Making You Sorry

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 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 7:8-10)

This ministry has been criticised by many acqaintances in the Christian community. The consensus of opinion in these circles seems to be "you only preach gloom and doom, condemning people all the time, not showing that Jesus loves us."

In this passage of scripture we read that Paul states that he is not sorry for the words that he wrote, because these words made the recipients sorry, that they sorrowed unto repentance.

He is writing now to those who sorrowed after a godly manner and not to those who sorrowed after a worldly manner. Because these last didn't like what they heard and probably stopped reading.

In another epistle Paul wrote:: Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?; (Galatians 4:16)

Therefore those who knew godly sorrow of their sins and repented of them, were saved by God's grace, were able to grow in Christ and available, to read Paul's next letter to the church in Corinth.

Paul also wrote in another letter "My concern is not what man thinks of me, only of what God thinks of me."
: 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. Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you. Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.; (2 Corinthians 7:11-13)




ENRICHED IN NOVEMBER 2013
: But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.; (1 Corinthians 11:3)
Please study the implications.

One of the great difficulties we have in the Christian life is trusting the divine wisdom.
God uses His wisdom to help us become holy, because without holiness we shall not enter the Celestial City.
That He makes us happy on this earth might be very nice but is of no lasting value.
How much do I trust Him? How much do I know Them? God is good! God is perfect!
All things God gives us are for His good pleasure, and the first of these is repentance:: For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 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 7:8-10)

Following Spiritual conviction, a search was made on this web site¹ for teachings that concern the subject of repentance and it was discovered that no clear explanation was given even though the above passage of Scripture was used more that once.

Few Christians realise that Paul's ministry - that which was divinely given to him - was repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). First comes initial faith, with reaction to that faith resulting in our repentance, the granting of repentance by God resulting in conversion, then growing in faith over time as a result of learning what the Holy Trinity did and is doing for His elect, with resultant broadening Spiritual wisdom and loving obedience.

Also, because of the international nature of the internet, not everyone has an English dictionary.
Therefore, a list of words and their meanings has been extracted from Chambers Dictionary and included in these following teachings, and linked together.
Making You Sorry.
God Gives Repentance
The Lord Gives Repentance.
Repentance.
The Impenitent Heart.

Sorry: Regretful, apologetic, miserable, wretchedly bad, contemptible, expressing apology.

Remorse: A feeling of regret and guilt for past wrong doing, but not asking for forgiveness from God.

Penitence: Suffering pain or sorrow for past sin and feeling a desire to reform - contrite. Undergoing penance - a worldly action to obtain God's forgiveness.

Repentance: To regret what one has done or left undone, to change from past evil or misconduct - to feel contrition. Regret with action (change moral outlook to acceptable Godly standard.)

Repentance is recognition by the sinner of the magnificence of God, of his guilt, and confession of his need of deliverance by his Creator, turning from his sinful way, earnestly desiring to be cleansed from the filth of his sin; on his knees, believing that the ever-present all powerful God who made him can hear him: opening his heart and pleading that the Living Loving merciful God will forgive him.
And then, only then, will our Heavenly Father, in His lovingkindness, mercy and grace forgive the sins of the contrite heart and grant repentance, converting the sinner into a new Spiritually aware creature.
Hallelujah!

¹ www.hosanna.org.za.