The Goodness and Sorrow of God
Chad Johnson
October 2, 2009

Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? Romans 2:4 (KJV)

For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. II Corinthians 7:10 (KJV)

First, I want us to see how God’s goodness leads us to the place of repentance, then how the sorrow from God worketh repentance in us.

The very mercy and goodness of God leads us to a place where we can repent. Notice it is the goodness of God that leads a man towards repentance. It is the goodness of God that He did not put our soul in Hell. It is the very goodness of God that sent Christ to die on the cross in our place. It is the goodness of God that preserved the Word of God so we could hear the truth. It is the goodness of God that established the church and kept it going for all ages so the Gospel could be heard and men and women could be saved.

So we see God’s goodness that has led us to repent, but the sorrow from God worketh that repentance in us. The sorrow that works repentance in us is the sorrow for our sin. The ground must be worked up before seed can be sown, so must our heart be worked up by a Godly sorrow and brokenness over our fallen state. Godly sorrow works on our heart and we see our depraved nature. Then the seed of the Gospel can be sown and bring forth fruits of repentance. In conclusion, it’s God’s goodness that leads us to repentance and God’s sorrow that worketh repentance in us. Now we experience the fruit of everlasting life. Amen.