2 Cor. 2:3-11

Do you ever use the failings of others to control them or dominate them in some way?  Perhaps you claim to forgive them but don’t forget what they did, bringing it up at a later time for your own advantage?  In this passage we see true forgiveness expressed by Paul.

He had previously written the Corinthians what is often called a severe letter in which he had reproved them for not dealing with an unrepentant brother in Christ.  This is a “lost” letter of Paul which he referred to in 1 Cor. 5:9 when he was again dealing with the matter.  He had written this letter out of much affliction and yet had done it because he loved them so deeply (2:4).

Now he is writing to advise the Corinthians that they need to forgive the man.  The punishment (v6, exclusion from the fellowship) had apparently been effective and the man had repented.  They needed to reaffirm their love for the man by forgiving him and receiving him back into the body.

Forgive in v7 is actually the term for grace.  They need to show grace to this man, the same grace shown to all when God forgives them by faith.  Let us note some rather important thoughts about forgiveness in this passage.

·        Forgiveness was in response to repentance.  This is the normal teaching of Scripture.  Confession leads to forgiveness (1 John 1:9).  The story of the unforgiving servant in Matt. 18:21-35 bears out the same thought.  But remember too that when others are not repentant we must have an attitude of grace, not holding a grudge against them (Rom. 12:17-21).

·        Forgiveness is a means by which we comfort or help our fellow-sinner (v7).  If we hold it against them, bringing it up at a later time, we may cause them to be swallowed up with too much sorrow.

·        Forgiveness is an expression of love (v8).  It does the 2 things that are fundamental to love: it gives something to the one at fault (remember John 3:16: God so loved that He gave); and it sacrifices, in essence relieving the guilty one of a debt (again, remember in Christ He pays our debt).

·        Forgiveness demonstrates obedience since God commands it (v9; Eph. 4:32).

·        Forgiveness is thus in agreement with Christ (v10).  This is what Paul means when he says he also forgives the man in the presence of Christ.  Knowing we stand before Christ who forgave us, failure to forgive others is the ultimate inconsistency.

·        Forgiveness is a deterrent to the plans of Satan (v11).  Satan is always against what Christ is doing.  Christ is building His Church; Satan seeks to destroy it and one way is by keeping believers for the practice of forgiveness.

Let us practice the love of Christ.  In love we are to reprove those at fault.  In love we are to forgive repentant sinners.