Is true repentance always prompted by godly sorrow?

[Ashley755]

Are there times when we won’t feel sorrow while repenting but be sincere nonetheless, or is godly sorrow the proof of true repentance? Thank you

 

[Halbhh]

Well, i can't know what others will feel, and they may use different words for what they feel, but i think it's sincere if you have real contrition, real regret you did the wrong, and that this is godly sorrow to have that; while sometimes the feeling of sorrow is stronger than at other times -- even to the level of tears -- you basically really mean it as you confess- repent. It's real. Not just words you don't mean.

 

[brinny]

Are there times when we won’t feel sorrow while repenting but be sincere nonetheless, or is godly sorrow the proof of true repentance? Thank you

we won’t feel sorrow while repenting but be sincere nonetheless

What do you mean, not feel sorrow, but sincere?

 

[Stringfellow_Hawke]

Well, i can't know what others will feel, and they may use different words for what they feel, but i think it's sincere if you have real contrition, real regret you did the wrong, and that this is godly sorrow to have that; while sometimes the feeling of sorrow is stronger than at other times -- even to the level of tears -- you basically really mean it as you confess- repent. It's real. Not just words you don't mean.

^^ THIS ^^

In other words, you don't just confess the sin knowing full well in your heart that you will do it again. As in, not even try to resist.

 

[Ashley755]

What do you mean, not feel sorrow, but sincere?

For instance, if you regret what you did and you apologize, but don’t feel sadness over your sin. Only remorse and the need to make things right.

 

[GodsGrace101]

^^ THIS ^^

In other words, you don't just confess the sin knowing full well in your heart that you will do it again. As in, not even try to resist.

You could have fragility toward a particular sin and may even know that you might do it again. This does not mean you're not sorry about it and cannot be forgiven for it. We could only do our sincere best. Only God is good and Jesus gave this to us as a goal --- be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.
We aim for that goal.

You must be sorry at the time of confessing it to God, and He'll know how sincere you are.

 

[AnnaDeborah]

For instance, if you regret what you did and you apologize, but don’t feel sadness over your sin. Only remorse and the need to make things right.

I don't think I could feel regret and remorse but not feel sad. Surely if you regret something there is sadness involved in that regret?

 

[Stringfellow_Hawke]

You could have fragility toward a particular sin and may even know that you might do it again. This does not mean you're not sorry about it and cannot be forgiven for it. We could only do our sincere best. Only God is good and Jesus gave this to us as a goal --- be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.
We aim for that goal.

You must be sorry at the time of confessing it to God, and He'll know how sincere you are.

Excellent further explanation! I agree.

 

[GodsGrace101]

For instance, if you regret what you did and you apologize, but don’t feel sadness over your sin. Only remorse and the need to make things right.

I do believe being sad that you sinned has to be present.
Remorse is not a Christian feeling...

The Difference Between Remorse and Repentance
Linda Mint

John admits. He struggles with addiction. He is determined to beat his habit but gives in, feels bad, intends to make a change, but ends up slipping time and again. When he does, it deeply hurts his wife. He sees the pain in her face and feels bad that he has hurt her. John is remorseful but not repentant.


Regret and remorse are different than godly sorrow noted in 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (NKJV). Godly sorry produces repentance. It is based on a belief that a behavior is wrong and must be stopped. It motivates one to make a turn in direction and change behavior.

Regret and remorse have consequences, but do not necessarily address the wrong-doing of those consequences. People get caught and can feel remorse because there are consequences to their actions. For example, you can speed down the highway, get caught and feel remorse. But you may not feel repentant over the speeding. You have remorse because you received a ticket. The ticket temporarily slows you down, but eventually you creep back up to that speeding level.


And so is the problem with remorse vs. repentance. Remorse can be temporary. It doesn’t always lead to change. Remorse can leave you filled with guilt that eventually leads to shame. This type of “worldly sorry” can eat you up emotionally. But repentance leads to confessing our sin to God, leaving it at the cross, and asking the Holy Spirit to change us. It brings a change in thinking and behaving. It is taking responsibility for our actions, not because they hurt people, but because they are sin. Ultimately, it leads to freedom.

Repentant people change from their previous ways and don’t wallow in guilt. Repentance comes when we cry out to God and say, “There is nothing in me that can make this change. I need you.” When we do, God forgives us. We turn from our sin and allow His Spirit to help us overcome.

To be free, repent and allow God to change you.




Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists...morse-and-repentance.html#bSsWVlhzsAcvB2kI.99

 

[Ashley755]

I don't think I could feel regret and remorse but not feel sad. Surely if you regret something there is sadness involved in that regret?

Sometimes I feel sad. Just not every time, which is the cause for my concern over the matter.

 

[Ashley755]

I do believe being sad that you sinned has to be present.
Remorse is not a Christian feeling...

The Difference Between Remorse and Repentance
Linda Mint

John admits. He struggles with addiction. He is determined to beat his habit but gives in, feels bad, intends to make a change, but ends up slipping time and again. When he does, it deeply hurts his wife. He sees the pain in her face and feels bad that he has hurt her. John is remorseful but not repentant.


Regret and remorse are different than godly sorrow noted in 2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death (NKJV). Godly sorry produces repentance. It is based on a belief that a behavior is wrong and must be stopped. It motivates one to make a turn in direction and change behavior.

Regret and remorse have consequences, but do not necessarily address the wrong-doing of those consequences. People get caught and can feel remorse because there are consequences to their actions. For example, you can speed down the highway, get caught and feel remorse. But you may not feel repentant over the speeding. You have remorse because you received a ticket. The ticket temporarily slows you down, but eventually you creep back up to that speeding level.


