Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
We all either have given or received correction for a wrong done. Our sad and universal tendency to err produces the inevitable need to be corrected for the sake of our relationships with one another, and most importantly, with God. It is never comfortable to have to call someone out or to be called out, but it is the only loving thing to do as it fulfills the law of Christ (Galatians 6:1-2). Perhaps James emphasized this imperative the best when stating that the one who “…turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Or perhaps it was Jude’s description of this as saving them “…with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 23). Both of these texts sufficiently demonstrate how high the stakes are in the matter of correcting error. Jesus was clear that such correction is not optional, but it is expected of His people (Matthew 18:15-20; Luke 17:1-3). Our aim in this discussion is to assure we give and receive correction the right way.
In 2 Corinthians 7, Paul reflected on his painful letter of correction and its results. I want to emphasize three key takeaways I find helpful in fulfilling our responsibilities in this area. First, Paul took no pleasure in disciplining the Corinthians. At the time of writing 2 Corinthians, he did not regret making them sorrowful, but he did regret it at the time of the correction (2 Corinthians 7:8). Have you ever known a brother or sister in Christ who seemed to revel in calling out another brother or sister? I know I have. We must be sure we do not fall into this trap and bring the wrong attitude to the uncomfortable process of calling out error.
Second, if we are on the receiving end of correction, we must fight the urge to bristle at such correction. The New Testament is clear that the correction of fellow Christians is one of God’s methods of disciplining His children. The Hebrews writer acknowledged that this process is painful but profitable (Hebrews 12:5-11). It gives proof of belonging to Him, and it demonstrates His overall benevolent designs for His children. Though it is uncomfortable in the moment, it is for our good as it produces the “…peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10-11). Therefore, we must be willing to accept His correction for the loving action that it is. As Paul said, godly sorrow is the catalyst for repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10; cf. Romans 2:4).
Third, when the erring one repents, the one doing the correcting needs to reassure them that all is well again. In 2 Corinthians 2:6-8, Paul urged the Corinthians to forgive, comfort, and reassure the brother they had disciplined after he repented. In 2 Corinthians 7:7-12, Paul commended the Corinthians for receiving his correction and making the necessary changes. Once the sinful self has been torn down, the repentant self needs to be built up again. As the Hebrews writer emphasized, God no longer remembers our sins and lawless deeds (Hebrews 8:12), so what right do His imperfect children have to dig up the bones of a fellow imperfect child of God’s past indiscretions?
If we approach our inevitable failures in the way the New Testament prescribes, we will promote one another’s spiritual health and well-being as we give and receive correction in the right ways. If we either correct or receive correction in the wrong way, we do harm to one another, and we will give account for that harm (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:10). We must always sorrow that a wrong has been done and allow that godly sorrow to produce its intended repentance.