From Forgiveness to Reconciliation, Part 3: A Practical Example

We have mentioned throughout our look at forgiveness and reconciliation that the whole point of both is for the spiritual maturity of all involved and ultimately for the glory of God in the gospel to be demonstrated.

We have also come to understand, with regard to reconciliation in particular, that its goal is to bring back to fellowship individuals who have been separated by past sin. We have an example of how this worked within the two letters Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Granted, the issue is one involving the church, but its application crosses the boundary from the corporate to the individual. Since church discipline has as its goal the restoration of the offending party to the fellowship of the church, so to personal reconciliation has as its goal the reconciliation of a broken relationship. Thus, what happened in that congregation can provide us with a historical example of how restoration works in any relationship.

As background we must remember what went on in the Corinthian church which Paul addressed in 1 Corinthians 5. In this chapter we read about a man who was having a sexual relationship with his father's wife, that is his stepmother. It was clearly a public matter since they were living together. Paul begins his assessment of the situation by going after the man’s sin within the context of the church as a whole. He commanded the congregation to remove this man from their midst. Obviously, this was a serious situation that required serious rebuke and serious action. It also involved, obviously, the necessity of immediate and full repentance on behalf of the man involved.

When we fast forward to the Second Epistle to the Corinthians in chapter 2, we read of the resolution to this sinful situation. It is an encouraging example of forgiveness and reconciliation.

Here is what Paul has to say about where things have progressed in 2:5-8,

“Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.”

We see three things evidenced within these verses. First, the man had sought forgiveness for his sins and therefore he must be forgiven. Second, the man must be assisted in living a life of repentance and faith. Third, he must be reinstated in love.

Let's remember what we said about forgiveness. Essentially, it is a promise in which one person commits that they will never again bring up another's offense and hold it against him. Whatever offense there may have been will not be mentioned to anyone and will not be a contributing factor in their relationship moving forward. In other words, to forgive means that the matter is completely closed and should not be raised again under any circumstances. This is to be our attitude regardless of whether the offending person seeks our forgiveness or not.

Since it is obvious that the situation in Corinth involved the repentance of the man in question, reconciliation is now possible. Part of this reconciliation involves the development of a relationship between the one offended and the offending party. This will obviously look differently in a church setting than in a situation involving individuals, but since forgiveness is granted full and free, it may be possible for the development of a mutually beneficial spiritual relationship to arise from the ashes of sin and offense. This does not mean that all things go back to the way they were. It also doesn’t mean that the offending party is shunned or left to figure out his way forward on his own. Discipleship is needed most when sin is seen, and confronted, and repented of.

Paul says that part of reconciliation involves a reaffirmation in love. This is an interesting phrase. It does not necessarily speak of an official step taken, but of an attitude that accompanies the renewed, reconciled relationship. In other words, forgiveness and reconciliation should bring rejoicing to all involved. In a situation when a sinner turns from his sin and is reconciled to those whom he is offended there is much cause for rejoicing. Not simply for what it means to the human relationships, but for what it demonstrates of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Here in 2 Corinthians, we have a practical example of what reconciliation looks like. God is honored when this happens in his church and among his people. When we who have been forgiven much and who have been reconciled to God despite our many offenses forgive and reconcile to those who have wronged us God is glorified, and his gospel is proclaimed.

Soli Deo Gloria