January 17, 2025
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Deuteronomy and Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
2 Corinthians 2 (NIV)
1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.……Continue Reading
Sin certainly has consequences, but when those consequences have taken place and true repentance has happened Paul is reminding the Corinthians here that restoration takes place. It is said that forgiveness is as much for ourselves as it is for the one being forgiven. When we harbor anger, resentment, and hard feelings toward someone we are allowing Satan to steal from us the peace and joy of God. Paul does not say to be foolish and put a known thief in charge of your money but God does expect us to forgive and treat others with love and mercy as He does for us.
2 Corinthians 2
We are to forgive. The punishment that the majority put on was sufficient suffering. It says we are to forgive and comfort him. So we do not overwhelm in too much sorrow .Let him no we still love him. Forgiveness takes on a whole new depth. I have always heard forgiving someone is more for yourself but there are many layers of forgiveness. I am to forgive then the disciple forgave in the the site of Jesus for our sake. The last part is so Satan may not fool us. Because we are not aware of his schemes.
This brings forgiveness to a level I was not aware of.
2 Corinthians 2
2 Corinthians 2
2 Corinthians 2
Paul called out a fair few people in his previous letter and in other letters he possibly sent that we no longer have record of. It’s interesting to see how in the name of comfort, which he indicated will be a common theme throughout the letter in the previous chapter, he asks for comfort and compassion for someone who was confronted in their sin.
“so that on the other hand, you should rather forgive and comfort him, otherwise such a person might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.”
2 Corinthians 2:7 NASB2020
I’m grateful that we serve a God who addresses us in our sin, but also has mercy and grace to hold back in such a ways as to not overwhelm us with sorrow.
May we show a similar mercy and grace towards others.
Forgiveness is the foundational proof of salvation. Christ, we cannot see. Yet, we love Him. Our fellow man, him we do see, yet we fail to find love for the most unlovable. We believe God will forgive us, and so we are forgiven, yet we refuse to forgive men in front of us. This ought not to be so. I need to forgive more, as Christ forgave me so much! -reb
2 Corinthians 2
Good comments Kelly and Linda. With a brother or sister in the Lord; we should forgive them if they are repentant so they are welcomed back into fellowship. Satan would love to destroy any fellowship we would have with each other. He is a deceiver and liar. Lets listen to God for He is the One who has our best interests in mind. What if the person is not a believer and doesn`t ask for forgiveness? Then we are still commanded by God to forgive him. This is for our own well being for unforgiveness will rot the bones. This is where we need to leave it in God`s hands and trust Him for only He can deal with it. But it will be dealt with in the way He deems fit. It might even lead that person to Christ. It can be very hard to forgive a bad or perhaps evil person but even this should be fully surrendered to Christ. Jesus says to pray for those who persecute you. This doesn`t mean that we are blind to his wrong ways but Jesus says that we are to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves. Matthew 10:16b. Latter in the chapter we are called a sweet aroma in Christ whether to those being saved or to those who are perishing. Because we are spreading the good news about Christ. This is what God desires for us as we walk with Him in a personal relationship. God bless you all in Christ.
Paul reveals the contentious nature of his relationship with the Corinthians, caused by all the things he needed to confront them with. And yet He reaffirms that he did it because he loved them and they were dear to him. That is always the place that confrontation should come from. And although before they were being too accepting of the man’s sin, now it appears that they are being too harsh. Forgiveness is warranted in all situations but especially when there is repentance. And with repentance also comes restored fellowship and comfort that should be showed. That is what should be missing when there is no repentance. But we must be careful with how we deal with sin between people, because satan desires to use any opportunity to cause a wedge between believers. But Paul’s heart was always for the gospel and he is excited to share the open doors that God has made. And yet the reality for him and us is that as believers we should be a sweet smelling aroma, but for some who receive us we will smell like life, and to others we will smell like death. SO our aroma should be the same, but we shouldn’t be surprised when the response to us is quite different.
Such a delicate balance in the church between confronting sin and extending mercy and forgiveness. It is so complicated. We want to forgive those who have repented and yet there still may be wounded victims seeking comfort in our midst. we must be very discerning and seek the Lord’s guidance.
2 Corinthians 2