Why Few Get Changed at the Altar

So I preached this weekend. I have to say I LOVE to preach. One of the things about taking part in the youth program that excites me is the chance to preach. Part of my message looked at the nature of repentance. I suggested that one of the reasons we don't see true change in people is because we don't have true repentance from the outset. As the Bible makes clear, there is a difference between wordly sorrow (feeling sad about what we did) which only leads to death; and Godly sorrow (feeling sick about what we did) which leads to repentance. Thie weekend we looked at a larger section of 2Cor 7 but for the purposes of this post I'll submit what we looked at out of vs 11 -

The indicators or fruit of true repentance:

INDICATIONS OF "TRUE REPENTANCE"
2Cor 7:11
11For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter. (NASB)

I like how Eugene Peterson puts it in his paraphrase:

11-13And now, isn't it wonderful all the ways in which this distress has goaded you closer to God? You're more alive, more concerned, more sensitive, more reverent, more human, more passionate, more responsible. Looked at from any angle, you've come out of this with purity of heart. And that is what I was hoping for in the first place when I wrote the letter.

1. "diligence" (KJV, carefulness)
"earnestness, zeal, sometimes with haste accompanying it"
I.e., being quick to do what is right!
2. "clearing of yourselves"
To clear one's self of blame
E.g., quick to stop doing what is wrong, if such is the case
E.g., quick to respond to the offer of forgiveness when one recognizes their guilt
3. "indignation"
This involves a sort of anger, or moral outrage toward the SIN which required the repentance
4. fear"
A healthy fear that God would protect you from the sin and a desire to be "delivered from the evil one"
5. "vehement desire"
a fervent desire to be right in God's eyes
6. "zeal"
True repentance should produce a drive or passion to turn us from sin a toward the Lord
7. "vindication" (KJV, revenge)
A willingness to follow through the whole process of repentance by doing the right thing! Making proper and full restitution.

Some cool things I've learned lately. Hope they help.