Now Paul is not regretting having sent the "severe letter". This is the letter referring to sin issues in the church. Paul was deeply concerned and upset, knowing that the issues had to be dealt with, and at the same time caring for the church at Corinth. However, now he is glad because the result of the letter was repentance. Repentance is the pathway to salvation. This applies when we first become Christians, and at various points during our Christian life.
Paul draws a distinction between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow is a realisation that what we have done is wrong, that we have let God down, that we need to change. Worldly sorrow is usually just regret at the consequences, with no admittance that we are wrong and in need of change. Godly sorrow leaves no regret. When we repent we are completely forgiven, and our relationship with God is completely restored.
In the Corinthian case it produced a determination to do what is right. When Paul wrote to them he was not taking sides in the issue. And Paul was further encouraged by what Titus found in Corinth.
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