2 Corinthians 7:11
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
This godly sorrow is sorrow for sin itself in its grievous character and cause, producing carefulness, clearing of self, indignation against sin, fear, vehement desire, zeal, and corrective action to set the wrong right. It is not mere mourning over exposure or over unpleasant results that follow wrongdoing. Wrought by divine grace, it leads the sinner to view sin in the light of God and His law, to seek pardon through Jesus, to confess and forsake sin, and to bring the will into harmony with God's will. Its reality is proved by decisive change, shown in reformation of life, removal of what offends God, restoring what was taken, loving God and others, and making restitution for past wrongs. Without this true sorrow conversions are superficial, with no reformation made in the life and no lasting change.
Meaning and Historical Setting
True godly sorrow is genuine repentance that shows itself in seven active responses: careful attentiveness, clearing oneself of wrong, indignation against sin, reverent fear, vehement longing for what is right, zeal, and revenge in the sense of corrective action to set the wrong right. That sorrow works earnest care and a desire to clear what is wrong, with indignation, fear, strong desire, zeal, and readiness to act against the sin, so that in everything the erring prove themselves pure and clear in the matter. It leads to transformation of life and salvation confirmed by changed conduct, bearing fruit in reformation such as restoring what was taken, confessing sin, and loving God and others, which shows the sinner has found peace with God.
Godly sorrow is sorrow for sin itself in its grievous character and cause, not merely sorrow that evil deeds have been brought to light or that unpleasant circumstances have followed. It is more than regret at being exposed and more than mourning only for the result of sin, for it turns the person from sin to demonstrate clearness in the matter.
Judas mourned only the result without any real sense of sin's grievous character, after selfishness grown into covetousness and dishonesty led him to sell his Master for thirty pieces of silver. Pharaoh repented when he saw from his hardness of heart the plagues upon his people, but his repentance was not sincere, for when the plagues were removed at his request his heart was not humble and his proud spirit and determined will were not placed in submission to God. By contrast David, though he sinned grievously against God, sorrowed after a godly sort by praying that the Lord would remove the cause of displeasure and pardon his great iniquity for His name's sake. Peter's sorrow for his apostasy was sincere in bringing to God a broken and contrite heart which God has promised not to despise, so his repentance was accepted of heaven and Jesus entrusted to him the care of the sheep of His flock and also of the tender lambs, the young converts to the faith.
The occasion was Paul's rebuking letter to the Corinthians about wrongdoing meant to lead them to repentance and to action against the evil, including action against those whose sexual conduct disgraced the church. Sending the letter instead of visiting immediately gave them a chance to correct the evil before he came. In that way his later visit could be marked by love and meekness rather than correction.
Fruits Proving True Repentance
Godly sorrow produces active repentance under divine grace, which leads a person to confess sin and forsake it. The carefulness to set matters right, with clearing of self, indignation and fear, and earnest desire and zeal, showed that the Corinthians had repented and were clear in the matter. Their earnest care, desire to clear matters, indignation at sin, fear, strong desire, zeal, and resolve to set things right were the fruits of that repentance.
When sin is viewed in the light of God and His law and its true character is realized, it is put away from heart and life. Seeing sin in that light leads a person to seek pardon and grace through Jesus and to have the will brought into harmony with God's will. The living grace of truth in the heart works by faith and love to convince weary, sin-sick souls of their need of a Saviour, purifies and vivifies them, and brings pardon, hope, salvation, and peace with God. Genuine repentance bears this transformation in the life, confirmed by changed conduct.
Without this true sorrow for sin, conversions are superficial, with no reformation made in the life and no lasting reformation.
The carefulness, clearing of self, indignation against sin, fear, vehement desire, zeal, and revenge against wrong prove decisive change and demonstrate that a person is clear in the matter. Confession must be joined with reformation and the removal of everything offensive to God, which makes confession acceptable to God. That reformation is shown by restoring what was taken, confessing sin, and loving God and others. Making restitution for past wrongs shows sincere purpose and doing well.
Seeking and Supporting Repentance
True godly sorrow is to be sought personally and prayed for as the needed response to sin and wrong ways. Its admonitions are to be applied to oneself, for repentance from sin is a privilege through which saving grace is known and received. Prayer for true godly sorrow over sin leads to repentance and to receiving that grace.
Reproof given in friendship and love, even when it costs pain to give pain, can produce sorrow after a godly sort that leads to repentance. That sorrow works earnest carefulness, clearing of self from wrong, indignation against sin, fear, longing for right, zeal, and setting the wrong right, so that in everything the erring prove themselves pure in the matter. Such repentance brings comfort and rejoicing to the one who reproved. Because sorrow over wrongdoing produces earnest care, a desire to make things right, and clear evidence of repentance, those who recognize an error and those still striving against temptation in danger of falling are to be given confidence, sympathy, and good courage, since withholding confidence can discourage and cause a stumble.
The carefulness produced by godly sorrow includes careful self-examination, distrust of self, humility, and awareness of human insufficiency, together with reliance on God's power through faith. This is especially called for when faced with the prospect that trusted teachers may prove unfaithful and turn from God's commandment. Active repentance is more than regret at being exposed; it turns from sin with carefulness, desire to clear oneself, indignation, fear, earnest desire, zeal, and corrective action, demonstrating clearness in the matter. For that reason open defiance of light received is to be addressed by the church.