When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10–11).
There was a man in the Corinthian Church who was involved in deep sin. Paul commanded he be kicked out of the church in order to help him see the sinfulness of his ways. The church did what Paul said. The man repented and turned away from his sinful ways. As a result, Paul now says it is time to forgive and restore this man to the church.
The application to us is powerful: sin must be addressed or it will infect everyone around that person. By the same token, when a person repents, if forgiveness is not extended we are inviting Satan to work in us. Satan loves to use bitterness, resentment, and an unforgiving or condemning heart. He will rob us of joy and turn our hearts and minds sour.
So, are you allowing your unwillingness to forgive someone to sour you? We can't always restore someone to friendship or to the church (because they will not repent), but we can and must, put the hurt into God's hands and not let the poison of bitterness and resentment take up residence inside of us. Those poisons will slowly impact everything we do.
Jesus told us to forgive one another as He has forgiven us. That is good advice for your spiritual, mental, and even physical health.
The Poison of Bitterness 2.23.21
When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes. (2 Corinthians 2:10–11).
There was a man in the Corinthian Church who was involved in deep sin. Paul commanded he be kicked out of the church in order to help him see the sinfulness of his ways. The church did what Paul said. The man repented and turned away from his sinful ways. As a result, Paul now says it is time to forgive and restore this man to the church.
The application to us is powerful: sin must be addressed or it will infect everyone around that person. By the same token, when a person repents, if forgiveness is not extended we are inviting Satan to work in us. Satan loves to use bitterness, resentment, and an unforgiving or condemning heart. He will rob us of joy and turn our hearts and minds sour.
So, are you allowing your unwillingness to forgive someone to sour you? We can't always restore someone to friendship or to the church (because they will not repent), but we can and must, put the hurt into God's hands and not let the poison of bitterness and resentment take up residence inside of us. Those poisons will slowly impact everything we do.
Jesus told us to forgive one another as He has forgiven us. That is good advice for your spiritual, mental, and even physical health.