2 Corinthians 2:7-8 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow. Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.
How can we effectively restore a fallen brother or sister? This ought to be something that we seek. In fact, we have been “given the ministry of reconciliation.”
Unfortunately, people will fall. And some won’t just fall—they will walk willfully into a sinful lifestyle. Sin is enticing, and Satan is a slick, dirty liar and deceiver. As we see in Scripture, we can’t condone sin. It must be dealt with in the church and in our realm of influence, lest it spread like cancer. However—and here is the thought for today—when a brother or sister is dealt with according to their sin, and when the world, flesh, and devil have chewed them up and spit them out (which they will), and when they realize how empty and vain the deceitfulness of riches and lust of the flesh are, and desire to get right, might they always know that there is a place where they can find repentance, restoration, and forgiveness.
Probably the greatest case made in Scripture for our responsibility to forgive is the one made in Ephesians 4:32: “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” How do we know if or how we should forgive one who is seeking restoration? “As Christ hath forgiven you.” That’s pretty deep stuff. If we compare our forgiveness to Christ’s, we’ll have no problem bringing the lost sheep back to the fold.
In the passage above (2 Corinthians 2:7-8), a brother had sinned grossly. He had experienced church discipline and experienced the sorrow and consequences of sin. But he repented. He turned from his wicked ways. The Apostle Paul here is pleading with the church to restore him. He gives three ways we can restore a fallen brother or sister:
Forgive—We ought to forgive fully and freely, as Christ did to us. In Ezekiel 18, we see what true forgiveness looks like. The Lord said, “All his transgressions which he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him.” Let’s forgive, put the past behind, and look at the potential that individual still has for Christ.
Comfort—When one comes back, they don’t need the stick. They need comfort. Many times, they’re hurting, sometimes they’re ashamed, and most of the time they’re seeking to put the past behind them. Let us be the ones that comfort, strengthen, and help them to heal as they return to their relationship with the Lord and His people.
Confirm our love toward them—It’s one thing to say we forgive. It’s another thing to confirm that love in our actions. One reason Absalom rebelled after his father forgave him, and had invited him to return, was that King David never confirmed his love to him. He allowed him back in to the kingdom, but not to his house. He brought him back within the vicinity but would not fellowship with him. If the fallen are to feel true restoration, we must confirm our love to them.
In conclusion, when the wayward brother or sister comes back, which many will, let us welcome them with open arms, like Paul, or the father of the Prodigal Son, or like Christ. Let’s forgive, comfort, and confirm our love through our actions, that they might experience the restoration Christ wants them to, and move on to reach their potential for their good and Christ’s glory.
