NO REGRETS

The compelling idea in 2 Corinthians 7 is that we might be ‘made sorrowful, to the point of repentance.’ Paul, an apostle wrote:

“I now rejoice, not that you were made sorrowful, but that you were made sorrowful to the point of repentance; for you were made sorrowful according to the will of God, so that you might not suffer loss in anything through us. For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.”  (2 Corinthians 7:9-10)

Our sorrow for sin must be “to the will of God” to produce repentance without regret. Worldly sorrow “produces death.” We are ‘sorry we got caught,’ or ‘sorry we lost money,’ or ‘if no one knows, God doesn’t either,’ or ‘as long as no one gets hurt.’ All such goats are scapegoats. Shame goats.

Another Tim Keller quote (see yesterday’s Journal entry):

“We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.” 

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” Jesus