Sinner Forgiven
Discipline Restores; It Doesn't Destroy
SCRIPTURE:
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NKJV - This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
OBSERVATION:
It is believed that 2 Corinthians is actually the third letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church. The second letter is believed to have been “harsh” because major problems in the church needed to be corrected. Unable to attend in person, he wrote the letter, and as a result, the necessary correction took place. This is why Paul would speak of his next visit not with harshness, but with encouragement.
Our Bibles today contain two letters to the Corinthians. If there was a third letter, it was intended only for Corinth and was not included in the canon of Scripture. Whether there were three letters or not, Paul will address the “excessive” punishment inflicted on the immoral man mentioned in 1 Corinthians.
This raises a question. When does church discipline go too far? Paul had rebuked the church and told them to deal with this man. They had obeyed, but they had taken the punishment too far.
Paul says, “Forgive and comfort.” The punishment was sufficient; it was time to restore. The man was repentant; forgiveness was a must!
2 Corinthians 2:6-8 NKJV - This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.
OBSERVATION:
It is believed that 2 Corinthians is actually the third letter Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church. The second letter is believed to have been “harsh” because major problems in the church needed to be corrected. Unable to attend in person, he wrote the letter, and as a result, the necessary correction took place. This is why Paul would speak of his next visit not with harshness, but with encouragement.
Our Bibles today contain two letters to the Corinthians. If there was a third letter, it was intended only for Corinth and was not included in the canon of Scripture. Whether there were three letters or not, Paul will address the “excessive” punishment inflicted on the immoral man mentioned in 1 Corinthians.
This raises a question. When does church discipline go too far? Paul had rebuked the church and told them to deal with this man. They had obeyed, but they had taken the punishment too far.
Paul says, “Forgive and comfort.” The punishment was sufficient; it was time to restore. The man was repentant; forgiveness was a must!
Love never slights holiness; but holiness never slays love." – G. Campbell Morgan.
Our aim in church discipline should always be to restore. They were instructed to treat the man as an unbeliever. We are instructed to hate the sin and love the sinner. Love is what draws the unbeliever.
Paul would go on to say, “lest he may be overwhelmed with grief.” The purpose of discipline is not to bring hopelessness but to bring repentance. For repentance brings times of refreshing, not overwhelming grief.
Paul would go on to say, “lest he may be overwhelmed with grief.” The purpose of discipline is not to bring hopelessness but to bring repentance. For repentance brings times of refreshing, not overwhelming grief.
Restoring work towards sinners is just as important as rebuking work. – David Guzik.
Lastly, Paul would say, “Reaffirm your love to him.”
When the offender is made to feel that, while his sin is punished, he himself is loved; and that the end aimed at is not his suffering but his good, he is more likely to be brought to repentance. – Charles Hodge.
APPLICATION:
Remember, we were granted forgiveness and comfort when we were overwhelmed by grief and sorrow over our sin. Every day, Jesus reaffirms his love for us.
When we are wronged or have to participate in church discipline, remember that when one repents, we should restore and forgive. That is what Jesus does for us daily!
PRAYER:
Father, give me Your heart to restore those who have fallen and those who are lost, for I have been both. I was lost and often fell short. Help me live out G. Camble Morgan's words, "Love never slights holiness; but holiness never slays love." May I be motivated by love because You first loved me!
Remember, we were granted forgiveness and comfort when we were overwhelmed by grief and sorrow over our sin. Every day, Jesus reaffirms his love for us.
When we are wronged or have to participate in church discipline, remember that when one repents, we should restore and forgive. That is what Jesus does for us daily!
PRAYER:
Father, give me Your heart to restore those who have fallen and those who are lost, for I have been both. I was lost and often fell short. Help me live out G. Camble Morgan's words, "Love never slights holiness; but holiness never slays love." May I be motivated by love because You first loved me!
The goal of correction is never condemnation — it's restoration, because the same forgiveness and love Jesus daily reaffirms to us is what we owe to one another.
Posted in 08 - 2 Corinthians
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