Godly Sorrow

It is not enough to be sorry for sin. We must turn away from sin, and not continue in it. Godly sorrow brings about a change in our life.

Godly sorrow brings repentance, which leads to salvation. For a person who is turning to Jesus, after repentance we need to be born of the water and of the Spirit by being baptized in Jesus name for the remission (washing away/burial) of our sins and receiving the gift of his Holy Ghost.

For a person that has already been baptized in Jesus name, the blood of Jesus cleanses us if we sin and repent of that sin. The Holy Ghost convicts us of sin so we can become more and more like Christ. The Holy Ghost also convicts us of sin that we have allowed into our life, enabling us to repent and stay clean before God.

The sorrow of the world results in spiritual death, because there is no repentance, no changed life. Because Jesus loves us and wants us to be saved, he wants our sorrow over our sin to lead us to change our actions.

2Corinthians 7:9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. ["Now I am glad I sent it [a severe letter], not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way."]

2Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

Revelation 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

James 1:23-24 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

1Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

2Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.