QuickThoughts: The Genuine Repentance of the Corinthians

What does true repentance look like? What are the results of having a godly sorrow according to the will of God?

In 2 Corinthians 7:8-10, we read that the Apostle Paul is confident in the repentance of the church in Corinth:

📘 For though I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it—for I see that that letter caused you sorrow, though only for a while— I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to repentance. For you were made to have godly sorrow, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For godly sorrow produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world brings about death.

2 Corinthians 7:8-10 LSB

He goes on to describe several character traits of those who have truly repented of their sin.

📘 For behold what earnestness this very thing—this godly sorrow—has brought about in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

2 Corinthians 7:11 LSB

Let’s take a brief look at these 6 traits that Paul highlights.

• Vindication of yourselves
  Genuine repentance includes a desire to see one’s name cleared, our testimony repaired, and our witness for Christ reestablished.
  
• Indignation
  One of the primary fruits of genuine repentance is a renewed or increased hatred of our sin.
  
• Fear
  This fear speaks to the reverence and awe of Almighty God. True biblical repentance is most concerned with bringing honor and glory to the Father, not ourselves.
  
• Longing
  This could also be translated as an “earnest desire.” The genuinely repentant heart immediately longs for and earnestly desires holiness and righteousness.
• Zeal
  The penitent man will exhibit a passion, or “fury,” for holiness and for the gospel.
  
• Avenging of wrong
  Our God is a God of justice and when we repent, the repentant will likewise desire to see justice done, even if it means worldly consequences for ourselves.

Those are the products of godly sorrow. If we believe ourselves to be repentant, yet lack any or all of these, we should examine our hearts and see if we may not instead have a worldly sorrow, which produces death.

One last thought I’d like to call out is what our own response should be to witnessing such repentance in our brethren.

📘 For this reason we have been comforted. And besides our comfort, we rejoiced even much more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all.

And his affection abounds all the more toward you, as he remembers the obedience of you all, how you received him with fear and trembling.

2 Corinthians 7:13, 15 LSB

The Christian should so desire the repentance of our brothers and sisters in Christ that when it comes, we are comforted and filled with joy! Both Paul and Titus were overwhelmed by this joy, even going so far as to boast about the Corinthians’ repentance to one another.

Let us all call each other to repentance, in love, and rejoice with those who have!