SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. [2 Corinthians 7:10]
Then Jesus said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.” [John 8:10-11]
Paul had written a strong letter to the Corinthians where he urged them to deal with sin in their midst [1 Corinthians 3:1-3, 4:18-5:7 ??].
Now he notes that they did respond with appropriate repentance: Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. [2 Corinthians 7:11]

Following Jesus is not an excuse to do whatever we want because He loves and forgive us.
We are not condemned, but neither are we excused.
Sin is very serious – it is harmful to us, to others, to the creation and to God, and ultimately its serious consequence is exacted on Jesus on the cross.
We are not condemned because He was condemned for us.
We should hate the sin that nailed the hands and feet of Jesus to the cross.
Every time we sin its like a hammer striking the nail into His flesh.
He willingly accepted this because of His love, but He is not expecting us to delight in it, to take advantage of His love.
By rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. [Hebrews 6:6]

Godly sorrow, like that shown by the sinful woman that anointed Jesus’ feet, leads to ‘go and sin no more.’
Hate the sin that killed the Son.
Worldly sorrow is a combination of the shame of getting caught, the pain of consequences, and the accusing lies of Satan who taunts us.
This kind of sorrow leads from sorrow to despair to death.
But godly sorrow lifts up the guilty eyes to the loving Saviour, and He receives us, forgives us, then enables us to ‘go and sin no more!’.

PRAYER:
Lord, may my sorrow be this kind of sorrow – the kind of sorrow that leads me to zealous determination not to hurt You anymore!