Faith that saves produces a Godly sorrow for sin
The Holy Spirit will always hate sin and grieve when we fall back into sin. Then the Spirit convicts us to repent so that we can start again to develop a deeper obedience towards God and a greater love for His Word. Only that path seems secure.
Faith is the basis for our relationship with God. We have to believe that God is Almighty and that we can only approach Him if we believe in Him. If we confess our sins then He is faithful to forgive us our sins.
Repentance clears the heart and allows us to genuinely approach God for a new start.
Saving faith produces sorrow for sin because faith has a strong desire for holiness.
In a hospital surgical theatre, everything must be sterilized and germs are an enemy that must be eliminated. Equally, people desiring holiness do not fool around with sin.
Repentance cleans the heart and allows us to see God more clearly. This clearer vision of God increases our faith in Him.
Thus, repentance and faith walk hand-in-hand to help us draw closer to Jesus.
II CORINTHIANS 7:10 "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death".
Unsaved people are only sorry for their sins if they are caught out and have to be punished. They are sorry for the punishment, not for the sin. If they get away with the sin then they think that they are very clever.
But godly sorrow, inspired by Christ’s Spirit within us, makes us feel very bad about our sins. Condemned by my conscience, my only escape is to repent and make right where possible.
I do not need other people to tell me of my sins, my own conscience convicts me.
The repentance that drove me to ask Christ for His salvation is something that will never be regretted.
II CORINTHIANS 7:11 "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".
Amplified Bible : For [you can look back and] see what an earnestness and authentic concern this godly sorrow has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves [against charges that you tolerate sin], what indignation [at sin], what fear [of offending God], what longing [for righteousness and justice], what passion [to do what is right], what readiness to punish [those who sin and those who tolerate sin]! At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in the matter.
When I genuinely repent of my sins then Christ gives me godly sorrow.
This is not just an emotional response. It is a response that transforms me as it leads to spiritual growth.
Earnest and eager to please God I become very indignant about my failures as I have let God down. I reject any behaviour or attitude that is contrary to sound faith. The fear of God motivates action on my part, it does not paralyze me. This is similar to a person who is scared of losing their job. Fear of being unemployed makes them try harder in order to keep their job.
Forgiven of sin and offered Heaven in the place of Hell gives the repentant heart a zeal to do something for God in return. Wanting to be careful to choose God’s Will and not my own.
Let's sums this up very well.
"The happy fruits of true repentance are mentioned. Where the heart is changed, the life and actions will be changed. It wrought indignation at sin, at themselves, at the tempter and his instruments. It wrought a fear of watchfulness, and a cautious fear of sin. It wrought desire to be reconciled with God. It wrought zeal for duty, and against sin. It wrought revenge against sin and their own folly, by endeavours to make satisfaction for injuries done thereby. Deep humility before God, hatred of all sin, with faith in Christ, a new heart and a new life, make repentance unto salvation. May the Lord bestow it on every one of us."
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