Rev. David Holwick H 2 Corinthians sermon series
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 21, 1999
2 Corinthians 2:2-11
|
SERMON SUMMARY: We have a natural desire to catch and punish sinners.
Christians need to move beyond this to restoration. People deserve
a second chance. God is the model for this concept.
I. What comes after scandal?
A. Our tabloid culture loves dirt.
1) Rotten people have to pay.
B. But then what?
1) Christians believe in forgiveness.
2) Easier to preach forgiveness than to forgive.
C. Our goal is not a clean slate but a full plate.
II. The situation.
A. Paul had heard of trouble and made a "painful visit."
1) The matter didn't clear up and he wrote a "painful letter."
B. What was the trouble?
1) Man messing with his step-mother in 1 Corinthians 5?
a) Certainly painful, but 1 Corinthians doesn't fit
being a "painful letter" written with tears.
b) Also, note that in 2:10 Paul casually says, "if there
was anything to forgive," which doesn't fit
situation in 1 Cor. 5.
2) Man who tried to undermine Paul.
a) Most scholars like this view.
b) These verses hint at a personal attack on the apostle.
c) His stern letter led church to rebuke the man.
1> Titus brought the welcome news back to Paul.
C. Authority is an important issue.
1) Some scholars see allusions to Korah's rebellion.
a) Korah tried to push out Moses. Num 16
1> God set him straight.
b) Both Corinthian letters refer to rebellion in Exodus.
2) Leadership should not be challenged lightly.
a) Doesn't mean leaders are above the law.
b) But our American tendency to tear down those at the
top can lead to pain for everyone.
c) Constructive criticism is appropriate; potshots are not.
III. The emotions of confrontation.
A. Pain is highlighted throughout this episode.
1) Paul felt pain, the man caused pain.
2) Now Paul wants to avoid further pain.
B. The Corinthian church responded with grief. 2:2
1) The grief resulted in "godly sorrow." 7:9-11
a) Godly sorrow results in repentance.
1> It is sorrow with a purpose.
b) Everyone in Corinth changed their direction.
1> The church got serious about its disunity.
A> They became indignant and disciplined the man.
2> The man changed his attitude and actions.
2) Not all emotion is redemptive.
a) Paul also mentions worldly sorrow.
b) This is the grief at getting caught, period.
c) It focuses on the self and has a pity-party.
1> No change in character results.
2> It brings death - as in case of Judas. Matt 27:3
IV. Paul's pastoral heart.
A. He focuses on the situation in the church and not himself.
1) Discipline calls for correction, more than vengeance.
B. Love must be basis of forgiveness. Matt 18:35
1) Don't be so severe you take the heart out of the person.
2) Paul is sensitive enough not to identify the man by name.
3) He is concerned the man will be overwhelmed. 2:7
4) Deal with people gently. Gal 6:1
C. Restoration must be the goal.
1) Genuine repentance comes first.
a) "Face the music."
2) Accept them back.
a) Comfort, encourage, strengthen them.
b) Forgiveness wipes the slate clean.
c) Restoration puts something positive on it.
1> Love them again. 2:8
2> Not a contradiction to bind then loose. Luke 17:3
3) Forget past and move on.
a) The consequences of failure.
1> If restoration fails, Satan gets a toe-hold. 2:11
2> Don't let the sun go down with resentment. Eph 4:26
b) Restoration pulls people together.
V. Restoration should be a fact of life for Christians.
A. Marriage and betrayal.
1) Adultery hard to forgive.
a) Local Christian couple.
b) Adultery and embezzlement.
c) Apostasy.
2) She waited patiently for him.
a) No compromise of her standards.
b) No groveling, begging before him.
c) And yet no cutting off.
1> He was free to come back to her.
2> His lover dumped him, the feds indicted him.
3) He came back.
a) Many don't get beyond this point.
1> Bitterness is too great.
2> Even if marriage survives, it is lifeless.
b) She loved him again.
1> Marriage has taken time to heal.
2> He even got back with the Lord.
B. Society and criminals.
1) We want to punish crime.
2) Can they ever re-enter society again?
a) Treat them like dirt, they won't.
3) Christians should believe in second chances.
C. Church and sinners.
1) We need more expectations of Christian living.
a) Call people to account.
b) Churches put up with too much.
2) But we also need more genuine restoration.
a) Many Christians fail.
1> Often, they are too ashamed to set foot in church
again.
2> And many churches don't want them.
A> (We are only army who shoots its wounded.)
b) We need a way to emphasize restoration.
1> Their repentance must come first.
2> Our restoration must follow.
VI. Restoration is God's ultimate goal.
A. God wants to bring us back to wholeness.
1) Sweep of Bible is our yearning to get back to Eden.
B. How to get back.
1) Admitting sin is first step.
2) Repenting (turning away from it) is next.
3) God does the restoring.
a) Healing our wounds.
b) Daily blessings.
C. Restoration is life-long process.
1) Jesus restores us to fellowship with God now.
2) Complete restoration waits in heaven.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
Created with the Freeware Edition of HelpNDoc: Full featured Documentation generator