|
Scripture: II Corinthians 7.9-10 (ESV)
9As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us. 10For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.
Comments
Part of the Christian acesis, or spiritual discipline, is true sorrow for sins. This is "contrition." Sin is a "missing the mark." In many ways we each have missed the mark of complete Love to others and God.
The Church has spoken of a specific form of contrition, perfect contrition. Perfect contrition arises out of love for God. Contrition can be self-centered, arising from a lack of felt self-worth. Contrition can be a masochistic self-flagellation. Contrition can be a veiled attempt to bypass the consequences of actions through an apparent turning from the wrong.
|
|
The Psalmist exemplifies perfect contrition, in Psalm 51.2-4:
2 Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
3 For I recognize my rebellion;
it haunts me day and night.
4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
and your judgment against me is just. (NLT)
See next page for data on purpose of OneLife Ministries, biographical information on the writer, and how to order the author's book.
Continued... |
