For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions. - Matthew 6:14-15
Good morning. I have titled today’s message “Reaffirm Your Love”. It is the 32nd message in “The Messed Up Church: Paul’s Letters to Corinth” sermon series. It focuses on 2 Corinthians 2:1-17.
During our message last week, Paul defended his integrity and began explaining the reasons why he’d changed his travel plans and delayed his previously planned visit to Corinth. Because God had afforded him an extended opportunity to share the gospel in Ephesus, Paul chose to stay longer than he’d expected. Furthermore, because he wanted to spare them of harsh, strict discipline, Paul decided that going to Corinth at that time would have been unfruitful. This morning, we’ll pick up in the midst of this ongoing explanation.
I. A CAUSE OF SORROW (2 Cor. 2:1-4)
Paul said that he’d determined for his own sake not to come visit the Corinthians “in sorrow” again. This statement provides strong support for the notion that he made a brief, unplanned trip to Corinth after hearing of their waywardness. It seems unlikely that this refers to his initial visit to the city near the end of his 2nd missionary journey, during which time the church was established. Rather, on this particular occasion, Paul arrived to find the majority of the church in open rebellion against sound teaching and even defiant toward him. Thus, he’d left Corinth discouraged, saddened, and distraught.
Paul asked, “If my presence makes you sorrowful, how then will you make me glad?” He referred to a statement he’d written in a previous letter to them which said that their company ought to make him rejoice rather than be sorrowful. Furthermore, he hoped that his joy would be a cause of joy for them all.
Again Paul mentioned this previous letter, explaining that he’d written it out of much affliction and anguish of heart with many tears. He said that he’d not intended it to make them sorrowful, but rather to express his deep love for them. Apparently, this letter described Paul’s personal heartbreak over the fallen condition of the Corinthian church. It seems improbable that this description refers to the letter we call 1 Corinthians.
This passage suggests that Paul wrote an additional letter, known among theologians as his “tearful letter”, some time between 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. As we discussed earlier in this series, some believe that this intermediate letter has been lost. Others believe that chapters 10-13 of 2 Corinthians are this letter, perhaps edited slightly, and that they were tacked on as an addendum to chapters 1-9 (which were written later as a separate letter).
II. A CALL TO FORGIVE (2 Cor. 2:5-11)
Paul acknowledged that, during the months of the church’s estrangement, some of its members had caused great sorrow - not only to him personally, but to the entire congregation. Later, after the church experienced renewal and restoration, apparently the majority of the congregation inflicted some type of church discipline upon those who had led the church astray. Paul wrote that this punishment was sufficient, and now they needed to focus on forgiveness and comfort, so that those who’d been disciplined might not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
Paul urged the Corinthians to reaffirm their love for any who’d caused them sorrow and/or foolishly led them astray. He had already challenged them to do this in his previous letter (the tearful letter?) - that is, to be obedient in forgiveness. Thus, he was making this appeal again.
If they forgave the guilty person(s), then Paul would forgive that person(s) also. He would do so for their sake, so that there would be no remaining grudges or hard feelings between them. Beloved, unforgiveness provides an advantage for Satan, who uses it to destroy relationships, impede God’s work, and entice people to sin. Paul described this as a scheme of the devil.
Take a moment to consider what Paul was asking the Corinthians to do. Their church had recently gone through a terrible season of spiritual disruption and upheaval. Many members of the congregation had caused deep hurt and sorrow to others. For a time, the church was badly broken and in disarray. Yet, by God’s grace, they had come out of the dark valley and were once again moving in the right direction. But, in order for their restoration to be complete, they needed to forgive those who had caused them pain. They needed to reaffirm their love for them. Be honest, would you have done that?
