FINDING FREEDOM IN FORGIVENESS (3 OF 26)
by Rick White
Scripture: II CORINTHIANS 2:5-11
This content is part of a series.
Finding Freedom in Forgiveness (3 of 26)
Series: Truths That Transform
Rick White
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
01-23-94
But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree-in order not to say too much-to all of you. Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. For to this end also I wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Introduction: Church discipline is not a popular subject or a wide-spread practice. Too many churches sweep such things "under the rug" instead of obeying the Scriptures and confronting the situation boldly by "speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15). "Peace at any price" is not a biblical principle, for there cannot be true spiritual peace without purity (James 3: 13-18). Problems that are not addressed have a way of causing greater problems in the future.
The background to the Corinthian situation can be found in 1 Cor. 5. Paul had confronted the church for their lack of action regarding a man who was living in an incestuous relationship with his stepmother. The situation was so serious that according to Paul such a thing was unheard of even among the Gentiles, but the church had become passive and arrogant. Paul pronounced judgment on the man and instructed the church to do likewise; even to deliver him over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh.
According to what we read in 2 Cor. the majority of the church followed the instructions of the Apostle, however a new problem arose. It is implied that the m ...
Series: Truths That Transform
Rick White
2 Corinthians 2:5-11
01-23-94
But if any has caused sorrow, he has caused sorrow not to me, but in some degree-in order not to say too much-to all of you. Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority, so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, lest somehow such a one be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him. For to this end also I wrote that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.
Introduction: Church discipline is not a popular subject or a wide-spread practice. Too many churches sweep such things "under the rug" instead of obeying the Scriptures and confronting the situation boldly by "speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15). "Peace at any price" is not a biblical principle, for there cannot be true spiritual peace without purity (James 3: 13-18). Problems that are not addressed have a way of causing greater problems in the future.
The background to the Corinthian situation can be found in 1 Cor. 5. Paul had confronted the church for their lack of action regarding a man who was living in an incestuous relationship with his stepmother. The situation was so serious that according to Paul such a thing was unheard of even among the Gentiles, but the church had become passive and arrogant. Paul pronounced judgment on the man and instructed the church to do likewise; even to deliver him over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh.
According to what we read in 2 Cor. the majority of the church followed the instructions of the Apostle, however a new problem arose. It is implied that the m ...
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