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2 CORINTHAINS 2: 7 - 11

“ If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent—not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9 Another reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.”

THE BACKSTORY…“Someone” had offended the body of believers and was being singled out for public church discipline. Neither the person nor their offense is specified here because it is common knowledge.

Paul is writing to save both the offender and the church from going too far with the discipline.

“it is sufficient” (v. 6) If the person is not reaffirmed soon it will lead to “despair” (v.7).

ANGER AND GRIEF

The offender’s behavior caused “grief” to the Corinthian church.

When people let us down by violating fundamental moral principles we feel both ANGER and GRIEF.

• ANGER because we know unnecessary destruction has been put into motion

• ANGER because we ourselves are trying to live right and we feel betrayed when others “lower the flag” in the midst of the fight

• GRIEF because something has been lost (grief always has to do with loss)

• GRIEF because of the love we feel for that person, for Christ, and for the church

THE KEY = NEW BEHAVIORS

Repentance involves both “sorrow” (v. 7) and behavior.

The offender has behaved his or her way into breaking the good faith of relationship. They must also behave their way out.

Those who do are worthy of:

* “forgiveness” and “comfort” (v. 7)

* reaffirmed love (v. 8)

This is owed the offender. To withhold it is to sin communally.

THEIR ANGER WAS MAKING THEM HARSHThe offender has expressed sorrow and repented. Paul

wants to now tune them OUT OF their anger and INTO their generosity

To continue being harsh at this point:

• Will overwhelm the repentant offender (v. 7)

• Will play into Satan’s schemes (vs. 11)

Rather, he wants to FORGIVE (literally “open their hand” to) and COMFORT him.

RESTORATION INVOLVES…• CONFRONTATION - sin must be identified as sin

and “called out” (first privately, of course)

• FORGIVENESS – if there is repentance, forgiveness must be offered “from the heart” (Matthew 18: 35)

• COMFORT – the repentant person feels appropriate guilt (I DID bad). But guilt must not be allowed to metastasize into SHAME (I AM bad and I don’t belong), they must be comforted.

Essentially, “comfort” is the message: “you still belong”

DANGERS OF BEING THE NON-OFFENDERSPaul recognizes that the non-offenders can be in a danger zone:

“Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.

Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived” (Galatians 6: 1 – 3 MSG)

“I urge you, therefore, to REAFFIRM your love for him” (2

Cor. 2: 8) Good for “him”, good for “us”, good for the Kingdom!