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Understanding Godly Sorrow and Worldly Grief

Writer: Dwight SchettlerDwight Schettler
5 hours ago2 min read

Guidelines for Confession

Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation - Lesson 4 - Confess to the Other Person, Questions 22 & 23, p. 61

True contrition is marked by genuine sorrow over one's sins. This sorrow, when expressed during confession, reflects a heart that is truly repentant. However, we live in a world where self-justification is a common defense mechanism. Instead of owning up to our sins, we tend to use our words to deflect blame onto others or to rationalize our actions. This brings us to an important question: What are these two kinds of sorrow or grief.


The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, delineates between two distinct kinds of sorrow: godly sorrow and worldly grief. He captures this distinction most poignantly: "For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).


Godly Sorrow:

Godly sorrow is the kind of sorrow that leads to repentance and ultimately, to salvation. This type of sorrow comes from a heart that recognizes the gravity of sin and the offense it causes to God. It is a sorrow that acknowledges personal responsibility without seeking to justify or minimize the wrongdoing. It produces a change of heart and mind, turning the sinner away from sin and towards God. This repentance is sincere and bears fruit in the form of a transformed life. There is no regret in this kind of sorrow because it leads to a deeper relationship with God and an assurance of salvation.


Worldly Grief:

In contrast, worldly grief is characterized by regret over the consequences of sin rather than the sin itself. This sorrow is often self-centered, focusing on the loss, shame, or punishment that results from the sin rather than its inherent wrongness. Worldly grief does not lead to true repentance or a desire to change but rather to despair, bitterness, and ultimately spiritual death. It is devoid of the life-giving transformation that accompanies godly sorrow.


As believers, we are called to cultivate godly sorrow in our hearts—a sorrow that leads to genuine repentance and a closer walk with God. Jesus extends an invitation to all who are burdened with sin and sorrow: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Let us embrace this godly sorrow and turn to Him, finding rest and redemption in His grace.


 

This blog series is adapted from Conflict Resolution vs Reconciliation. You can experience this teaching in several ways:

 
 
 

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