2 Corinthians 2:5-11 – Forgive the Repentant
In this passage, Paul teaches and demonstrates that discipline exercised in love also includes forgiveness and restoration of the offender when they repent. In verse 5, Paul says that their offense, or the man’s offense, had not just been against him. Paul was indignant for the cause of Christ and for his namesake. But the offense had caused difficulty especially for the church. It was painful and grievous for them as a congregation to be corrected themselves and then to exercise that discipline. But once the church finally came to terms with the offense, once they got over their reluctance to exercise correction in the first place, they took action. Paul called for that man to be put out of the church. And they did that. The offender, once he is confronted, does indeed repent. One of the great gifts and responsibilities that God has given to the church is both to confront the sinner and to point them in the right direction. But it’s not just that. There is the added responsibility then to forgive and to comfort those who do repent. In verses 6 and 7, Paul says that the punishment was sufficient for this man. You excommunicated him. It has served its purpose. Now, you ought to forgive and comfort him, lest that one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. The story has a happy ending. The man repented. But that happy ending was almost spoiled by the Corinthian church. They would not forgive and would not restore. Why wouldn’t they forgive?
The first reason is grief. In verse 5, Paul says, this was grievous to you. It was hard. They dealt with a public, messy church affair. It wasn’t something very pleasant. Who likes to go back and revisit grievous things? Paul says that can’t be the case. If this is one who has repented in Christ, who is forgiven by Him, you must forgive. You must restore in love and embrace the repentant. Another reason it’s hard to forgive is that a bitterness can rise up because of the grief that’s been caused, a bitterness that then bears the fruit of being too harsh towards the one who has sinned and then is repentant. It goes something like this: Such a one can never be allowed back into the presence of our congregation, at our fellowship, at the sacraments. What that comes from, most of all, is a misunderstanding of grace, that God does indeed forgive sinners, even the most heinous of crimes.
Question
- What is the purpose of excommunication?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would be quick to forgive.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.