Godly Sorrow vs.

Worldly Sorrow2
Text: 2 Corinthians 7:10

A. Worldly sorrow is seen in:

1. Watering sin down (calling it sickness, saying it’s not so bad).

1. Wallowing in sin (saying you want to change but still participating in it).

1. Working to get rid of it without relying on God’s grace (Joel 2 – rend your hearts and not
your garments).

1. Sorrow over consequences or over being caught.

1. Examples of worldly sorrow (Esau in Genesis 27 and Hebrews 12:16, Pharaoh in Exodus
9:27 and 10:16-17, King Saul in 1 Samuel 15:24-30).

B. Godly sorrow is seen in:

1. Self-examination with focus on God instead of self.

1. Open and full admittance of sin and failure.

1. Realization, acceptance of, and gratitude for forgiveness and repentance.

 ● Repentance (Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q87) ​=​ ​Repentance unto life is a
saving grace whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of
the mercy of God in Christ does, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto
God, with full purpose of and endeavor after, new obedience.
● Repentance ​=​ ​A Spirit generated turning away from all the sinful habits of his
life and​ ​the plans and purposes of his depraved mind, and a turning toward God,
endeavoring to walk in His ways and think His thoughts for the glory of God.
~Stuart Scott
1. Examples of godly sorrow (King David in 2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51, Peter in Luke
22:54-60, Thief on Cross in Luke 23:39-43).

● ***This lesson adopted from the ​International Association of Biblical Counselors​.

3 ***This lesson adopted from the International Association of Biblical Counselors.