The Necessity of Sorrow for Salvation

Sorrow is necessary for the salvation of those unsaved and even those already saved. It is so essential, that I am now searching for the nicest way to produce this sorrow in others. Why sorrow? Should not Christians avoid sorrow? No. This is a sorrow that leads to great joy. The Christian life is certainly one of peace, joy, hope, love, and then some more, but sorrow must come first.

The sorrow that I speak of is godly sorrow. The kind that is produced by preaching the Gospel. It is a humbling sorrow. You can see this sorrow produced in others or have seen it in yourself. It is produced by the Word of God, which produces the realization of sin and knowledge of the state of man being separated from God unto the second death. We, who have had this sorrow and may again, know the humility produced by the Gospel. I have seen this sorrow in others and I believe that others can see this sorrow in others as well. One can also see the lack of godly sorrow, worldly sorrow, in the appearance of others, by the words of scoffing arrogance, or even in ourselves. Paul wrote to the Corinthians correcting them regarding a variety of matters that many “Christians” today would ignorantly refer to Paul as a legalist and as being of overly critical about things that do not matter much. Nevertheless, by the guidance of the Spirit, Paul admitted that his letter to the Corinthian Christians made them sorrowful and in doing so he did regret it and did not regret it. He said that he made them sorry of the godly sort unto repentance, and for this he rejoiced. Now look at 2 Corinthians 7:10a,

“For godly sorrow works repentance unto salvation, a repentance which brings no regrets.”

How great is that? Sorrow is essential for salvation. The Word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. The sword of the Spirit is the perfect weapon to pierce the heart and produce such sorrow.

Here is a question to those who are saved: do you remember your godly sorrow? Do you remember how it led you to repentance unto salvation? I remember my godly sorrow.

Let’s not overlook the following verse to 2 Corinthians 7:10. Second Corinthians 7:11 shows the fruits of godly sorrow, which are diligence to defend oneself, anger toward injustice, fear, longing, zeal, and retribution. When people turn their lives around, this is exactly what you see. Knowing our godly sorrow and knowing the wonderful fruits thereof, should we not seek to produce such sorrow in those who need it? I would love to produce godly sorrow in so many people with so very few words as Christ did and still does today by the Word.

What about worldly sorrow? Will worldly sorrow result in persecution? I think the efforts to produce godly sorrow will get a response of worldly sorrow. Those presenting the Truth will receive persecution. We can only rejoice in persecution (Matthew 5:11-12, James 1:2). For, I am not ashamed of the Gospel: for it is the power of God unto salvation. Second Timothy 3:12,

“Indeed, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”

May God give me the mind and strength to bless those who persecute me (Romans 12:14). I will not give up trying to produce godly sorrow in those who need it. Christ certainly did not give up even in the face of rejection and persecution unto death.

I hope grace and peace in Christ Jesus to all who read.