Rebuke for restoration

Paul lived and spoke intentionally. He acted out of love in all things and somethings were hard things to address (1Cor5:1-5) but out of love things need to be addressed. May we paint a picture of the apostles heart and discipline then get to the passage before us this morning.

The setting:

Paul’s apostleship, authority and authenticity was under attack (2Cor1:12-24)

He raised a strong defence with strong witnesses. He called his conscience, he called himself and called God as a character witness.

Paul brings a rebuke to the church (2Cor1:23-2:4)

I will give a reminder of part of the passage the rest we will get to shortly

I want to point out Paul’s heart in the rebuke and reason for the rebuke first.

2 Corinthians 1:23–24 NASB95

23 But I call God as witness to my soul, that to spare you I did not come again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm.

An apostles heart in a rebuke:

Paul had to deal with the Corinthians severely and he was very cautious and controlled in what he said. He loved them but needed to correct them.

Severe rebuke is done reluctantly, unwillingly, but with necessity.

A severe rebuke was only used when all other avenues have been exhausted.

The apostles heart would rather bring praise than rebuke.

We do not want to be people who are fault finding because we are looking for it, for then if a rebuke is given it loses it’s intended purpose (correction).

Rebuke/correction must be done in love

Paul did not speak to hurt but to help. A rebuke is to bring restoration, especially restoration of joy.

John Knox said “the effective rebuke is that given with the arm of love round the other person.”

Rebuke must not be domineering but correcting

A correction, a rebuke is not to make someone conform to your exact thinking, but to get them in line with God’s thinking on their own.

The duty of a teacher, an elder, or a friend bringing a rebuke needs to be not to impose personal beliefs but to enable and encourage people to believe that is of their own.

Paul in his heart of hearts knew he could impose apostolic authority but chose that he should discipline and guide not domineer, lord over them.

Rebuke is done to help bring out the best, see the best in others.

Paul’s heart in all his reluctance to rebuke, in all his desire to see the best in others, for all the love he had for them, Paul, nonetheless does rebuke when it is necessary.

IF we are honest we may refrain from rebuke because of mistaken kindness, in a desire to avoid conflict or trouble. But in reality when it is needed and not given it is inviting trouble in the future.

If we follow Paul’s heart method here we will be guided by love, taking all things into consideration and do all things for the good of the body.

(Transition) Someone within the Corinthian church caused Paul a great deal of pain, of sorrow (v.1), affliction and anguish (v.4) and it brought Paul to make a quick trip, unplanned trip to Corinth to address the problem in person (2Cor12:14, 13:1) and had previously written to them a painful letter (v.4). Nevertheless in all this, Paul revealed his compassionate heart and his love.

Some things for us to look at and consider as we look at the passage this morning:

Love puts others first (2Cor2:1-4)

Love seeks to help others grow (2Cor2:5-6)

Love forgives and encourages others (2Cor2:7-11)

Love puts others first

We have established the apostles heart, and the intent of the apostle too in using love in and through even a rebuke.

2 Corinthians 2:1–2 NASB95

1 But I determined this for my own sake, that I would not come to you in sorrow again. 2 For if I cause you sorrow, who then makes me glad but the one whom I made sorrowful?

2 Corinthians 2:3 NASB95

3 This is the very thing I wrote you, so that when I came, I would not have sorrow from those who ought to make me rejoice; having confidence in you all that my joy would be the joy of you all.

2 Corinthians 2:4 NASB95

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you with many tears; not so that you would be made sorrowful, but that you might know the love which I have especially for you.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Gleaning from the scripture:

Question: look at (v.1) whose sorrow was Paul talking about?

He is talking about his own sorrow. He did not want to come in sorrow again.

I have to be honest that in ministry, as displayed by Paul in this passage those who should bring greatest joy can bring great sorrow too, that is what Paul is dealing with here.

Question: In (v.3) Paul speaks of joy, the results after the sorrow (the rebuke) whose joy is he speaking here?

He is speaking of his joy and that his joy would be the joy of them too.

Question, it was in affliction and anguish of heart that he wrote and wanted them to know what in (v.4)?

The love which he had for them.

Paul knew that his words would wound, and that brought him affliction and anguish of heart but he knew the words (rebuke) was necessary just as any parent would know. There is a difference between hurting and harming, And Paul knew the words would hurt but could help them so they would not be harmed in the long run.

Love always considers the feelings of others and seeks to put their good ahead of anything else. and that includes preventing harm in the future by even some hurtful, or apparently hurtful things now.

Love seeks to help others grow

Have you heard the term tough love before? OK, a rhetorical question. A rebuke done with love is meant to help someone grow. That was Paul’s intent of the person rebuked and the church too.

