“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 (NLT)
Paul wrote to the church in Corinth about a man who had caused deep hurt. The church had disciplined him, and Paul now urged them to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm their love for him. Without this step, Paul warned, the man could be swallowed up by discouragement. Paul’s concern was not only for this man’s restoration, but for the health of the entire church.
Ignoring sin is destructive, but so is refusing to forgive after discipline. Both are schemes of the enemy. In our culture, when someone stumbles, it’s common to erase their reputation and highlight only their failure. Yet Paul reminds us that Christ joins us in forgiveness, not in keeping score.
A church that refuses to forgive is no longer a hospital for the broken. People will hide instead of confessing when they need help. But when we forgive and reaffirm love, we create an environment where grace can flow and healing can happen. Unforgiveness not only hardens our hearts toward others, it makes us blind to God’s grace in our own lives. It gives more power to sin than to the Savior who conquered it.