What does godly sorrow work in a person?
Godly sorrow works repentance—a change of mind—unto salvation, not to be ever sorry for. A true believer never wishes he had not become a Christian. By contrast, the sorrow of the world works death when no saving grace is involved.
Les explains from 2 Corinthians 7:10 that godly sorrow is a godly regret over something done wrong. It works repentance, or a change of mind, to salvation, and it is not to be ever sorry for. He illustrates this by asking whether a true believer ever says he is sorry he became a Christian, and he notes that he never has. In this setting, the individual sin situation had to be corrected—what Les calls the salvation of the time or situation, not the eternal saving of the soul. The sorrow of the world, however, worketh death if no saving grace is involved. Because they looked at the situation after a godly sort—as God would look at it—they realized its sinfulness and dealt with it. That wrought carefulness, clearing of themselves, indignation, fear, desire, zeal, and revenge, so they approved themselves clear in the matter.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
More Questions
What does it mean that godly sorrow works repentance to salvation in 2 Corinthians 7:10?
Godly sorrow — a godly regret over something wrong that was done — works repentance, meaning a change of mind, that leads to salvation and is never to be regretted.