2 Corinthians 2:5–6 NASB95

5 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. 6 Sufficient for such a one is this punishment which was inflicted by the majority,

What did you see, what did you notice, what sticks out to you?

Question: In (vv.5-6) Paul again is addressing sorrow, whose sorrow, in some degree is he addressing?

In some degree all of you, meaning the church.

Again a quick note, you will not find a name of the person that caused the sorrow, that brought division to the church. Now back in 1Cor5 if it is the same man Paul did tell the Church to discipline the man for his own good (1Cor5:5)

1 Corinthians 5:5 NASB95

5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

If that is true, and it is this man, the church did discipline the man, he did repent and he was restored.

True discipline is evidence of love (2Cor2:6; Heb12:5-11)

While this is a longer passage in Hebrews and since we are talking about rubuke, forgiveness and love I thought we should bring it in,

Hebrews 12:5–6 NASB95

5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; 6 For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”

Hebrews 12:7–8 NASB95

7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

Hebrews 12:9–10 NASB95

9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.

Hebrews 12:11 NASB95

11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

The Lord chastens (disciplines; rebukes) the one He loves (v.5-6) just as a father does (v.9)

Discipline, chastening, a loving severe rebuke may not seem pleasant at the time but will bring peaceable fruit of righteousness from those trained by it (v.11)

We know there are parents these days who do spare the rod and spoil the child all in the name of love. That is contrary to the word of God, if they love them they would chasten them.

Church discipline is not something anyone likes to talk about much less put into practice as noted in (Mt18), but in reality we cannot, should not sweep things under the rug. People want to embrace love at any cost and that is contrary to the scripture (Eph4:15)

Ephesians 4:15 NASB95

15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Question: According to (Eph4:15) what are we to do?

Speak the truth in love, and yes, that includes tough love

Something to consider, there is no true peace, spiritual peace without purity (Jm3:13-18)

We cannot ignore something and think it will just go away. We cannot sweep under the rug as mentioned before. Spiritual discipline, a rebuke for restoration comes with Godly wisdom.

James 3:17 NASB95

17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

James 3:18 NASB95

18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

This severe rebuke given, though it caused sorrow to Paul, sorrow to the church was effective because it was done in love.

Love forgives and encourages

A severe rebuke, correction, discipline that is done in love, forgives and it encourages. Look at this section at what Paul is urging the church family to do.

2 Corinthians 2:7–8 NASB95

7 so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 Wherefore I urge you to reaffirm your love for him.

2 Corinthians 2:9–10 NASB95

9 For to this end also I wrote, so that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 But one 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,

2 Corinthians 2:11 NASB95

11 so that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes.

What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

Question: Paul tells and urges two things in (vv.7-8) what are they?

He says to forgive and comfort (v.7)

He urges to reaffirm your love for him (v.8)

Love forgives and encourages so not to overwhelm with excessive sorrow (v.7)

Have you ever had guilt or shame over something in the past? Maybe something you have even sought and been given forgiveness? It can bring excessive sorrow that is not healthy, so s Christians we need to forgive and encourage even self forgiveness too.

I read this.

“Forgiveness is the medicine that helps heal broken hearts.” -Bible Exposition Commentary

Discipline a rebuke, a correction must be given with an assurance of love and forgiveness or it will do more harm than good, that excessive sorrow just mentioned in (v.7)

Forgiveness and encouragement is not just for the restored brother it is for your sake in the presence of Christ (vv.9-10)

If we sweep things under the rug and do not face them and deal with them then we are not pleasing God we are actually grieving the heart of the Lord and I do not think we want to do that, do we?

Another reason to forgive and to encourage is for the churches sake (v.11; ref: Eph4:27-32)

If we hold onto, harbor an unforgiving spirit, then that gives Satan a foothold and we grieve the Spirit (i.e. Eph4:27-32)

Ephesians 4:27–28 NASB95

27 and do not give the devil an opportunity. 28 He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.

Ephesians 4:29–30 NASB95

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. 30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Ephesians 4:31–32 NASB95

31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Do not give the devil an opportunity (v.27)

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit in whom you were sealed with for the day of redemption (v.30)

Let bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander be put away.

Be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving just as God has forgiven you in Christ. (v.32)

A rebuke is given for restoration, if there is repentance, and restoration after a rebuke, a discipline, than there must be forgiveness and the matter dropped and not brought back up again.. we do not want any unforgiving spirit to be among up for it can divide us.

Paul was able to overcome all the adversities even the personal attacks on him (2Cor1) because he had a clear conscience and a compassionate heart. May we learn and follow that example.