DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- FORGIVENESS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS --  FORGIVENESS

"Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices" (II Corinthians 2:10-11).

The particular situation Paul was referring to was the sin of incest that Paul addressed in the first letter to the church at Corinth (I Corinthians 5). There was a man who was sleeping with his father's wife. There were two problems inherent in this situation. One was the immorality of the man who was a part of their fellowship. The other was the attitude of the church. They did not mourn and grieve over the man's sin, but rather were proud (puffed up), praising themselves for their tolerance. Paul told them to put the man out of their fellowship.

When we come to the second letter, apparently the church had followed Paul's exhortation and had disciplined the man, and he had repented, but it seems that there were some who would not forgive the man. Paul was telling them to forgive the man and receive him back into fellowship. This is called reconciliation. The goal of church discipline should always be more than just judging sin, but it should be that the offender be reconciled to the fellowship.

We are not ignorant of Satan's devices. He will take advantage of anything he can to cause chaos, turmoil, and division in the body of Christ. Unforgiveness is one of those devices. If Satan can use unforgiveness to separate people, he can hinder the work of Christ in and through that fellowship.

Jesus said offense would come. It can come in a marriage or family relationships, in the church, or in other areas of life. It is a part of our fallen world. God calls us to forgive that person who offends us. Paul wrote in another letter, "forgiving one another, if any has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do" (Colossians 3:13). How did Jesus forgive us? Completely. He does not carry a grudge against us. He says we must do the same thing.

Oh, the grace of the Lord Jesus, who forgives our offenses against Him. Completely. Eternally. Praise God for His forgiveness.

Love, Dad