Meditating on 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 – Repentance

I’m studying one of many passages that I will be street preaching from this week (along with the Law & the Gospel).

Perhaps a lack of understanding and applying 2 Cor. 7:9-10 is one of the biggest problems amongst today’s unbiblical churchianity?

Many ‘professing’ Christians today are continually ‘repeating’ their sins, rather than continually ‘repenting,’ while ‘turning from their sin.’ My friends, there is no salvation without repentance.

There is a worldly sorrow (or worldly repentance), and there’s a Biblical repentance that is a fruit of salvation (i.e. Mark 1:15, Acts 3:19, 17:30, 26:20). As I’ve said before, ‘repentance is not the ‘cause’ of
salvation, repentance is ‘because’ of salvation.’

“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” (2 Cor 7:9-10).

In verse 9 these words being ‘sorry’ or ‘sorrowful’ of sin, is the worldly repentance. This is the Greek word lupeō (λυπέω), which is applicable to being sorry that you got caught, or you’re sorrowful of the consequences, etcetera. Though he may “believe,” it can be evidence of a possible ‘false convert,’ and hell will be full of them (Matt 7:21-23).

As John Trapp said,

That ye sorrowed to repentance to a transmentation, to a thorough change both of the mind and manners. Optima et aptissima poenitentia est nova vita, saith Luther. Which saying (though condemned by Pope Leo X) is certainly an excellent saying. Repentance for sin is nothing without repentance from sin. If though repent with a contradiction (saith Tertullian) God will pardon thee, and yet end thee to hell. There is a pardon with a contradiction.

Trapp’s Commentary on the New Testament (Michigan: Baker Book House, 1981) 564.

But the ‘Godly sorrow’ in vs 10 is the Greek word lupē (λύπη), which is a Biblical sorrow that comes from salvation, and to a Biblical repentance. It is an evidence of regeneration (a truly saved convert).

Though there’s a thin line between the similarities of appearance of these two words lupeō and lupē. But their eternal destination is far from close to each other.

Though knowledge is not salvific, but once a person is truly saved by grace thru faith in Christ (Eph 2:7-9), they are commanded to grow in knowledge, lest they fall…

“You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).

Father thank You for saving a knucklehead like me, Christ thank You for justifying me by faith alone in You alone, and Holy Spirit please continue to grant me more repentance, sanctification, and discernment.

Below is an excellent teaching on a Biblical repentance.