In today’s edition of “Monday Minutes,” I want to share with you an article by Elder Michael Ivey on the topic of “repentance.” I believe that repentance is more needed among God’s people now than ever! May we take heed to these admonitions, and follow after Biblical repentance.

May the Lord bless you is my prayer.

Elder Chris McCool, Pastor

Evidence of True Repentance: Godly Sorrow and Conversion

by Elder Michael Ivey

Two features of true repentance are: 1. Change in attitude about one’s sinful values and misbehavior which produces godly sorrow, motivated by love for God, for having offended Him; and, 2. Conversion as changed behavior by turning away from sinful misbehavior to engaging in godly behavior.

In 2 Corinthians 7:10 Paul identifies the connection of godly sorrow to true repentance in his assertion “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” In the previous verse he distinguishes “sorrow” from “godly sorrow,” noting he did not rejoice because him correcting members of Corinth Church caused them to merely sorrow, but that they “sorrowed to repentance after a godly manner.” This language suggests God is the object of true repentance, (we repent to God); and, He is the reason for moral compunction (we sorrow because we love God whom we have offended) which produces “godly sorrow.”

In verse 11 Paul connects godly sorrow and conversion by noting behavioral changes which are motivated by a “godly sort” of sorrow. “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”

Peter also speaks to the second evidence, that true repentance produces conversion, in Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” The phrase “repent ye therefore, and be converted” affirms that a “touchstone” relationship exists between true repentance and conversion to changed behavior as follows: To be converted one repents, and one who repents is converted.