III. A SCENT OF LIFE (2 Cor. 2:12-17)
It seems likely that soon after his sorrowful visit to Corinth, Paul wrote his tearful letter to them and sent it by way of Titus. Paul had hoped that Titus would deliver the letter and return to him quickly with a good report. Paul apparently thought he would reunite with Titus in the city of Troas. But when he came to Troas, despite having an opportunity to preach the gospel there, Paul was troubled in spirit because Titus never showed up. Thus, he went on into Macedonia.
Despite being restless, Paul declared thanksgiving to God for leading him and his ministry team triumphantly in Christ and for manifesting the sweet aroma of His knowledge in every place they went. The Roman army used to march in processions with sweet spices and smells lining the streets. Speaking figuratively, Paul stated that they were a fragrance of Christ to God for both those who were being saved and those who were perishing. To those who were dying, they were an aroma of death; to those who would live, they were an aroma of life.
Paul concluded that he and his fellow believers were unworthy of carrying the sweet aroma of life. Nevertheless, he insisted that they spoke and proclaimed the name of Christ in the sight of God with humility and sincerity. Many others, on the other hand, whose aroma was the putrid stench of death, such as some who had led the church of Corinth astray, were peddling the gospel for their own personal gain or ambition.
CONCLUSION
From the birth of the Christianity until now, and I suppose as long as the church exists, there have been and will continue to be false teachers who seek to mislead and deceive the saints of God. Unfortunately, many people have been and will be led astray by their cheap lies and distortions. Nevertheless, those who are truly saved must stand firm on the truth of God and courageously reject these false teachers and their wicked doctrines.
That said, even still we should seek their salvation and restoration. We should pray for Christ to transform their lives and for the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sin. As a church, we should impose church discipline against members and leaders who brazenly harm the congregation, but afterwards we should reaffirm our love for them. When we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we cede the high ground to Satan and give him an advantage over us.
Who do you need to forgive this morning? Who have you punished long enough? Who do you need to reaffirm your love for? If you are a born-again believer, you should emanate the sweet fragrance of life in Christ. Have you allowed unforgiveness to taint your odor?
Good morning. I have titled today’s message “Reaffirm Your Love”. It is the 32nd message in “The Messed Up Church: Paul’s Letters to Corinth” sermon series. It focuses on 2 Corinthians 2:1-17.
During our message last week, Paul defended his integrity and began explaining the reasons why he’d changed his travel plans and delayed his previously planned visit to Corinth. Because God had afforded him an extended opportunity to share the gospel in Ephesus, Paul chose to stay longer than he’d expected. Furthermore, because he wanted to spare them of harsh, strict discipline, Paul decided that going to Corinth at that time would have been unfruitful. This morning, we’ll pick up in the midst of this ongoing explanation.
I. A CAUSE OF SORROW (2 Cor. 2:1-4)
Paul said that he’d determined for his own sake not to come visit the Corinthians “in sorrow” again. This statement provides strong support for the notion that he made a brief, unplanned trip to Corinth after hearing of their waywardness. It seems unlikely that this refers to his initial visit to the city near the end of his 2nd missionary journey, during which time the church was established. Rather, on this particular occasion, Paul arrived to find the majority of the church in open rebellion against sound teaching and even defiant toward him. Thus, he’d left Corinth discouraged, saddened, and distraught.
Paul asked, “If my presence makes you sorrowful, how then will you make me glad?” He referred to a statement he’d written in a previous letter to them which said that their company ought to make him rejoice rather than be sorrowful. Furthermore, he hoped that his joy would be a cause of joy for them all.
Again Paul mentioned this previous letter, explaining that he’d written it out of much affliction and anguish of heart with many tears. He said that he’d not intended it to make them sorrowful, but rather to express his deep love for them. Apparently, this letter described Paul’s personal heartbreak over the fallen condition of the Corinthian church. It seems improbable that this description refers to the letter we call 1 Corinthians.
