“For the grief according to God works repentance to salvation, not to be regretted, but the grief of the world works out death” (2 Corinthians 7:10 MKJV).
As mentioned earlier, the concept of “repentance” refers to a change of mind that leads to a change in behavior. It involves more than just a feeling of remorse, regret, or sorrow, although it may certainly incorporate those responses. Genuine repentance involves the determination to prayerfully stop a sinful behavior and make appropriate choices that are good and acceptable to God.
Many commentators have compared the idea of repentance to a vehicle that is traveling down the wrong road. Once the driver has determined that he or she is moving in the wrong direction, the right response is to stop, turn around, and proceed in the right direction. In a similar manner, the godly sorrow identified here in 2 Corinthians 7:10 should serve as a catalyst that leads us to “turn around” and head towards genuine repentance.
One source clarifies the use of the words repentance and salvation in this verse by saying…
“(Repentance involves) (t)urning from sin, a sincere decision to forsake a specific sin (or sins) and to begin to obey God. Here, the term does not specifically refer to the initial repentance that always accompanies true saving faith (Mark 1:15; Acts 3:19; 17:30; 26:20) but to an ongoing turning from sin in the life of a Christian… ‘Salvation’ here means not initial conversion, but growth and progress in the Christian life. Ordinary Christian growth will include times of profound sorrow for remaining sin.” (1)
Nevertheless, we may have to admit that there are times when we may not wish to repent from an inappropriate attitude or behavior. If we were to be completely honest, we might have to agree that there are times when we want what we want more than we want what God wants for us.
In such instances, it’s important to remember the message of Philippians 2:13: “…it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Therefore, we should be honest and upfront with God in acknowledging such areas and prayerfully ask for His help in making the kind of choices that honor Him.
As we’re told in 1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (NIV).
(1) Sproul, R. C. (Ed.). (2015). The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version (2015 Edition) (p. 2060). Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust.