“Do
As I Say, AND As I Do”
This review is brought
to you by the Kentucky
First Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ Sunday School Department.
LESSON AIM: By the end of the lesson, we will; grasp Paul's message to the
Corinthians about the connection among people in a community; gauge the
influence of harm or benefit to one person in a community on the whole group;
and generate a list of people to pray for who may need forgiveness for harming
others.
BIBLE TRUTH: People need to forgive each other.
2 Corinthians 1:23 –
2:11 | King James Version (KJV)
23 Moreover I call God
for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
24 Not for that we
have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye
stand.
1 But I determined
this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.
2 For if I make you
sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by
me?
3 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.
4 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.
5 But if any have
caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge
you all.
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.
9 For to this end also
did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all
things.
10 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;
11 Lest Satan should
get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
The scriptures of this lesson open with Paul’s very somber and
saddened letter to the Church at Corinth. We can see that “something” has
happened within the congregation of believers. Apparently, “someone” (not named
here) has really hurt Paul. In the preceding lessons, Paul was “working out”
this new church. He was helping their understanding and rebuking them quite a
bit. It was because he had a very great love for this particular church. From
verse 23 to verse 1, he’s letting them know that he didn’t want to come back
and visit them in sorrow or with a heavy heart. So, he simply sent this letter
(by Titus) to them to allow them to read it and deal with the situation
outlined within it, as a corporate body of believers. All of this must have
been really tough for Paul. In verse 4, he says that even while he was writing
the letter to them that he was crying tears over it…trying to make it through
the message!
SIDE
NOTE: We’ve all heard it before, more pastors, preachers, and
spiritual leaders say, “the message comes to me first, before I can really
preach it to others”. That’s what we’re seeing here. As Paul is dealing with
the hurt and pain of being betrayed and rejected (in some way…we are not given
clear insight as to WHAT it was) he is dealing with it as a true man of God.
The message God gives leaders is powerful and convicting. It SHOULD pierce
their hearts and minds so strongly, that it carries over to those who are
listening and causes them to respond, repent, and reconnect with God.
In verse 5, Paul begins with instructing the church on how to
deal with a perpetrator. He warns them not to overreact and fly off the handle
concerning a wrongdoer in verses 5 and 6. Forgive the person and comfort the
person. This statement probably shocked the Corinthians! How could they allow
someone to hurt their Pastor so badly, and them just let them off the hook?
Paul knew what he was asking them to do. In verse 8, he’s yet strongly urging
them to do exactly what he has outlined for them LOVE the person by forgiving
them. And in verse 9, he says, “Okay, if you’re really the obedient church you
say to are…you’ll do this. If you REALLY love the Lord, you’ll do this.”
Obedient people who love God will obey even when it hurts or doesn’t seem fair.
Paul states, “I have already forgiven, so you all can follow suit!”
SIDE NOTE: Why is
it important to forgive? Forgiveness is an essential attribute for any
Christian. From a natural standpoint, forgiveness is seen as a sign of weakness,
especially for men. “He got PUNKED”. “She’s a doormat”! The world in which we
live teaches us to “get even” or “retaliate” with a hurt greater than or equal
to the hurt that was done to us. That’s totally opposite to what God is asking
us to do. A mature believer will really understand that by forgiving and
comforting, we display the ultimate at of free-will. God gives us a choice to
forgive and love. Our choice to obey His word and forgive proves our love for
Him and our allegiance to His plan of salvation for others. The wrongdoer KNOWS
what they deserve, but mercy and grace give him what is unexpected…forgiveness,
the opportunity to repent, and ultimately join into the Body of Christ and
experience restoration.
Paul is strategic in what he is doing. He knows that Satan
wishes nothing more than to break up the church, so he gives him a black eye (see
this related article). He wants to set the example for the church he
loves so much. And, he knows that without having the love it takes to forgive, Paul’s
own cry to God for forgiveness will not be honored (Matthew 6:15).
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