But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness. For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all. Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many. So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him. 2 Corinthians 2:1-8

The Church, the body of Christ, is a family not an organization. Like all real families, there are going to be conflicts and problems, the question is how will the Church respond to these problems? Many Christians have this unrealistic idea that there is a “perfect Church” , the perfect Church will never exist because the Church is the people, and people are not perfect.

With that said, the Apostle Paul is grieved and sorrowful over a member of the Church of Corinth, their conduct or behavior , but as Paul says here “that you might know the love which I have more abundantly for you” Many people view discipline as hateful, but as the Bible says “God loves those he disciplines” (Hebrews 12:6) Church discipline is for the love of the Church, and we as Christians should appreciate when someone points out something we are doing wrong, even though our flesh really hates it. Paul had great love for his brothers and sisters in Christ, however he love them enough to discipline them also

Notice the spiritual maturity of Paul then, he instructs the members to “forgive and comfort him” Once the member was disciplined , he was then forgiven. We can learn alot from this model Paul is demonstrating here, while we should discipline those in the Church , we should also be willing to forgive them also. Church discipline has become a foreign concept in today’s Church, as most leaders in the Church today don’t shepherd anyone, but as Paul warned “a little leaven (sin) leavens the whole lump” (Galatians 5:6) When we allow sin to run rampant in the Church, it eventually corrupts the entire Church body, which is what we see mostly today

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. 2 Corinthians 2:9-11

Notice Pauls warning, Satan will take advantage of these situations to bring more division within the body of Christ, we see this everyday! This is why we need to repent and forgive one another as mature brothers and sisters in Christ. As the Apostle Paul closes here “If there is anything to forgive, I have forgiven in the person of Christ”!

We forgive because Christ has forgiven us first, Amen!