“Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted” (2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV).
The title of this article sounds like something a naughty child might say when ordered to apologize. Can you imagine it coming from the pen of the apostle Paul? Why would he say such a thing?
“For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it (2 Corinthians 7:8a). In his previous letter, Paul had taken the Corinthians to task for a number of errors and abuses. He wasn’t particularly warm and fuzzy in that letter. He hurt their feelings! “You are still carnal” (1 Corinthians 3:3). “I say this to your shame! Is it so that there is not a wise man among you, not even one . . .? (6:5).
At first, Paul wondered if he had come on too strongly. However, he had done what they needed. His letter produced godly sorrow within them, leading to their repentance (2 Corinthians 7:9).
Did your children cry after you scolded them? Maybe it broke your heart, and you wondered if you had been too severe. Later, though, their changed attitude and behavior showed that you had done the right thing.
Hurting someone’s feelings may result in you being labeled “mean-spirited” or “extreme.” Piercing a sinner’s heart by convicting him of sin runs contrary to the world’s warm, fuzzy, false definition of love. The theme song of the old movie “Love Story” says, “Love means you never have to say you’re sorry.” But that certainly isn’t what God’s word says. One who sins ought to be sorry for it! “Godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, not to be regretted” (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Until and unless people understand the gravity of their sins and feel godly sorrow, they have no motive to repent; and unless they repent, they cannot be saved! May we, like Paul, be bold in confronting sin forcefully, in hope that godly sorrow will produce repentance leading to salvation. Biblical love will not stand by and let a soul be lost for fear that confronting him might hurt his feelings.
–Joe Slater
