Remorse is a feeling of deep regret, of hopelessness, and even of despair. It does not lead to constructive change, nor does it help us to believe God. Repentance, on the other hand, causes us to turn away from sin and opens us to receive the next gift from God-faith. Remorse is destructive; it turns us against ourselves. Repentance is life-giving; it turns us to God. 

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

 King Saul realized too late that his sin had cost him the kingdom.

Instead of repenting, attempting reconciliation of any sort, or seeking reconciliation with David, Saul allowed despair to lead him to suicide. He permitted his emotion of remorse to turn him against himself. In contrast, David sought the Lord with fasting, self-humiliation, and honest confession when his sin was exposed. The heart of his prayer was that a right spirit toward God be renewed within him; his primary concern was not alleviation or avoidance of penalty. David accepted the Lord’s chastening and was made a better man through the experience. (See I Sam. 31:4, 5; II Sam. 12:1-25; Psa. 51.) 

 Judas punished himself for betraying Jesus.

Judas soon realized what he had done in betraying Jesus. He sought to return the thirty pieces of silver. But instead of returning to Jesus for restoration, he went and hanged himself. Again, remorse and despair led to self-destruction. In contrast, Peter wept bitterly when he discovered the deep significance of his denying the Lord. But Peter repented; he did not stop with emotions of regret. He changed his ways and found stability he had never found before. (See Matt. 27:3-10; Acts 1:16-19; Luke 22:54-62.)