2 Corinthians 2:5-11: Forgiveness the Antidote to Some of Satan's Devices

Forgiveness: The Antidote to Some of Satan’s Devices

v. 5-6, Church discipline for the unrepentant sinner

The one who caused sorrow (Incestuous man from 1 Cor. 5)

1 Cor. 5:4-5 & 1 Cor. 5:11-13

The punishment of the majority in obedience to 1 Cor. 5.

In 1 Cor 5:1-2 the Corinthians had a prideful attitude toward sin (contrasted with their lack of mourning over it) — they did not consider this sexual immorality to be a big deal — even though it obviously was, and was not even tolerated among unbelievers.

Paul calls for the unrepentant man’s removal from the church (1 Cor.5:2). The unrepentant sinner is to no longer be considered a part of the church, but is to be considered a part of Satan’s kingdom (which all unbelievers belong to)

The purpose of church discipline is for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit can be saved in the day of the Lord (1 Cor. 5:5)

In 2 Cor 2:5 the man caused sorrow primarily to the Corinthians, which is actually good that they were grieved by his sin (since they hadn’t been grieved in the beginning)

Paul says, “not to put to too severely” for the sake of the repentant man. He was already sorrowful over his sin and didn’t need to be beat up on more. He didn’t need to be told again how he had sinned against the church and caused her sorrow; he knew it very well and was grieved over it with a godly sorrow.

Those who are genuinely repentant give themselves the hardest time and think very little of themselves so that the church does not need to beat up on them more but rather comfort them, as we shall see.

v.7-8, Forgive, Comfort, and Reaffirm love for the repentant sinner

The Corinthians obeyed Paul’s command to excommunicate this man.

Due to this, the man repented!

Now Paul calls them to forgive him

What is the standard of how we are to forgive?

Repentance on the part of sinner is necessary

Luke 17:3-4

Compare Paul’s attitude about the man who had his father’s wife in 1 Cor. 5 vs. 2 Cor. 2:7-8

What caused the changed response? The man’s repentance.

Forgive as God forgives

Col. 3:12-13

Eph. 4:31-32

The Ground of God’s Forgiveness: The Gospel of Forgiveness in Christ

Col. 2:13-14

Discuss how God can be just and forgive us

The Problem: Proverbs 17:15

Solution: Colossians 2:13-14

How God treats those whom He has Forgiven

Psalm 103:8-14

He does not deal with us according to our sins (doesn’t bear a grudge)

Does not maintain anger against us due to our sin

Does not bring our sins back up (they are removed as far as the east is from the west)

He shows compassion like a father shows compassion of his children

Results of Forgiveness

Reconciliation among brothers and sisters

2 Cor 2:8 - “Reaffirm your love for him”

Increased Understanding of the Gospel

When a repentant sinner experiences forgiveness from a brother, that brother is being a good representative of Christ. We must comfort and love them

Otherwise the sinner may experience excessive sorrow (v.7)

God does not want us to put ourselves in the “penalty box” after we have repented of our sins. We should rather recognize that God has compassion on us and we should go to Him in our repentance, and then in our joy because of the forgiveness He has given.

Psalm 103: 10-13

You want your child to have joy and comfort; you don’t want them to remained depressed over their sin without experiencing the joy of forgiveness and grace

Therefore, like God, we should have compassion on those who have wronged us, and freely forgive them when they repent. Do not bear a grudge.

Leviticus 19:17-18

1 Cor 13:5: “Love is not irritable and does not count up wrong doing”

Matt 6:12, Every time we pray we are supposed to ask for forgiveness and ask God for the grace to forgive others from the heart.

We must ask God everytime we pray because it is difficult for us

v. 9, Purpose of Discipline: Repentance and Forgiveness

Discipline is sometimes necessary, and it is always difficult

In 1 Cor 5 it was necessary.

The Corinthians did the right thing and disciplined the man who was in sin

The man repented (Hallelujah!)

The Corinthians lost sight of the purpose of discipline: Repentance and forgiveness (v.7-8)

Just as it is the duty of the sinner to repent, it is the duty of the offended party to forgive

v. 10- 11, Satan’s devices

Who is Satan?

1 Peter 5:8 — our enemy

He is strong and smart

He is no kitten who bites your ankles — He is a roaring lion

We must have a healthy, biblical, “respect” of Satan’s power.

His attempt to destroy unity by nurturing bitterness and unforgiveness

Re 12:10

He accuses us before God

It is not hard to see that he would try to accuse us to one another in order to disrupt unity

Heb 12:14–15

His attempt to draw repentant sinners into despair (excessive sorrow, v. 7) and so make him useless in the work of God’s kingdom

2 Cor. 2:7 - “excessive sorrow”

Warnings Against Unforgiveness

Matt 6:14-15

Matt 18:21-35

Being unforgiving is out of step with the truth of the Gospel

If God has forgiven someone for their sins, shouldn’t we?

Let’s be imitators of God.

Christians are naturally (or should I say ‘supernaturally’) people who are willing to forgive others.

Because they recognize how much God has forgiven them

It is hypocritical withhold forgiveness from someone who has wronged you a little in comparison to how much you have wronged God and He has forgiven you fully.