April 3
Forgiving and Welcoming Back
2 Corinthians 2:6-8

 

6: Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.
7: So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
8: Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

Paul is referring back to when he wrote them before concerning one among them who had been in sin (1 Corinthians 5).  He’s telling them that this man has been punished enough and has suffered enough and that they need now to forgive him so that he’s not overcome and overwhelmed with sorrow.  He says to confirm their love toward him now.

Paul wanted to know that they would be willing to take a stand against this kind of sin (verse 9).  They had shown that they had and now he encourages them to forgive this person.  They had to be there for this man to be able to repent and be accepted back into the body of Christ.

Our stand against sin should always include an opportunity for the sinner to repent and be welcomed back into the body.

 

Confession:

I will forgive and encourage those who have been lost in sin.  I will confirm the love of God and of the body toward those who have become sorrowful over their sin so they are not overcome with despair.

Obedience is a tree of life!