Second Corinthians 2 Part 1 Necessary Lessons On Church Discipline & Forgivness

God graciously grants us space to repent, just as Paul did at Corinth.

2 Corinthians 1:23-24  Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. 24)  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. 

2 Corinthians 2:1  But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. 

Chapter divisions and verses in our Bible were added  by well meaning men and almost all the time, they help us find the text we want to read. 

However, sometimes the chapter division happens at the wrong spot and this is the case here. The last two verses of chapter one flow into chapter two.

This is why I included the last two verses from chapter one, to keep the flow of Paul's Spirit guided writing connected. 

In verses 23-24, Paul begins giving his explanation for not visiting the church at Corinth. 

His primary concern is that he would have to use his apostolic authority upon certain members who had not repented of their various sins.

Paul wanted to give the church some space to digest his first letter, repent of sin and to implement corrections.

The apostle found no joy in thinking that he would have to use his authority to chasten and purge out unrepentant sinners from their midst.

Paul would much rather come to the Corinthians to bless and comfort them.

Apostolic authority using the power from God was not to be taken lightly.

Acts 13:9-11  Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10)  And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11)  And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 

Paul and Barnabas encountered a sorcerer when they arrived at Cyprus. This man was named Elymas and he tried to stop Paul from preaching the gospel of Christ. 

This text is an example of Paul using his apostolic authority to remove this man asking the Lord to blind him.  

Acts 5:1-11  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2)  And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3)  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4)  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5)  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. 6)  And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. 7)  And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. 8)  And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9)  Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10)  Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11)  And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 

Another example of apostles using their God given authority to deal with sin is this one. 

Many new converts to Christ sold land or possessions and gave the proceeds from the sale to Peter.

A husband and wife also sold some land but they selfishly kept back part of the funds for themselves and lied to Peter about it.

Peter reminded them that in lying to one of the apostles, they were lying to God, because His Spirit filled them for this ministry.

Thus, both the husband and wife forfeited their lives as Peter pronounced judgment upon them.

It was this power of God vested in the apostles that Paul did not want to use at Corinth, unless it was absolutely necessary.

A rebuke is given in order to bring a sinner to a state of true repentance.

2 Corinthians 2:2  For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? 

If Paul made them sorry then he also would have sorrowed for a believer who sinned and failed to repent. In that case there would have been none to have made him glad. 

But Paul's desire was to have a cheerful reunion with them. He did not want their time to be overshadowed by the occasion of having to use his power to punish one of their brothers.

Church discipline must be used as God intended but doing so brings no joy.

2 Corinthians 2:3-4  And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. 4)  For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. 

Paul referred to his first letter where he earnestly sought the sinning brother's repentance. 

Failure of this man to repent meant that Paul must come to use his apostolic rod of judgment (See 1 Corinthians 5:1-13).

Paul assured the Corinthians that he did not desire to grieve them, but to testify of his love for them. 

Therefore,  he wrote to them with much anguish and affliction in his own heart, and with tender affection toward them. 

He had written with tears, that they might know his abundant love to them.  

Even in rebuking a sinning believer, our admonitions or acts of discipline should demonstrate God's love. 

When it is necessary to dismiss an unrepentant sinner from the church, the exercise of church-discipline is always a cause of grief to our pastors. 

A good pastor has a tender spirit and wants God's best for those whom he is responsible to lead. 

Thus, when a sinning Christian is hardened and will not listen to correction, it is with heavy hearts they must be dismissed from the local church.

In these verses Paul writes specifically concerning the incestuous person who had been excommunicated, which seems to be one principal cause of his writing this epistle. 

Paul tells them that the crime of that person had grieved him in part.  

He was grieved also with those who were puffed up about sexual immorality, rather than asking God to remove the offending person from their fellowship (See 1 Corinthians 5:2). 

However, Paul was unwilling to lay a heavy charge upon the whole church, because they cleared themselves in that matter by implementing the corrections that he gave to them.

The goal of church discipline is to bring a sinning Christian to sorrow & repentance. 

2 Corinthians 2:5-8 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. 6)  Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. 7) So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. 8)  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 

The punishment of church disciple had its intended impact to bring that man to a godly sorrow that worked repentance into his heart.

Paul needed to tell the Corinthians what they must do next, since the sinning brother expressed sorrow and repentance for his immoral acts.

Paul instructed the church to restore the repentant man to their fellowship so that he is not swallowed up in sorrow.

In this, Paul is reflecting the heart of Christ toward each of us when we sin. 

We are to forgive those who have sinned against us in the same manner which Christ forgives us: Fully and without reservation.

Extending fellowship and forgiveness to a repentant brother or sister in Christ, is how we confirm our love to them.

We must forgive those who sin against us as Christ forgives us when we sin.

Ephesians 4:30-32  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31)  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32)  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

What Paul is teaching the Corinthians is the same truth that he instructed the Ephesians to follow.

Failure to observe true forgiveness toward a repentant brother or sister in Christ, is an act that will grieve the indwelling Spirit of God.

Thus, all Christians are called to be kind and tenderhearted toward each other, ready to forgive those who sinned against us, as Christ stands ready to forgive us (See 1 John 1:7 to 2:2).

We confirm our love for a repentant sinner by forgiving and restoring fellowship.

2 Corinthians 2:8-11  Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 9)  For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. 10)  To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; 11)  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 

Paul emphasized our need to confirm our love in this manner when those who sinned repent of their sin. 

Paul wrote this apostolic instruction to them and he will hold them to this holy standard. He will monitor to ensure that they readily comply because when they do comply, God is honored.

Though Paul was not present with the Corinthians, he wanted them to know that those whom they forgave, he also forgave.

This section ends with words of warning to Christ's church. When we do not follow the apostolic instruction, then we are at risk of Satan gaining an advantage of us.

Satan knows that our flesh is the weak spot and he seeks to exploit it. 

Failing to forgive others when forgiveness is merited will always result in lingering feelings of bitterness and resentment. 

That is how Satan gains a strategic advantage in the church. People become split and divided into opposing groups. 

The work of God's Spirit in each believer is hindered because He is grieved when we fail to forgive others. 

One of the seven things God hates is those who sow discord among the brethren. This is Satan's goal, to do that which God hates.

The Devil wants us to grieve the Holy Spirit so that God will have to chasten us with judgment until we repent.

Bob