Repentance, as 2 Corinthians 7:8-10 demonstrates, is not sorrow, but neither is it itself the change in behavior. Repentance is the mindset that lies between the two. However, interpretations attempting to make clear the mindset of repentance have oversimplified it, failing to analyze it as the whole of a series of internal changes in viewpoint. Paul actually provides an explanation of the changes required in repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:11. Commending the Corinthians for their response to his previous letter, and calling on them to maintain the same disposition, Paul reminded them the nature of changes their godly sorrow-provoked by the words of inspiration-had produced. “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter” (2 Cor. 7:11).
Repentance implies the determination to make whatever correction is required. “Carefulness” would better be translated “diligence.” Diligence is directed determination coupled with effort. To be diligent is to give your attention to a matter quickly and completely. Until you take your sinfulness seriously, until you realize that other things should not matter when sin is on your record, you will never give the effort necessary to correct your situation. Such diligence implies the willingness to do whatever God’s Word requires in order to take care of the problem. So long as a person limits the changes he is willing to make, he has yet to repent.
Repentance implies a rational response to God’s Word. “Clearing” is the same Greek word as “answer” in 1 Peter 3:15, apologia, from which we receive the word “apologetics.” It is a compound word, combining the preposition apo used in composition, “from” or “away from,” with the root logia, a brief message. The combined sense thus indicates a rational response to what another has said. Since God’s Word is the original message -an indictment of our sin-our reply, if rational, should be to respond in whatever is required to clear away the guilt. In brief, our response should be an acknowledgement of the truth of God’s Word, both in condemning our sin and in what it requires us to change.
Repentance implies viewing sin from God’s point of view. “Indignation” is anger directed toward perceived wrongdoing. All too often, when a person is aught or caught up in sin, he directs his anger toward God for condemning his actions and toward all those who rightly tell him so. A penitent person is angry with himself. To repent you must understand that your behavior is sinful-not just “poor judgment” or a “mistake.” God knows it is sin, and He holds the sinner responsible (Rom. 2:6). Therefore, a person must accept responsibility for his sin and accept the blame for it (Jas. 1:13-15). In other words, we should feel guilty because we are guilty. Until he sets aside all excuse making (Gen. 3), a person has not repented.
Repentance implies the realization of being lost as a result of the sin. Fear is sometimes loosely redefined as “respect” or “reverence,” but this loses the full sense of the word. The point is that a person who is not right with God is in danger of the judgment and should fear his current situation. Too often today people have adopted the attitude that they may sin “mildly” but that this never -endangers the soul. Repentance is simply impossible until a person realizes just exactly where he stands with God and how his soul stands in jeopardy. For the unforgiven sinner, fear is appropriate.
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