This passage suggests that Paul wrote an additional letter, known among theologians as his “tearful letter”, some time between 1 Corinthians and 2 Corinthians. As we discussed earlier in this series, some believe that this intermediate letter has been lost. Others believe that chapters 10-13 of 2 Corinthians are this letter, perhaps edited slightly, and that they were tacked on as an addendum to chapters 1-9 (which were written later as a separate letter).
II. A CALL TO FORGIVE (2 Cor. 2:5-11)
Paul acknowledged that, during the months of the church’s estrangement, some of its members had caused great sorrow - not only to him personally, but to the entire congregation. Later, after the church experienced renewal and restoration, apparently the majority of the congregation inflicted some type of church discipline upon those who had led the church astray. Paul wrote that this punishment was sufficient, and now they needed to focus on forgiveness and comfort, so that those who’d been disciplined might not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
Paul urged the Corinthians to reaffirm their love for any who’d caused them sorrow and/or foolishly led them astray. He had already challenged them to do this in his previous letter (the tearful letter?) - that is, to be obedient in forgiveness. Thus, he was making this appeal again.
If they forgave the guilty person(s), then Paul would forgive that person(s) also. He would do so for their sake, so that there would be no remaining grudges or hard feelings between them. Beloved, unforgiveness provides an advantage for Satan, who uses it to destroy relationships, impede God’s work, and entice people to sin. Paul described this as a scheme of the devil.
Take a moment to consider what Paul was asking the Corinthians to do. Their church had recently gone through a terrible season of spiritual disruption and upheaval. Many members of the congregation had caused deep hurt and sorrow to others. For a time, the church was badly broken and in disarray. Yet, by God’s grace, they had come out of the dark valley and were once again moving in the right direction. But, in order for their restoration to be complete, they needed to forgive those who had caused them pain. They needed to reaffirm their love for them. Be honest, would you have done that?
III. A SCENT OF LIFE (2 Cor. 2:12-17)
It seems likely that soon after his sorrowful visit to Corinth, Paul wrote his tearful letter to them and sent it by way of Titus. Paul had hoped that Titus would deliver the letter and return to him quickly with a good report. Paul apparently thought he would reunite with Titus in the city of Troas. But when he came to Troas, despite having an opportunity to preach the gospel there, Paul was troubled in spirit because Titus never showed up. Thus, he went on into Macedonia.
Despite being restless, Paul declared thanksgiving to God for leading him and his ministry team triumphantly in Christ and for manifesting the sweet aroma of His knowledge in every place they went. The Roman army used to march in processions with sweet spices and smells lining the streets. Speaking figuratively, Paul stated that they were a fragrance of Christ to God for both those who were being saved and those who were perishing. To those who were dying, they were an aroma of death; to those who would live, they were an aroma of life.
Paul concluded that he and his fellow believers were unworthy of carrying the sweet aroma of life. Nevertheless, he insisted that they spoke and proclaimed the name of Christ in the sight of God with humility and sincerity. Many others, on the other hand, whose aroma was the putrid stench of death, such as some who had led the church of Corinth astray, were peddling the gospel for their own personal gain or ambition.
CONCLUSION
From the birth of the Christianity until now, and I suppose as long as the church exists, there have been and will continue to be false teachers who seek to mislead and deceive the saints of God. Unfortunately, many people have been and will be led astray by their cheap lies and distortions. Nevertheless, those who are truly saved must stand firm on the truth of God and courageously reject these false teachers and their wicked doctrines.
That said, even still we should seek their salvation and restoration. We should pray for Christ to transform their lives and for the Holy Spirit to convict them of their sin. As a church, we should impose church discipline against members and leaders who brazenly harm the congregation, but afterwards we should reaffirm our love for them. When we harbor unforgiveness in our hearts, we cede the high ground to Satan and give him an advantage over us.
Who do you need to forgive this morning? Who have you punished long enough? Who do you need to reaffirm your love for? If you are a born-again believer, you should emanate the sweet fragrance of life in Christ. Have you allowed unforgiveness to taint your odor?