For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly grief produces death (2 Corinthians 7:10 CSB)

The church in Corinth had fallen into sin. Paul offered a pastoral rebuke of them through his “severe letter” (see verses 8, 9). The Corinthians were grieved for a time as their consciences were pricked and their spirits welled up with conviction. Theirs was a godly grief that led to repentance.

The New Testament provides an illustration of these two kinds of grief in the lives of two apostles, Peter and Judas. Matthew tells us that following his three denials of Jesus, Peter remembered Jesus’ foretelling and so he went out and wept bitterly (Matt. 26:75b). John later records Peter’s restoration to fellowship with Jesus and to his mission as an apostle (Jn. 21:15-19). Peter loved Jesus.

Matthew also records Judas’ response to his own betrayal of Jesus: Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, was full of remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What’s that to us?” they said. “See to it yourself!”  So he threw the silver into the temple and departed. Then he went and hanged himself. It is a tragic end. Judas’ remorse was not repentance. Judas appears to have just been mad at himself for his foolish decision. Repentance does not mean self-punishment, distress, or depression. It means a decisive change of heart and a turning away from sin unto a new obedience.

There is a severe difference between godly grief and worldly grief. Do you care the most about getting caught—about the embarrassment or shame of realizing the sin you have committed? Do you hate the conflict you have brought into relationships? Do you fear being disliked? Paul is clear: realizing I am wrong should lead me to sorrow and deep grief. But if Christ died for my sins on the cross and if his blood washes me clean, then I take my sin to his cross, face the earthly consequences, and seek to walk in newness of life toward God and any whom I have offended.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, thank you, Jesus, for coming into the world to save sinners like me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.