But I determined this
within myself,
that I would not come
again to you in sorrow.
For if I make you
sorrowful, then who is he
who makes me glad but
the one who is made
sorrowful by me? And
I wrote this very thing to you,
lest, when I came, I
should have sorrow
over those whom I
ought to have joy,
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 to you,
with many tears, not
that you should be grieved,
but that you might
know about love which I have
so abundantly for
you.
2 Corinthians 2: 1 --
4
Paul
proceeds further to give an account for the reasons that he was not coming to
the Corinthian church. Paul then gives
advice and directions on how to handle those who are "backsliding," to
bring them back to a restored Christianity so that the repentant offender will
have his/her place in the church. Paul
had made a decision not to come to the Corinthian church with heaviness of
heart for this would've been the case if he had come and found evils among the
church that were not being censured. Who
is it that is made sorrowful by you or as Paul said by him and that the one
that is made sorrowful also brings gladness to Paul and can bring gladness you. Is it not the Lord Jesus Christ who came to
earth to do one thing that was of the highest priority and that was to die upon the
cross to pay the debt owed to God which was and is sin. I've heard it said by some that Jesus Christ
came to pay for your sins and in a way that is true but Jesus Christ came to
pay for sin: notice that that word sin is singular. Jesus Christ paid for the sin that has plagued the whole world from the moment that sin entered in to the world.
The debt owed to God, the justice of God being satisfied due to the fact
a sinless man formed by God's hand and not a man who was only a progeny of the
one who sinned, Adam who also was formed by the hand of God; now was
satisfied. With this debt paid and
fully satisfied the justice of God then by the Jesus Christ's death on the
cross He was able to redeem and this and redemption was vicariously applied to the
children of God. Therefore, when a
person who is claiming to be a Christian willfully and deliberately allows
things in their life that dilutes their witness the Holy Spirit is grieved, then it is up to the elders of
the congregation to handle this problem so that the congregation remains pure and there is a restoration to Authentic Christianity by the one who is
"backsliding." From Paul's
first letter to the Corinthian church we understand that there were many things
being done and allowed by the Christians there that needed correcting and
restored to Authentic Christianity as they were taught that by Paul. Paul then gives more direction in this
regard: "But if anyone has caused
grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent -- not to be too
severe. This punishment what's was
inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man so that, on the
contrary, you ought rather to forget and comfort and, lest perhaps such a one
be swallowed up with too much sorrow.
Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him" (2 Corinthians
2: number 5 -- 8). Apparently there
was a particular individual, as its seems, that Paul was instructing the
Corinthian church about him, so we look for the principles that need to be
applied in our day. Now we know from
the Bible that we are not even to eat with one who will not repent from their
sins as this is what Paul wrote in his first letter: "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone
named a brother, who is actually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a
reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner -- not even to eat with such a
person" (1 Corinthians 5: 11).
Paul was brokenhearted over such a person that once held true to the truth and had disregarded it and began to live a life that was in contradiction to
that which he was taught. It makes me
wonder, are you sorrowful over those who will not change their immoral, or
their lifestyles that are in opposition to Scripture and find many reasons which
are only excuses for a living or acting this way? Are the elders of the church practicing what Paul has
taught? Or, do you just ignore the problem? Paul had to address these same problems with
the Ephesian church: "But
fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even been named
among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking,
nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks"
(Ephesians 5: 3 -- 4).
Sanctification is a settled issue with God in heaven for you are secure
that you are going to heaven if you are one of God's children. Sanctification in this life is an ongoing
work and requires often much effort.
This effort is more than just and necessary for this is what a true
Christian does: "Therefore put to
death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion,
evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3: 5). As Authentic Christians we do apply God's
Word to ourselves and to our congregation's and Paul reminds us that in doing
so that we need to be ready to forgive and to comfort those who have been
swallowed the by this culture and we do not want them to be swallowed up in
sorrow due to the failure to love them as Christ loves the church and you.
Direct my steps by Your word,
and let him
no iniquity
have dominion over me.
Psalm 119: 133
You are a servant of God
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