Counseling. Sorrow for sin...

a

Sorrow for Sin

A Hebrew term that adds to our understanding of repentance is the verb nacham. It is derived from a root that reflects the idea of breathing deeply,’ communicating the physical display of one’s feelings, such as sorrow, regret, or contrition. Thus, biblical repentance not only involves a change of mind but also a genuine sorrow for sin.

The slightest true comprehension of our sinfulness and guilt will lead to genuine sorrow, shame, and even a healthy hatred or loathing of our sin and ourselves. Ezra the scribe declared that he was “ashamed and embarrassed” (humiliated) to lift up his face to God because of Israel’s sins (9:5–6).

What does sorrowing over sin look like in ? (At the end of the verse we find out why they responded this way. List the reason given for why they are sorrowful.)

The prophet Ezekiel was even so bold to declare that when disobedient Israel finally recognized the heinous nature of its sin against the Lord, it would loathe itself in its own sight for all the evil things it had done ().

Look up . How does God describe how they will feel about themselves when their sins are discovered?

Look up and ask, “How did Paul feel about the things that he did prior to conversion?” How do you feel about those things?

Such talk seems out of place in a world and evangelical community overrun with the psychology of self-esteem, but sorrow, shame, and self-hatred are biblical truths and an essential part of genuine repentance in both the Old and New Testaments. These teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul give clear evidence of this truth.

Look up and ask, “What is the differences of these two men: The tax collector and the Pharisee?

Look up . Why are the two types of grief (sorrows) and what are the two different outcomes?

And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted ().

Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death ().

Faced with the reality of what he was and what he had done, the tax collector accompanied his confession with brokenness, deep remorse, and humility. In the case of the Corinthian church’s carnality and pride, sorrow was not only appropriate but was also considered to be “according to the will of God.” In both cases, however, it is important to notice that sorrow and shame were not the goal, but the means to a greater end. The tax collector’s self-humiliation led to his justification, and the sorrow of the believers in Corinth led to repentance without regret, resulting in salvation.

Although there is a “sorrow of the world” that is without faith and leads to death as in the case of Judas Iscariot, we should never look negatively at the godly sorrow that accompanies genuine repentance and leads to life (). It is the testimony of Scripture that God highly esteems such sorrow.

Who will God not despise? ()

Who does God look favorably to? ()

Though He dwells on a high and holy place, He is also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive them. As Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” ().

He will not despise “a broken and a contrite heart” (), but rather He looks to the one who is “poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word” (). Though He dwells on a high and holy place, He is also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive them. As Jesus taught us in the Beatitudes, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” ().

Washer, P. (2013). The Gospel Call and True Conversion (pp. 8–10). Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books.