And so is the problem with remorse vs. repentance. Remorse can be temporary. It doesn’t always lead to change. Remorse can leave you filled with guilt that eventually leads to shame. This type of “worldly sorry” can eat you up emotionally. But repentance leads to confessing our sin to God, leaving it at the cross, and asking the Holy Spirit to change us. It brings a change in thinking and behaving. It is taking responsibility for our actions, not because they hurt people, but because they are sin. Ultimately, it leads to freedom.

Repentant people change from their previous ways and don’t wallow in guilt. Repentance comes when we cry out to God and say, “There is nothing in me that can make this change. I need you.” When we do, God forgives us. We turn from our sin and allow His Spirit to help us overcome.

To be free, repent and allow God to change you.




Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/columnists...morse-and-repentance.html#bSsWVlhzsAcvB2kI.99

This was really helpful. Thank you.

 

[Stringfellow_Hawke]

For me, with a particular sin I struggle with, I feel grieved. While only I and God know, I know its toxic effects on my soul. I know God is grieved when I do it. It bothers me to know I've sinned and failed.

Getting better as the days go. Finally understanding what it means to lean into the Holy Spirit.

 

[Stringfellow_Hawke]

FYI, I feel this with all sin... but this one particular sin is the worst.

 

[GodsGrace101]

Sometimes I feel sad. Just not every time, which is the cause for my concern over the matter.

If you have concern over it, it means you're sorry.
God knows how you are inside. If you confess, I believe it's enough. Sometimes I tell God, please forgive me I know I might do this again, but PLEASE FORGIVE ME. Just cry out to Him.

I'm protestant but I know some priests -- look where I live.
Anyway, one priests made me laugh once....he asked a woman if she was sorry for her sin because it seemed she wasn't. She said NO! So he asked her if she was sorry she wasn't sorry....

We can't get to crazy about this.
I hope many others answer you.

 

[GodsGrace101]

FYI, I feel this with all sin... but this one particular sin is the worst.

This is what I was talking about.
We all have our worst sin. It's like dust falling onto furniture.
You don't just leave it there...you wipe it off; but it'll fall again.
We keep wiping it off even if it takes all our life. Our effort is what God wants to see -- He knows us better than we know ourselves.

 

[RaymondG]

To repent is to turn away from something completely, never to do it again. Godly sorrow is a precursor to this. If there is no Godly sorrow, maybe you just feel bad for doing something, or getting caught or for those who were hurt. This does not mean you will not commit the same action again...to the same person or another person. This is not repentance.....only a vacation from the particular sin.

 

[GodsGrace101]

To repent is to turn away from something completely, never to do it again. Godly sorrow is a precursor to this. If there is no Godly sorrow, maybe you just feel bad for doing something, or getting caught or for those who were hurt. This does not mean you will not commit the same action again...to the same person or another person. This is not repentance.....only a vacation from the particular sin.

This is NOT what repent means.
You NEVER do anything NEVER AGAIN.
Never say never.

Repent means to turn and go in the other direction.

When we're born we're on a road headed toward satan.

When we repent, we turn and go the other way...
We now are going in the direction of God.

While we are walking toward God, we will fall many times ---we get back up and keep walking toward God.

As long as we don't turn back and go toward satan again, we will be in God's arms.

You make it sound like we could stop all sinning...
I may have misunderstood, if so, I apologize.

 

[dreadnought]

Are there times when we won’t feel sorrow while repenting but be sincere nonetheless, or is godly sorrow the proof of true repentance? Thank you

The thing that matters is whether or not you repent - discontinue your sin. How you feel is your own business.

 

[RaymondG]

This is NOT what repent means.
You NEVER do anything NEVER AGAIN.
Never say never.

Repent means to turn and go in the other direction.

When we're born we're on a road headed toward satan.

When we repent, we turn and go the other way...
We now are going in the direction of God.

While we are walking toward God, we will fall many times ---we get back up and keep walking toward God.

As long as we don't turn back and go toward satan again, we will be in God's arms.

You make it sound like we could stop all sinning...
I may have misunderstood, if so, I apologize.

No, Im not saying that you could stop sinning. But others, if they choose to believe, can. I find nothing wrong with your interpretation of repentance.

If Jesus says to go and sin no more, I would not tell him, no, I have to fall many times and you have to keep forgiving me. I will believe that what he says is possible....

Repentance is turning away.....And he who put his hand to the plow and look back is not fit for the kingdom.....they will turn to a pillar of salt. I find it unwise to teach others that going back to the things you turned from is ok, and/or mandatory...

 

[GodsGrace101]

No, Im not saying that you could stop sinning. But others, if they choose to believe, can. I find nothing wrong with your interpretation of repentance.

If Jesus says to go and sin no more, I would not tell him, no, I have to fall many times and you have to keep forgiving me. I will believe that what he says is possible....

Repentance is turning away.....And he who put his hand to the plow and look back is not fit for the kingdom.....they will turn to a pillar of salt. I find it unwise to teach others that looking going back to the things you turned from it ok, and/or mandatory...

You say you find nothing wrong with my interpretation of REPENTANCE and then you proceed to post as if you totally misunderstood what I said.

This sounds to you like I'm saying it's OK to sin because we could never help ourselves. This is not what I'm saying.
Jesus told the woman to go and sin no more...IOW, she should stop doing what she was doing. He wants all of us to stop sinning.

So then why did John write 1 John 1:8-10?
Children, DO NOT SIN,
But IF YOU DO SIN...there is a remedy.

I agree about the turning back. We are not to feel sorry for our past life which may, or may not, have been chock full of sin. We ALL sin in one way or another. There is none righteous, no not one. We all fall short of the glory of God.

I don't "teach" others to look back; I've used that verse many times.

I'm also not here to teach...
That implies that those hearing accept what I say.

Also, I hope you really do understand what repentance means.
It's important to understanding our walk with God.