Movatterモバイル変換

2 Corinthians 12:21
And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, andthat I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

2 Samuel 12:13
And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

1 Kings 8:47-50
Yet if they shall bethink themselves in the land whither they were carried captives, and repent, and make supplication unto thee in the land of them that carried them captives, saying, We have sinned, and have done perversely, we have committed wickedness; …

the sorrow.

Genesis 4:13-15
And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishmentis greater than I can bear…

Genesis 30:1
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

1 Samuel 30:6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

that leads to salvation
The ultimate goal of godly sorrow and repentance is salvation, which in the New Testament context refers to deliverance from sin and its consequences. This salvation is not just a future hope but a present reality, as believers experience the transformative power of Christ's work in their lives. The process of salvation involves justification, sanctification, and ultimately glorification. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative of redemption, where God continually seeks to restore humanity to Himself.

without regret
Repentance that leads to salvation is described as being "without regret," indicating a sense of peace and assurance in one's standing with God. This reflects the biblical promise that those who are in Christ are new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17) and that their past sins are forgiven and forgotten (Hebrews 8:12). The absence of regret underscores the completeness of God's forgiveness and the believer's freedom from the burden of past sins.

but worldly sorrow brings death
In contrast to godly sorrow, worldly sorrow is characterized by a focus on self and the consequences of sin rather than on God and His holiness. This type of sorrow may lead to despair, guilt, and ultimately spiritual death, as it lacks the redemptive element of true repentance. The Bible warns against this kind of sorrow, as seen in the example of Judas Iscariot, whose remorse led to his demise (Matthew 27:3-5). Worldly sorrow is self-centered and does not produce the fruit of righteousness that comes from a genuine turning to God.

- Paul speaks of “Godly sorrow,” the kind the Lord Himself produces in our hearts. It is more than feeling bad; it is grief directed toward God because we have offended His holiness (Psalm 51:17: “A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise”).

- This sorrow comes when the Spirit exposes sin (John 16:8) and draws us back to the Father, much like the prodigal “came to his senses” (Luke 15:17-20).

- It is marked by humility, confession, and a desire to turn from sin rather than cover it up (James 4:8-10).

- Genuine sorrow “brings repentance,” a decisive change of mind and direction.Acts 3:19 urges, “Repent therefore, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away.”

- Repentance is not merely emotion; it produces fruit (Matthew 3:8) such as restored relationships, renewed obedience, and eager zeal to make things right (2 Corinthians 7:11, the very next verse).

- God initiates but we respond: “In humility God grants them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25).

- Repentance and saving faith are inseparable; together they “lead to salvation.”Romans 10:9-10 assures, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

- Salvation here is not earned by tears but received by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). Godly sorrow simply clears away the pride that blocks us from embracing Christ’s finished work.

- Those who trust Christ find that repentance leaves “no regret.” Once forgiven, we no longer rehearse past sins with crippling shame (Romans 8:1: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”).

- God remembers sins no more (Isaiah 43:25), so believers can move forward with clear consciences (1 John 3:19-21).

- Any memory of past failure now serves to magnify grace rather than produce self-loathing.

- In contrast, “worldly sorrow” is grief centered on self—embarrassment over being caught, frustration over consequences, or despair without turning to God. Judas felt this (Matthew 27:3-5) as did Esau, who “found no place for repentance, though he sought it with tears” (Hebrews 12:17).

- Such sorrow may produce temporary reforms or resolutions, yet the heart remains unchanged toward God.

- Worldly sorrow “brings death” because it never unites a person to the Savior.Romans 6:23 begins, “For the wages of sin is death,” andJames 1:15 adds that sin “gives birth to death.”

- Hardening under guilt can spiral into spiritual ruin, relational collapse, even physical self-destruction. Without the life of Christ, death is the only possible outcome (Proverbs 14:12).

2 Corinthians 7:10 contrasts two kinds of sorrow. Godly sorrow, produced by the Spirit, awakens us to sin, drives us to repent, and ushers us into salvation with clean consciences and no lingering shame. Worldly sorrow, focused on self and circumstances, may weep but never worship; it ends in the emptiness and separation that Scripture calls death. The verse calls each of us to embrace the first kind of sorrow, allowing it to lead us straight to the Savior who removes regret forever.

Repentance to salvation not to be repented of.--Here the English effaces a distinction in the original. (See Note onMatthew 27:3,) Better,repentance unto salvation, giving no matter for regret. The adjective, or adjectival phrase, may qualify either "repentance" or "salvation." The latter seems preferable.

But the sorrow of the world worketh death.--As contrasted with "salvation," death must be taken in its widest sense. The mere sorrow of the world leads only to remorse and despair, to the death of a broken heart, possibly to suicide; in any case, to the loss of the true eternal life.