GODLY SORROW

"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. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of, but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

The Greek word for sorry in this verse is lypeo, meaning sorrowful, sad, distressed, heaviness. The Greek word for sorrow is lype, meaning grief, pain, heaviness, grievous. The Greek word for repentance is metanoia, meaning change of mind. Repentance, the state of changing any or all of the elements composing one's life. Attitudes, thoughts and behaviors concerning the demands of God for right living. The Greek word for salvation is soteria, meaning rescue, deliverance, the state of not being in grave danger and so being safe. This refers to the state of believers being safe from the righteous wrath to come and righteous wrath in a proper relationship with God.

i truly believe that in a moment of the divine grace (state of kindness and favor, gift, benefit, credit)of God, godly sorrow is what leads to true repentance and salvation. Without it, how can a person know God, how can He write His laws in their minds and hearts? How can the relationship start without it. In this moment in time, a person knows they have displeased God, and true fear of the Lord is stirred in the soul, the moral dread of being displeasing to God. In this crying out in godly sorrow, true faith is known and grows, the moral conviction of the truthfulness of God. Jesus is seen as the only way to God the father and to eternity. All by the grace of God. His meeting us right where we are when we call on Him (mercy) and offering us by His divine grace (kindness and favor), life, life through the death of His only Son, Jesus. i believe true salvation comes in the recognition and acceptance of these things.

This is something that happens in the heart, the seat of thought, emotion and source of action. This true and godly transformation of a life cannot be faked or feigned. The proof is in the fruit. Fruit, the Greek word karpos, meaning to produce a crop, activity, produce of a person, fruitbearing, fruitful. An orange tree does not produce apples nor an apple tree oranges. So too, our fruit if it is of God will not produce evil. We will reproduce in a godly manner, others of the same spirit. Others with the moral dread of being displeasing to God, others with the moral conviction of the truthfulness of God, others who have heard the command to go and seek and save that which was lost, and actually go. Amen.

"Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit, so shall ye be my disciples." John 15:8

Again, Fear of God is the moral dread of being displeasing to God. Grace is the divine influence of God upon the heart and its reflection in the life. Faith is the moral conviction of the truthfulness of God. Repentance is the changing of your mind, the moral compunction to think differently. Repentance should be a response to righteousness, not to sin. God's goodness, his righteousness should lead us to repentance.

David knew. "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. Howbeit, because by this deed thou has given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to thee shall surely die." 2 Samuel 12:13-14 ....and, "Against thee, thee only, have i sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, i was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother concieve me." Psalm 51:4-5 If you have never, read Psalm 51 sometime. We were all born in sin. We all suffer the consequences of choosing sin. We all need Jesus. We all need the word. Lord God help us all to choose you over all else, God help us to change and be strengthened by your word, help us to know you more. Amen.