We Can't Just Talk About Grace

Paul writes about an offender in 2 Corinthians that the church must now restore. Obviously, there has been repentance and remorse of his sin, and Paul is clear, they must welcome him back to the fellowship.

Many people believe this is the man from 1 Corinthians 5 in the incestuous relationship with his stepmother, but we cannot be sure. We CAN be sure it was someone who wronged Paul personally, turning many people against him and his Apostolic ministry. He was dealt with by the Corinthians with proper discipline and he now seeks restoration within the body.

What does Paul say?
2 Corinthians 2:8 (ESV) So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.

How would we do in Paul's place? When someone turns people against us, are we ready to beg others to forgive and love them? Or are we a bit skeptical of their remorse? Are we slightly turned off by them? Do they now wear a "scarlet letter" in our minds? We may not be nasty to them but we may simply regard them as present and accounted for. Nothing more.

Paul will have none of that! He begs the fellowship to express LOVE to the man who tried to turn people against him. How incredible!

He goes on...

2 Corinthians 2:10–11 (ESV) Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Paul tells them why he's forgiving them and they are powerful reasons. 

First he wants to set an example. Remember, Paul was a man who had been forgiven much. He persecuted and killed Christians. Yet God won him and forgave him all his horrible sins. Now God is using him powerfully. What else could a man like that do but pass on what Christ had done for him? He's showing the church he's fathered to stop "just talking" about grace!

The second reason Paul calls on them to forgive is:

"So that we would not be outwitted by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs." That's a powerful phrase, but the context makes it even more powerful. Satan's designs are to "DIVIDE and CONQUER." He wants us to hold that grudge. He wants us to keep a 'safe' distance from "them." He wants us to keep records of what others have done. That way, we will no longer be the unified body of believers where God commands His blessing (Psalm 133).

In this fight against Satan, GRACE is our strongest weapon! Think of what could happen if the Church of Jesus sought to heal and restore every offender without holding anything back?

What if we stopped talking about Grace and started really showing it? It may seem dangerous, but if we did it, it would really only be a problem for the devil! If Christ has forgiven you, forgive. SIMPLE, POWERFUL, WONDERFUL.

PRAYER:

Father, I do not want to hold anything against anyone any more. I release forgiveness to those who have hurt me. And I pray for the power to love the people who may have not loved me in the past. I ask for the power of the Holy Spirit to help me live and breath grace. Amen.