WEEKLY SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
An international
Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday August 10, 2014
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readers worldwide
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RESTORED
RELATIONSHIPS
(Forgiveness
heals and restores)
(2
Corinthians 1:12-2:11)
After the Apostle Paul changed his
plans for a re-visit to Corinth during his third missionary journey in A.D. 57,
his opponents in the church took advantage of the opportunity to charge Paul as
being untrustworthy. They also contended that Paul was just another tyrant who
cared nothing for the people he sought to rule over. It was a charge that
deeply hurt Paul, because he knew in his own heart, his commitment to the work
GOD had called him to do.
In reality, Paul
changed his plans, because he had let his “emotions” get away from him, and a
visit to Corinth at that time, would have been too painful to both he and the
people at the Church at Corinth. Whenever we let our emotions get the better of
us, or control us, that is the time when we leave ourselves most vulnerable to
satan.
Second Corinthians,
chapters 1:12-7:16 is an emotional defense, by the Apostle Paul, of his sincere
commitment to his Christian ministry in general, and, to the Church at Corinth
in particular. Paul met the questions concerning his commitment head on, and he
affirmed with confidence that his moral conscience and his intensified
knowledge of GOD’s Word were without censure, and were exemplified in his own
day to day conduct, both publicly and privately.
As a leader and a
person who closely followed CHRIST, Paul always strove to be simple, sincere,
and straight-forward, and he was the same way in his letters. In 2 Corinthians
1, taking up at verse 23, Paul, very honestly and straight-forwardly tells the
Church at Corinth, that, the reason he didn’t return to Corinth was because he
wanted to spare them from the severe emotional rebuke that he was prepared to
give them.
It was not so much,
Paul’s desire to try and tell the Corinthians exactly how to put their faith
into practice, but rather, he wanted to work together with them so that their
joy would be full as they strived to stand firmly behind the teachings of
CHRIST JESUS, while living out their lives, in this world. And so Paul
decided that it would be best not to dishearten the people of Corinth with yet
another emotionally painful visit because, to cause them emotional pain, would
not only discourage them, but it would also sadden him deeply on a personal
level. He did not wish to be made sad by his brothers and sisters in CHRIST,
who were suppose to give him the most joy (2 Corinthians 2:1-4).
In verses 5-11, perhaps
Paul is writing about the man whom he had urged the Church at Corinth to
excommunicate from fellowship a year earlier (1 Corinthians 5:1-7). The man had
been involved in an ongoing adulterous relationship with his father’s wife,
living in sin with her (shacking up). Paul had strongly rebuked the Church, who
were very much aware of the couple’s sexual immorality, but had taken no action
to address this unacceptable behavior.
After Paul’s strong and
decisive rebuke, the Corinthians followed Paul’s advice and instructions, and
removed the man from church fellowship (apparently the woman was not a member
of the Christian congregation at that time). However, now Paul was strongly
urging the church to show “compassion” and welcome the man back into
fellowship, as he felt that he had been punished enough for his indiscretions.
Apparently the man had
been in deep repent and suffering in the time since his dis-fellowship from the
church, and now, Paul felt it was time to forgive, comfort him, and show him
love, so that he would not become so discouraged that he would not be able to recover
emotionally.
Furthermore, Paul knew
how satan would seek to take advantage of this situation (incorrect emotional
response to GOD - see Nehemiah 8:9-12) and use it to do even greater harm to
the man, and to the church. Being thoroughly familiar with the evil tactics of
satan, Paul used the only effective weapon he had, which was the ways and
wisdom of CHRIST.
Through his wisdom (authority)
from CHRIST on high, Paul was forever mindful of our human need for “repent” and “forgiveness”,
and, it was time to apply this wisdom, (forgiveness and encouragement) to the
situation, now at hand, in the Church at Corinth. Forgiveness completes the
healing process, and restores our relationships with our fellow man, conceptionally,
in the same way that all mankind receives forgiveness through JESUS CHRIST, our
SAVIOR.
JESUS’ vicarious
sacrifice provides us with a vehicle to spiritual recovery and healing, so that
we can be forgiven by GOD the FATHER, whenever, and if ever, we decide to
repent. GOD then restores us back into “a personal relationship of friendship”
with HIM, and HE also lends us the help and guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT, to
assist us as we move forward in the ways of CHRIST, for the remainder of our
lives, here on earth.
A Sunday school lesson
by,
Larry D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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