So I made up my mind that I would not pay you another painful visit. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is left to make me happy except the people I have pained? 3 Indeed, this is why I wrote as I did — so that when I came, I would not have to be pained by those who ought to be making me happy; for I had enough confidence in all of you to believe that unless I could be happy, none of you could be happy either. 4 I wrote to you with a greatly distressed and anguished heart, and with many tears, not in order to cause you pain, but to get you to realize how very much I love you.
5 Now if someone has been a cause of pain, it is not I whom he has pained, but, in some measure — I don’t want to overstate it — all of you. 6 For such a person the punishment already imposed on him by the majority is sufficient, 7 so that now you should do the opposite — forgive him, encourage him, comfort him. Otherwise such a person might be swallowed up in overwhelming depression. 8 So I urge you to show that you really do love him. 9 The reason I wrote you was to see if you would pass the test, to see if you would fully obey me. 10 Anyone you forgive, I forgive too. For indeed, whatever I have forgiven, if there has been anything to forgive, has been for your sake in the presence of the Messiah 11 so that we will not be taken advantage of by the Adversary — for we are quite aware of his schemes!
(Complete Jewish Bible).In today's passage, the Apostle Paul addressed how the congregation should deal with a particular person who had caused division in the church at Corinth. Having addressed the problem in his first letter (1 Corinthians), and heard of the consequences given by the congregation (verse 6). Paul called the people to forgive and gently restore him into the life of the community. He does so, at least in part, so that “Satan might not outwit” them.
Satan’s primary role in the whole of scripture is accuser. Satan’s only real threat is to accuse and deceive. In the case of the unnamed offender in Corinth, he stood rightly accused of wrongdoing. Had the church left him there—standing accused and condemned in the life of the church—that would only open the door for the Enemy to further accuse, deceive, and divide. As it was, Paul pointed out this person has a new standing: he has gone from accused and guilty to forgiven. Such forgiveness, which originates in God and flows through the Church, slams the door in the face of the accuser. It’s very difficult for Satan to find a listening ear among those who are forgiving and being forgiven.
Hymn for Today: "All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord" by Charles Wesley.
1. All praise to our redeeming Lord,
Who joins us by His grace
And bids us, each to each restored,
Together seek His face.
2. He bids us build each other up;
And gathered into one,
To our high calling’s glorious hope,
We hand in hand go on.
3. And if our fellowship below
In Jesus be so sweet,
What greater blessings shall we know
When round His throne we meet?
Thought for Today: For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; (Matthew 6:14).
Please pray: That many young people in Bolivia will be called into Christian ministry.
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