The Bible says that godly sorrow works repentance not to be repented of again. (2 Corinthians 7:10)
In other words if our repentance comes from godly sorrow then we will have victory over that sin and there will be no need to keep falling and then being sorry all over again.
True repentance stops sinning. If the sin persists then there was no true repentance. Let me explain.
We can be sorry for our sin. Feel bad about it, and even shed tears over it but unless God works godly sorrow into our hearts we will keep falling under that sin again.
Worldly or human sorrow works death the Bible says. In other words being sorrow from a human perspective does not produce godliness. Rather it brings condemnation, guilt, depression. Not godly reformation.
How do we get this godly sorrow?
Let’s take a look at a classic case in scriptures.
Esau was not granted repentance even though he was sorry. Why? Esau was a carnal man. He did not value his birth right from a spiritual perspective.
He was sorry for losing all the benefits associated with loosing his inheritance but he did not value the spiritual position of his inheritance, that his line was to be a godly line bringing forth the Messiah.
When Esau realized what he had done by allowing his carnal lust to steal his birth right he was sorry. However, his sorry was not godly sorrow. His sorry was worldly sorrow.
Esau was sorry that he lost his blessing. He was sorry that he allowed his brother to deceive him. He was sorry that he got caught being a carnal man. Red handed. His lust for carnal things rather than spiritual things was made evident and public. Esau was sorry for that.
What Esau was not sorry for was his disregard for spiritual matters. He regarded the man of this world as ideal and not the realm of his spiritual inheritance.
Esau was not granted repentance even though he was sorry. Why? Esau was a carnal man. He did not value his birth right from a spiritual perspective.
How many of us have been like that? We prefer the world’s ideas, the world’s blessings, the world’s knowledge and positions far more than spiritual realities.
What about Jacob? What did Jacob value?
Jacob wanted the spiritual inheritance so bad that he resorted to deceptive means to get it.
The first born birth right did not belong to him. He knew the only way to get it was to use trickery.
He was aware that Esau did not value what he had. He lived for the now. Not for eternal things. Jacob on the other hand did value the Messianic lineage and all the spiritual benefits associated with the first born inheritance.
So because Esau pursued carnal things instead of spiritual things he suffered a great loss.
Even though Jacob was a wet behind the ears young man and second in line he was so envious of Esau’s’ position that he did not care if he has to rail road his brother to get it.
Ever known a zealous person like that? One who is so annoying with spiritual matters that they go around upsetting everybody’s apple cart? Look out here they come! Showing us up! Making us look bad! Spiritual zealots upsetting our status quo apple carts!
This is the key to godly sorrow working repentance not to be repented of again.
When we value our spiritual inheritance we will want to give up everything to attain the blessings attached to that inheritance.
Carnal things are cast aside no matter what we have to do to get rid of them.
If that means going through the fire of the Holy Spirit then that’s what we have to do.
See if their be any wicked way in me and deal with it David said. (Psalm 139:23-24)
Godly sorrow comes when we seek the Lord and he reveals our sin to us. When he shows us what our sin really is.
When the Lord shows us by his Holy Spirit how our sin affects others and the damage it does to ourselves we see it in a new light. With a new perspective.
All of a sudden that sin don’t seem so good. We see how it grieves the Lord and because our hearts value spiritual things above the things of this world we come into a place where godly sorrow comes. We mourn over our bad attitudes, our bad habits, our bad witness.
We see our sin the way God sees it and we want to get rid of it but quick!
When we know the truth about our sin and we want to be set free from it then the Lord will bring his deliverence. He will change our hearts and grant us repentance.
When we desire to please the Lord we will get things right. Say sorry when we need to and make restitution too. (2 Corinthians 7)
We will with godly passion set about interceeding for those who have hurt us, being loving to disagreeable people, and patient with those who have annoyed us.
Godly sorrow works repentance. Repentance is turning away from sin and being reformed by the Holy Spirit.
True repentance will come to those who value spiritual blessings above any thing this world has to offer.
