For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 2 Corinthians 7 :11
This verse provides a look at how genuine repentance will manifest itself in my attitudes. First I must be earnest. It is the initial reaction of true repentance to eagerly and aggressively pursue righteousness. This is an attitude that ends indifference to sin and complacency about evil and deception. I must be eager to clear myself of the stain of sin. I desire to clear my name of the stigma that accompanies sin. My repentant heart restores the trust and confidence of others by making genuine repentance known. I do not hide my repentance like I hid my sin. And there is an indignation like no other. Repentance leads to anger over my sin and displeasure at the shame it has brought on the Lord's name and His people. I fear the Lord. This is reverence toward God, who is the One most offended by my sin. Repentance leads to a healthy fear of the One who chastens and judges my sin. There is a longing for restoration that shapes my life. This could be translated "yearning," and refers to the desire of the repentant sinner to restore the relationship with the one who was sinned against. I want to be restored with God and with others when I am truly repentant. And I am consumed with the full measure of my repentance. I love God so much that I cannot want to harm Him or His family again. I want justice for sin. This refers to the desire to see justice done. I no longer try to protect myself with excuses; I want to deal with the sin no matter what it might cost me. I want holiness restored. The essence of my repentance is an aggressive pursuit of holiness, which was characteristic of the Corinthians. The Greek word for "innocent" means "pure" or "holy." I must demonstrate the integrity of my repentance by my purity.
For see what earnestness this godly grief has produced in you, but also what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what punishment! At every point you have proved yourselves innocent in the matter. 2 Corinthians 7 :11
This verse provides a look at how genuine repentance will manifest itself in my attitudes. First I must be earnest. It is the initial reaction of true repentance to eagerly and aggressively pursue righteousness. This is an attitude that ends indifference to sin and complacency about evil and deception. I must be eager to clear myself of the stain of sin. I desire to clear my name of the stigma that accompanies sin. My repentant heart restores the trust and confidence of others by making genuine repentance known. I do not hide my repentance like I hid my sin. And there is an indignation like no other. Repentance leads to anger over my sin and displeasure at the shame it has brought on the Lord's name and His people. I fear the Lord. This is reverence toward God, who is the One most offended by my sin. Repentance leads to a healthy fear of the One who chastens and judges my sin. There is a longing for restoration that shapes my life. This could be translated "yearning," and refers to the desire of the repentant sinner to restore the relationship with the one who was sinned against. I want to be restored with God and with others when I am truly repentant. And I am consumed with the full measure of my repentance. I love God so much that I cannot want to harm Him or His family again. I want justice for sin. This refers to the desire to see justice done. I no longer try to protect myself with excuses; I want to deal with the sin no matter what it might cost me. I want holiness restored. The essence of my repentance is an aggressive pursuit of holiness, which was characteristic of the Corinthians. The Greek word for "innocent" means "pure" or "holy." I must demonstrate the integrity of my repentance by my purity.
