What Happened to Godly Sorrow

I don’t understand how anyone can preach and give an altar call and not mention repentance, or if they do, not speak on what repentance even means.  If people don’t understand that they need to repent and be sorry for their sins, what would keep them from committing those same sins again?  If we didn’t need to repent, why did Jesus say this when he started His ministry in Matthew 4:17, “From then on, Yeshua began to proclaim, ‘Turn away from your sins, for the kingdom of heaven is near.’”

What does turning from your sins and repentance mean, and what are some of the things they cover anyway?  Let’s start with this, godly sorrow, plus turning away from sin and turning to God, think of this, a true change of heart and mind, plus humbling yourself admitting that you were wrong, and God was right.  It is also a realization of what yours and my sin did to Jesus, a man who had no sin.  It caused Him to suffer terribly, being beat and also spit on, and in the end, crucified with a crown of thorns, pressed down on his head and nails pounded into his hands and feet.

Think of this, without his willingness to suffer and to lay down His life, there could be no forgiveness of sins.  We could not ever be justified for our sins in God’s eyes.  We would all still be enslaved to sin without a remedy or a way to make things right with God!!  Remember what happened in Josiah’s day?  In Josiah’s day the law of the Lord was lost in the house of the Lord.

Please read 2 Kings 22:8-13, “Hilkiah the kohen gadol said to Shaphan the scribe, ‘I have found a scroll of the Torah in the House of Adonai.’ So Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan who read it. Then Shaphan the scribe came to the king and brought back word to the king and said, ‘Your servants have emptied out the silver that was found in the House and have given it into the hand of the workmen appointed to oversee the work on the House of Adonai.’ Shaphan the scribe also told the king, saying, ‘Hilkiah 4the kohen has given me a scroll.’ Then Shaphan read it before the king. After the king heard the words of the Torah scroll, he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the kohen, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe and Asaiah the king’s servant aying: ‘Go, inquire of Adonai for me, for the people and for all Judah, about the words of this scroll that was found. For great is the wrath of Adonai that is kindled against us, since our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do everything written here that concerns us.’”

I wonder if God is angry with altar calls that leave out repentance all together or just lightly skip over it.  The reason I say this, is because I talked to someone that claimed to be a Christian about this subject a while ago, and that person said he had never repented or wept over his sins.  I have heard other people say basically the same thing.  It seems to me if you have no remorse or sorrow over your sins it seems like it would be much easier to commit them again.

Please read what the word of God says in 1 John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  What does that say, if we do something, yes, if we confess our sins.

It also says this in 2 Corinthians 7:8-11, “For even if I grieved you with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that my letter grieved you, but just for a while. Now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to the point of repentance. For you were grieved according to God’s will, so that you might in no way suffer loss from us. For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret. But the world’s grief brings death. For see what this very thing—this grieving that God wills—has brought you! What diligence, what defense, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what rendering of justice! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.”

Now please read 2 Chronicles 7:14, “when My people, over whom My Name is called, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

We need this as much today as they needed it then.  I pray this has been a help, a blessing and an encouragement to you all.  Repentance is just as essential today as it was at any time.  God bless you and yours and may all of you have a super day!!