ESOCS Devotional 5 October 2025 – Genuine Repentance
MEMORY VERSE:“For Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10 ESV
TEXT: 2 CORINTHIANS 7:1-10
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the [a]consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
8 For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
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Notice that Paul teaches that there are two kinds of grief. There is godly grief and worldly grief. What we need to do is determine what godly grief looks like and what worldly grief looks like. Paul only points out the results of these griefs. Godly grief brings repentance, which leads to salvation and brings no regret. But worldly grief brings spiritual death, that is, eternal separation from God. So, it is important for us to understand the differences in these two griefs.
In 2 Samuel 12:1-7, Nathan the prophet comes to expose David for his sin. Let us focus on the reaction of David when his sin was exposed. In 2 Samuel 12:13, David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” In Psalm 51:4, David declared, “Against you, and you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
Godly grief understands that sin is an offense to God. Godly grief is not sorrow for being caught. Godly grief is sorrow for sinning against the Lord. Further, Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 7:10 that godly sorrow produces repentance. When the scriptures speak of repentance, we read about it being a two part process. Repentance begins with an internal change of mind that leads to an external change of life. These are two important parts and one does not have repentance if both parts are not there.
Notice what Paul says is the result of this godly grief that leads to repentance: Salvation. This is what is required of us to receive the mercy and the grace of God.
Conversely, worldly grief is being upset at being caught. Worldly grief is sorrow because you must experience the consequences for your actions. If the only reason we are sorry for what we have done is because we were caught or because we do not like the consequences that we must experience, then our regret and guilt is going to lead to death.
For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret… Come to Jesus in repentance and let Him carry your guilt. End the life of regret and find forgiveness in the Lord.
CHALLENGES
- Have you genuinely repented of sins committed?
PRAYER POINT
- Lord Jesus, please take my guilt away and free me from the bondage of sin. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 2 Kings 6:17-20; 7:1-10; 2 Corinthians 8:1-15
ESOCS Devotional 5 October 2025
