2:9
Paul was also writing in order to test the Corinthians, to see if they would be “obedient in everything”. The gospel is all about forgiveness, but that does not mean obedience is un important. Indeed obedience is a fundamental part of the gospel, the gospel call is a call to obedience (Rom 1:5, 2 John 1:6). The so-called hyper-grace teaching is actually no-grace teaching. The gospel is a call to disobedient people (ie all of the human race) to repent and believe, and to learn to live a life of obedience, to be transformed by the Holy Spirit to have a heart that delights to do the will of God.
2:10,11
While insisting that the matter had to be dealt with, that it could not be just overlooked, Paul has already said that it was important not to go to the other extreme. Here he emphasises that point again. Paul has no desire to continue to hold anything against the man, and if the Corinthian church has forgiven the man, then Paul is happy with that. Paul new the authority he had as an apostle, but he was not a controlling person. Paul also saw this as a battle against Satan. He knew full well that the battle we fight is a spiritual battle. Unforgiveness is one of Satan’s key weapons. Conversely, proper forgiveness is one of our strongest spiritual weapons.
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