2 Corinthians 2:1-11 (ESV)
For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. 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. For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 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.
It is important for the body of Christ to be concerned about the spiritual state of its’ members. When a member is straying, and has had the issue brought to their attention and they refuse to change it is important for the Church to act to help the individual to realize the seriousness of their spiritual state. In I Corinthians, we see Paul telling the church in Corinth not to have fellowship with a brother who is in blatant sin. In this passage in II Corinthians we see Paul telling the church to reaffirm their love for this individual, because they have repented. Paul encourages forgiveness so that they will not cause harm to this individual or the church since the individual has repented and returned.
Jesus taught a good lesson on how to approach another if we think there is an issue. In Matthew chapter 18:15-17 Jesus tells his disciples how to handle an issue if a brother sins against them. This is good advice and the best pattern for us today.
Some make think the actions taken by the church in Corinth were hard. We see from the results that is was the right action. It is important for all that we do to be done with love. When actions, like those in Corinth to confront sin are done with love – the church is taking the best action for the saving of souls.
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