Expanding on the Basics – True Repentance: True Salvation Part II

Last week we left off with 2 Corinthians 7: 8-11

8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

A sign of our salvation is our turning away from sin and our feeling of true regret when we fail and sin again. The Holy Spirit living in us convicts us instantly when we do sin. We feel the godly sorrow and hate what we have done and we become eager to clear ourselves.

For some this is a process that takes time. It is part of our salvation walk. If you are struggling and feel you have failed, you may in fact have not failed at all but are continuing to grow. Remember the growing pains of your youth? Well, this process is very similar.

There are those that think this view is palp, that people need to be confronted and not soothed, be hit over the head with scripture, not walked through scripture and discuss their sin issues with love. This kind of overbearing self righteous attitude is devoid of love. Ironically, love is another sign of the saved. There is a balance that needs to be struck between “tough love”, which too many enjoy dishing out, and exhortation, building people up to better face their challenges.

Think about this from I Corinthians 13:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails………

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Are you striving to reflect these virtues? If you are, it is another sign of salvation.

More to come next week.

Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.