Having another mind

Godly Sorrow Leads To Repentance

April 26th

Mark 6:12, 'And they went out, and preached that men should repent.'

MARK 6:7-12

'Repent' comes from the Greek word, 'metanoeo,' and literally means to have another mind. Repentance is a necessary part of salvation. Repentance may include Godly sorrow, but sorrow does not always include repentance.

Repentance is simply a change of mind accompanied by corresponding actions. There is a Godly type of sorrow and an ungodly type of sorrow. Godly sorrow leads to repentance. Ungodly sorrow, or the sorrow of this world, can only kill the soul.

Our culture has rejected all 'negative' emotions. But God gave us the capacity for these negative emotions, and there is a proper use of them. Ecclesiastes 7:3 says, 'Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.' People should feel bad about sin. There should be sorrow over our failures. However, this sorrow should lead to repentance. Then, when forgiveness is received, our sorrow should be cast upon the Lord (Isa. 53:4).

The Lord's statements to His disciples, the night before His crucifixion, caused them sorrow
(Mt. 26:21-22; Jn. 16:6). If they would have let that sorrow lead them to repentance, then they wouldn't have denied the Lord. Peter's sorrow after his denial of Jesus changed him and, certainly, he never regretted the tears he cried.

From: AWMI.net

**  An example of Godly sorrow in action:
 

The prodigal son – Luke 15

Verses 11-16 –   The son wasted his father’s inheritance in sin and ritious actions  (as with harlots – verse 30). When the money was gone, he ended up feeding hogs and would have eaten the hog slop.

Note verse 16 – shows that no one gave him anything. The account shows that his father knew what was happening but did not attempt to bail his son out. He allowed him eat from hog slop as the consequence of his actions or sins. We should learn to be responsible for our actions in life!

** Far too often parents or friends bail out a sinner to help him avoid the consequences of his sins. This happened to my father when my Grandmother continually bailed him out! I never really got to know my father as he was always in some scheme or plan to get rich quick. I have had people send me information on his actions {as I am a Jr} and had police come to my door looking for my father.

   If people would having allowed him to suffer the consequences of his actions or sins, he could have been led to repent like the prodigal did.

 (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Verses 17-19 – As a result, the son came to himself. He decided to return home and admit that he had sinned against both heaven and against his father. And he offered to accept whatever consequences followed: he no longer deserved to be a son, but was willing to be demoted to a servant.

A person who has godly sorrow just wants to make his life right with God and with people whom he has wronged. This requires admitting his sins, pleading for forgiveness, changing their life, and accepting whatever consequences follow. The main concern is being forgiven of their guilt.

(Peter – Matthew 26:75; Paul – 1 Timothy 1:12-16)