the inspired apostle Paul explained, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death” (2 Corinthians 7:10).  The sorrow of the world does not lead to a changed attitude toward sin.  It is a grief over the predicaments in which sin leads. Feeling sorry for oneself leads to a sinful selfishness not a cessation of sin.

Photo by Ben White

Cain murdered his brother, but the only sorrow he expressed in the Biblical account is a lament over how great his punishment was, how miserable his life as a vagabond would be, and how vengeful people would seek to murder him (Genesis 4:13-14).  Esau was upset over the loss of his birthright and blessing; however, it was because he was a profane person—treating that which was to be highly regarded as if it were nothing—that he agreed to sell his birthright  (Hebrews 12:16-17).  His feeling sorry for himself led him to comfort himself by plotting to murder Jacob (Genesis 27:42).  Judas wanted to return the money he made in betraying Christ, but his sorrow led him to hang himself instead of seeking Christ’s forgiveness (Matthew 27:3-5; cf. John 17:12).

The repentance of Peter stands in stark contrast to the case of Judas.  Peter wept bitterly (Luke 22:62).  His sorrow led him to do as Jesus prayed: turn to the Lord and strengthen his brethren (Luke 22:32).  This is the proper sadness: godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10).  This sorrow leads to a vastly different outcome than the sorrow of the world.  The contrast between the two is seen vividly in those who were “pricked in their heart” in Acts 2:37 and those “cut to the heart” in Acts 7:54.  The former felt guilt and were moved to obey Peter’s command to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38, 41).  The latter felt bad, but lashed out at Stephen, stoning him (Acts 7:57-59).

Godly sorrow is necessary to our salvation.  It brings us to the point where we determine to change our attitude and practice in regard to sin.  If we did not have godly sorrow, our hearts would be callused.  We would be “past feeling” (Ephesians 4:19) and having our “conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:2).  Be broken up over your sins.  Let the guilt you experience move you to repentance, lest you become cold-hearted and unable to respond to God’s mercy.  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

-Mark Day

The Eternal, Powerful Word

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The opening chapter of the Bible includes the phrase, “And God said,” ten times in describing the creation of the physical universe (Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 28, 29).  God spoke and it was done; His word has that supreme power.  “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast” (Psalm 33:6, 9).

John’s Gospel account opens with these words: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made”  (John 1:1-3).  This “Word” is identified in John 1:14 as Jesus Christ: God in the flesh, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”  The Word who made the world entered into His creation as a man.

Photo by Samuele Errico Piccarini

After He died and rose again, Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18).  Jesus Christ is “the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15).  He is king over the universe and all living things within it.  The word of the king has power (Ecclesiastes 8:4).  Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Jesus Christ upholds, “all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).

Unlike this perishing physical universe, God’s Word is eternal (1 Peter 1:24-25).  God’s Word was here before the world began (John 1:1-3).  God’s Word upholds all things now (Hebrews 1:3).  God’s Word will continue to be powerful even until the final judgment.  Some dismiss its importance today, “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (2 Peter 3:5-7).  There is nothing of more pertinence to life and death, to final judgment and eternity than the Word of God.

The dynamic force behind the physical universe and all of human history is God’s word.  Often people spend their entire lives focused on this physical world around them and what goes on therein without giving attention to the spiritual dynamic which is behind it all: the Word of God.  God’s Word gives spiritual, eternal life.  Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).  Jesus’ words will judge us in the last day (John 12:48).  The Bible is God’s Word. God breathed every word of it (2 Timothy 3:16-17). God’s Word is more essential to our daily sustenance than even physical food (Matthew 4:4 cf. John 4:34).  To go against God’s Word is to go against the eternal plan that extends beyond this world, (before, during, and after it).  It is senseless to go against it.  Make God’s Word the dominant force in your life.

 

-Mark Day