Affirming Love
2 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The purpose of church discipline is to restore to fellowship. Jesus gave us a perfect example of this in His talk with Peter at the end of Johns Gospel. 3x do you love me, 3 times yes, feed my sheep.
Love for Christ, means a love for those whom He gave himself for. In this, Jesus puts his power on display. Forgiveness of sins, is His authority and our first need.
Forgiveness is man’s deepest need and highest achievement.
Horace Bushnell
Thats really noble and really hard
We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.
C. S. Lewis
With that, Lets read chapter 2 for the context of todays message.
1 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, 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 to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you. 5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe. 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. 10 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, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. 12 Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord, 13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I did not find Titus my brother; but taking my leave of them, I departed for Macedonia. 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. 15 For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 16 To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.
This message 3-11
Love isn't abusive 3-7, Love results in obedience 8-11
Love isn't abusive 3-7
Love isn't abusive 3-7
2 Corinthians 2:1–3 “1 But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. 2 For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me? 3 And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.”
look, if i bum you out, how can i be happy, because its you that really makes me happy.
I can still and almost tear up now, remember seeing my kids laugh, learn how to tell jokes, enjoy life. I hated punishing my kids. And now with grands - to hear them laugh, seem them
sorrow however, can have its affect when it causes us to turn to the Lord in repentance. 2 Corinthians 7:8 “For even if I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while.” Paul didn't want to make them said, he had to. He dropped the Word grenade and let them deal.
4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.
as much as I had to sometimes, for their own good, I had to through tears as paul does here, love them in a way they couldn't understand until they could. I didn't want to make you cry, it was your tears that brought you to know the abundant love I had for you. Paul doesn't want to be authoritarian. And doesn't want to be the Holy Spirit. He has said truth and left it to the them.
this also refers to a second letter that Paul wrote but the HS didn't preserve it. Our bible is complete, this isn't required because we have 2Cor.
2 Corinthians 7:12 “Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.”
Paul didn't like confrontation (though didn't mind a good fight). His goal, his desire, was restoration and healing. Deuteronomy 8:5 “You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.”
He then points out, the injury truly was against the whole church there in Corinth. This body, this fellowship of believers.
5 But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.
The sin, 1 Corinthians 5:1 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife!”
his sin hurt y’all so much more than me. The grief here is a corporate grief, experienced by the whole church.
He isn't trying to make him the bad guy but sin affects us all, and the punishment he experienced (exited from church) was enough. If there is repentance, there should be forgiveness, restoration. The goal isn't to hurt to submission. Love needs to be affirmed and established. The branch always needs to be there.
We need to remember, that sin, affects us all. And we should be conscious of that sin which so easily ensnares us. Remember, we are to avoid sin. Jesus died for our sins
AW Pink - imageThe nature of Christ's salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day evangelist. He announces a Saviour from Hell rather than a Saviour from sin. And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness.
Matthew 1:21 “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”” John 1:29 “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
punishment: epitima, censure, under rebuke. inflicted also kind of severe, but note is in italics which means? Right, is inferred by translation. So you could say was given by the whole (the whole church loved him with the discipline) They didn’t all crack whips on him. Inflicted infers a vicious punishing hurt.
We need to be patient but eventually it has to be done for the good of all. Hebrews 12:5–11 “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; 6For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”
Lord help me to do better for the good of the person whom we might address in discipline.
Such a man, no name, bet hes happy. Possibly Turn to: 1 Corinthians 5:4–8 “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 6Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. 8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”
whether him or someone else, in repentance, love has to be restored and affirmed (this means some things and doesn't mean some others. Will talk about it in a few.
Love results in obedience 8-11
Love results in obedience 8-11
2 Corinthians 2:8–9 (NKJV)
8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. 9 For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.
v10 describes this affirmation as forgiveness, restoration.
The instructional letter was a reminder of things you should do. Love was huge part of that (1Co 13) The test isn't just how we respond to rebuke, but the answer in a test is that we obey.
Obedience huge part of christian walk. We are set free, not to sin, but from sin. Galatians 6:14 “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
Our obedience isn't about winning the big game or being the best dad but overcoming our sin and self. Turn to 2 Corinthians 10:3–6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”
If you use fleshly arguments agains the world, you will loose the battle. You will seek your own, you will be overcome by the arguments of the world. Obedience to the Word of God, to Jesus is a huge part of this program. Look - How did James say we beat the devil? James 4:7 “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” back to 2Co 2.
10 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, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
This statement of Paul is funny and weird. You forgive them I forgive them. That one dude, I forgave him, for your sakes, even prayed and did with the authority (knowing he was being proper, that it was there to be had, etc).
Paul is trusting their judgment. Hey, you are there, I am not. You do you.
NOTE: Paul wasn't holding a grudge. How dare someone do this to the church, but he wanted them to know its proper to receive someone back.
Doesn't mean you let them hurt you. They have to earn trust. Forgiveness and restoration means restoring to fellowship, not all the rights and freedom a person had. Paul isnt saying make the guy an elder or deacon. But bring him back into the body.
But what about a pastor who sins and is disqualified then repents, he should be let back in, but not in any position except member of body, or cleaning ministry. but never as pastor in that fellowship again. There needs to be real signs of repentance. Acts 26:20 “but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”
Same thing with a spouse, gf or bf or friend. If I forgive you doesn't mean we need to get all huggy again, thats silly. Trust and real repentance needs to be witnessed, tested, etc.
Why though? Because Satan will use it. How does satan use a circumstance like this?
the person that sinned is condemned, distraught. rejects jesus and church.
the persons sinned against if not done right will be harmed. people leave churches for the rest of their lives when they are hurt or part of a system that hurt and nothing was done.
the churches witness or testimony is hurt because they said/did nothing.
anyway you can think of taking advantage of this to steal, kill, destroy the body of christ, be assured, the devil has too
Lest Satan - The devil, is real. Evil exists. Keep thinking that no active intelligence is out to get you. Or explain it away. Thats a huge mistake. Paul makes it evident that even you and I are under constant attack, he even made it a huge deal was very detailed about it in Ephesians 6:10–18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”
2 Corinthians 11:13–14 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
All this begins with with us submitting to God, and because we love Jesus, stepping up to the test, 1 Corinthians 16:22 “If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha.” John 15:14 “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” And Jesus says? Luke 17:1–4 “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! 2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. 3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. 4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
One who is forgiven, forgives. Would you like to receive forgiveness and deliverance from sin?