ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Sunday March 26, 2017

“Godly sorrow produces repentance “

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 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." - II Corinthians 7:9-10

True Repentance

The Nature of Repentance

Elements in repentance

Signs of repentance

From the beginning of the biblical teaching on repentance, it is clear that it has certain moral characteristics. It is never merely a sense of regret and wrongdoing, or a deeply felt conviction of guilt. It is a return to God and to a life marked by the light of God in our lives. Writing to the Ephesians, Paul indicates this:

… For the one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and to try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord (Ephesians 5:8 – 10).

The classic passage on the evidence of repentance however is 2 Corinthians 7:8 – 11

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it – though I did regretted, for I see that the letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss from us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. Foresee what earnestness is godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, indignation, when fear, or longing, what zeal, what punishment.

These words refer of course to an abnormal instance of repentance, and they also clearly refer to a corporate experience. But nevertheless, the evidences of the Corinthians’ repentance illustrate the marks which will appear in all true repentance.

Challenge:

Do you have the mark of true repentance? We’ve been going over this point for the last few days and it should be clear! There should be “signs” – fruits pointing people to the “evidence”. No evidence; No proof of life!

Memory Verse:

"He ko e mamahi ‘oku faka‘otua hono fai, ‘oku ne langa‘i ha fakatomala ‘oku iku ki ha fakamo‘ui, ‘a ia ‘e ‘ikai tālakitu‘a ai ha taha: ka ko e mamahi ‘oku fakaemāmani ‘oku ne fakatupu mate." – 2 Kolinitō 7:10

"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death." - 2 Corinthians 7:10

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 13 – Deuteronomy 27-31; Luke 12