Godly Sorrow Leads To Repentance
Mark 6:12, 'And they went out, and preached that men should repent.'
MARK 6:7-12
'Repent' comes from the Greek word, 'metanoeo,' and literally means to have another mind. Repentance is a necessary part of salvation. Repentance may include Godly sorrow, but sorrow does not always include repentance.
Repentance is simply a change of mind accompanied by corresponding actions.
There is a Godly type of sorrow and an ungodly type of sorrow. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Ungodly sorrow, or the sorrow of this world, just kills.
Our culture has rejected all 'negative' emotions. But God gave us the capacity for these negative emotions, and there is a proper use of them. Ecclesiastes 7:3 says, 'Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.' People should feel bad about sin. There should be sorrow over our failures. However, this sorrow should lead to repentance.
Then, when forgiveness is received, our sorrow should be cast upon the Lord (Isa. 53:4).
** This is where many become depressed and angry - because they never come to the realization as to where the problem(s) which they harbor lead, plus how their actions (or even from others) dictate or bring losing control of their life!
The Lord's statements to His disciples, the night before His crucifixion, caused them sorrow (Mt. 26:21-22; Jn. 16:6). If they would have let that sorrow lead them to repentance, then they wouldn't have denied the Lord. Peter's sorrow after his denial of Jesus changed him and, certainly, he never regretted the tears he cried.
The sorrow experienced by those who do not turn to God produces only death. They grieve over their situation because they don't turn to God (that's repentance). Christians should only have sorrow until they repent. Once repentance has come, we need to appropriate the forgiveness and cleansing that are already ours through Christ. Godly sorrow that produces true repentance leaves us with no regrets. The positive change that our sorrows led us to, changes our attitude towards the things that caused us sorrow.
Let the negatives in your life become positives through Jesus.
So, why live depressed and angry?
Repentance is simply a change of mind accompanied by corresponding actions.
There is a Godly type of sorrow and an ungodly type of sorrow. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Ungodly sorrow, or the sorrow of this world, just kills.
Our culture has rejected all 'negative' emotions. But God gave us the capacity for these negative emotions, and there is a proper use of them. Ecclesiastes 7:3 says, 'Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.' People should feel bad about sin. There should be sorrow over our failures. However, this sorrow should lead to repentance.
Then, when forgiveness is received, our sorrow should be cast upon the Lord (Isa. 53:4).
** This is where many become depressed and angry - because they never come to the realization as to where the problem(s) which they harbor lead, plus how their actions (or even from others) dictate or bring losing control of their life!
The Lord's statements to His disciples, the night before His crucifixion, caused them sorrow (Mt. 26:21-22; Jn. 16:6). If they would have let that sorrow lead them to repentance, then they wouldn't have denied the Lord. Peter's sorrow after his denial of Jesus changed him and, certainly, he never regretted the tears he cried.
The sorrow experienced by those who do not turn to God produces only death. They grieve over their situation because they don't turn to God (that's repentance). Christians should only have sorrow until they repent. Once repentance has come, we need to appropriate the forgiveness and cleansing that are already ours through Christ. Godly sorrow that produces true repentance leaves us with no regrets. The positive change that our sorrows led us to, changes our attitude towards the things that caused us sorrow.
Let the negatives in your life become positives through Jesus.
So, why live depressed and angry?
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