The difference between "sorrow after a godly manner" (literally--according to God) and the "sorrow of the world" is huge and is of undreamed of consequence. This sermon proposes that the gospel is sufficient to mend serious damage toward God and man. Godly sorrow makes humbling and somewhat excruciating demands on us. One great difficulty is overcoming the natural reluctance to cause pain or experience pain, depending on where you find yourself in the breech--offended or offender. This sermon follows four main points:
First, SPIRITUALLY MINDED BELIEVERS MUST, AT TIMES, MAKE OTHERS SORRY. Paul says, 'I made you sorry". Second, SORROW FOR SIN IS NOT BY ITSELF ENOUGH. Saul, Pharaoh, and Judas all sinned, all regretted, all sorrowed, but none repented. Third, HOW SHALL WE BE SURE THAT WE POSSESS SORROW ACCORDING TO GOD? By taking advantage of the verbal inspiration of scripture: II Corinthians 7:11 contains at least six distinct criteria that are very understandable. Fourth, DON'T VOID THE OFFER. People needing godly sorrow unto repentance often overthrow themselves by DEFENDING THEIR SIN, DIMINISHING THEIR SIN, OR DENYING THEIR SIN. We repent toward a good and gracious God. Know you not that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? I got many seed thoughts for this sermon from Mark Minnick's series called "getting back up." |
