2 Corinthians 2: Forgive the Sinner

Sin Affects Everyone Around You

2 Corinthians 2:5 ESV

Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you.

Lots of the really smart people that read this tend to think that Paul isn’t actually talking about just “anyone” here, but a specific person who was mentioned in the first letter to the Corinthians.

In that letter, Paul commanded them to throw him out of the church for what he had done.

Why would Paul want them to do that? Was he right to?

Its because sin doesn’t just affect the person doing it, sin affects everyone around him. To let the person openly sinning remain in the church without consequences isn’t doing the sinner any favors, and it could even damage the entire church.

What are ways we can see how sin affects more than just the person who does it?

Obvious: hurting someone, being angry with someone

What about sins that don’t hurt someone else?

Even allowing sin to exist unchecked hurts everyone. Sin needs to be taken seriously because sin is serious

So, Paul does something we call “church discipline”

This is actually a good thing.

The ruling here was to kick him out because he wouldn’t agree to stop what he was doing

What is the goal of church discipline? Reconciliation

A Repentant Sinner Is Forgiven

So now Paul gives further instructions: The church’s discipline has done what it was supposed to do. It helped the sinner to see the error of his ways and all the ways that he hurt everyone in the church.

He tells the church to go and forgive the sinner and welcome him back.

Why? Because the goal isn’t punishment, but reconciliation

Should we forgive sinners even when they’ve done something especially bad?

Why? Because the goal isn’t punishment, but repentance and reconciliation.

Why is that the goal?

Because it is what Jesus modeled for us.

2 Corinthians 2:10–11 ESV

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Paul recognizes a big problem with our mentality that holds grudges: it pays right into Satan’s designs.

What is Satan’s biggest, most dangerous lie? That you are not worth forgiveness and that you deserve to be punished. One way God pushes the lie is to convince you that when other people can’t forgive you, God definitely won’t. Paul is reminding the Corinthian church that Jesus extends forgiveness to sinners when they repent, and so they need to extend forgiveness to this sinner too before he thinks he can never be forgiven.

Is there anyone who cannot be forgiven? Is there anyone who has hurt you so much that forgiveness is no longer an option? Jesus doesn’t think so.

Mark 2:17 ESV

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus forgives sinners! Jesus forgives the people that don’t deserve to be forgiven. That is why Satan is a liar when he tells you that you aren’t worth forgiveness. He’s right that you don’t earn it, but he’s wrong when he makes you think its out of reach. Jesus has brought forgiveness to you and to any who put their faith in him.

So, who should we forgive?

Anyone who asks for it.

But is that wise? Surely there is a limit?

Matthew 18:21–22 ESV

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.

We have to forgive as often as someone asks for it, because that is what Jesus does for us.

So why are we reluctant to forgive? Probably because we forget how much we have been forgiven. Listen to this parable

Matthew 18:23–35 ESV

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Jesus has forgiven us everything, so we need to be ready to forgive others of everything as well. We need to be the picture of Jesus to those around us, and what better way to do that than to show them the forgiveness that Jesus offers even the worst of sinners?