2 Corinthians Ch1v23-Ch2v11 - Love You Can Trust

So if you turn in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians chapter 1, starting in verse 23 through to chapter 2, verse 11.

2 Corinthians 1 · chapter mention

And I stake my life on it, that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you.

For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?

I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice.

I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy.

For I wrote to you out of great distress and anguish of heart, and with many tears,

not to grieve you, but to let you know the depth of my love for you.

If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you to some extent,

not to put it too severely.

The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient.

Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him.

Another reason I wrote to you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything.

Anyone you forgive, I also forgive.

And what I have forgiven, if there was anything to forgive,

I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake,

in order that Satan might not outwit us,

for we are not unaware of his schemes.

Thank you, Kirsty.

Let's keep our Bibles open.

Last week, we were looking at how we can comfort one another.

Today, we're going to be thinking about how we can love one another well.

So let's pray and ask for God's help.

Father, would you pour out your spirit upon us generously for our good,

that we may focus upon you today,

and that we may be attuned to your voice.

Father, do a work amongst us for our good and for your glory.

Amen.

Do you love me?

Thanks, Connor. Good man.

Yes, I'm talking about me.

Do you care about me?

If I was ill, would you come and visit me?

If I was discouraged, would you support me?

If I was in financial trouble, would you try to help?

And I'm glad, at least some of you are nodding your heads.

That's encouraging.

Of course you would,

because I have already experienced much love from you,

and I know you have experienced the same.

That's what it means to be a member of a local church.

You see, the church is a family,

an identifiable, committed family of brothers and sisters

who love the Lord Jesus

and love each other.

Now here's the big question.

Do you love me enough to correct me

when I'm out of line?

Do you love me enough to discipline me

if I am unrepentant?

Do you love me enough to forgive my wrongs

and restore me?

You see, true love,

genuine church family love

will do everything to ensure

that we are in a joy-filled,

right relationship with Christ.

We will do everything to ensure

that one another are in a joy-filled,

right relationship with Christ.

Look at Paul's desire for the church

in chapter 1, verse 24.

There we go.

Verse 24.

Not that we lord it over your faith.

He says we're not being pushy

or being superior.

But we work with you

for your joy.

Because it is by faith

you stand firm.

Paul's heart's desire

is to do all that he possibly can

to ensure they have a joy-filled life

by being secure in the faith.

Or we could summarize it like this.

our goal, the motto of this church

and what a great motto it would be

is that the church would be full of joy

as you stand firm in Christ.

That's what we long for one another.

You see, the greatest love

that we can have for each other

is to ensure that we're standing in Christ,

not falling from Christ.

And if you love me,

you will do whatever it takes,

even if that means

showing me my sin.

You see, the absence of correction

and restoration

is not loving.

To ignore things

is unloving.

It's unkind for a brother or sister

to ignore one another

if we're drifting from Christ.

You could imagine a father

out for a walk with his toddler

and the toddler

goes to run across the road.

The father grabs him

because the father loves his child.

A doctor warning a patient

to change his diet,

otherwise they'll have a heart attack,

is a loving intervention.

It would be unloving to do

or to say nothing, right?

Now, standing firm in Christ

means that we get alongside each other,

support one another,

encourage one another,

but sometimes

it's going to require hard conversations.

We can call it

tough love.

You see, Paul was concerned

that some of the church

were drifting.

Instead of standing firm in Christ,

they were falling from Christ

and he was grieving.

There was no joy.

They needed love.

Out of deep concern,

Paul had made a painful visit

to the church.

Chapter 2, verse 1.

Can you see there

the reference he makes there

at the end

where he talks about

a painful visit

that he had made?

And as a follow-up

to this painful visit,

he had to write

a tearful letter.

Chapter 2, verse 4.

For I wrote to you

out of great distress

and anguish of heart

and with many tears.

Paul had to make some,

say some difficult things

while he made this painful visit.

And he had to say difficult things

as he wrote his tearful letter.

In fact, Paul made another plan

to come back and visit the church

to see if they had put

everything in order

to make sure

that they were all standing

in Christ.

We read about that

in chapter 1, verse 16.

Have a look there.

Chapter 1, verse 16.

He says,

I wanted to visit you

on my way to Macedonia

and to come back to you

from Macedonia

and then to let you send me

on my way to Judea.

So during his travels,

he was going to take a detour

and go and visit the church

in Corinth.

But he changed his mind.

He decided not to visit them.

And here's why.

Chapter 1, verse 23.

I call God as my witness

and I stake my life on it.

I am telling you

the absolute truth

that it was in order

to spare you

that I did not return

to Corinth.

Chapter 2, verse 1.

So I made up my mind

that I would not make

another painful visit

to you.

You see,

he loved them so much

that he didn't want

to have to visit

and have to go over

old ground again

and rebuke them

and say,

guys,

you shouldn't be doing this.

He said,

I hope that you would have

listened and done

the right thing

and turned back

to Christ.

Despite what they

thought of Paul,

he was for them,

not against them.

Yes, he had many

hard things to say,

but it was for their joy.

It was to see them

built up in their faith

and encouraged.

And that's what

loving relationships

are all about.

It's a commitment

to do all that we can

to make sure

we are firm

in the faith.

faith.

As our motto said,

our goal is that

we would be

full of joy

as we stand

firm in Christ.

how joyful it is

to know that our

brothers and sisters

are walking with Christ,

to stand with them

on that day

when the risen Lord

Jesus comes again.

What joy it will be

to know that you're there

and I'm there.

Well, how can we ensure

that we keep on

and have a joy-filled life?

Well, two things

we're going to look at.

First,

loving correction.

Loving correction.

Look at chapter 2,

verse 3.

He says,

I wrote as I did

so that when I came

I would not be distressed

by those who should

make me rejoice.

He said,

look,

I had to write

difficult things

but it was all

for the hope

that you would have

listened and changed

and brought me

great joy.

In fact,

end of verse 3,

I had confidence

in all of you

that you all

would share

my joy.

I was confident

that you would

listen

and that you would

be standing firm

in Christ.

Now, we don't know

what Paul said

in his letter

but we do know

that it was

very difficult

for him to write.

Look at verse 4.

For I wrote to you

out of great distress

and anguish

of heart

and with many tears

not to grieve you

but to let you know

the depth

of my love

for you.

My father used

to remind us

of kids

as when we were little

of an experience

that he had

when he was a child.

One day

his two pals

came to the door

knocked on the door

asking him

to come out

and play.

They were going

to go down

to the river

and all excited

my dad ran

to his mum

Michael,

I'm sorry

you can't go.

It's not safe.

My dad

was upset

and my mum

was even upset

for my dad

because he was upset.

Please

can I go?

I'm sorry

Michael

you can't go

you've got

to stay

at home.

Later on

that day

there was

another knock

on the door

a neighbour

to say

that one

of his friends

had fallen

in the river

and drowned.

You see

my dad's mum

could have

ignored

the danger.

she could have

turned a blind eye

and said

sure Michael

off you go

enjoy yourself

and hoped

for the best.

But she did

the right thing

didn't she?

Though it caused

her some distress

it was the most

loving

thing

to do.

Even though

it hurt

my dad

in that very

moment

that he couldn't

go

it was the most

loving

thing

he needed.

You see

Paul knew

that his

correction

would be

painful.

He knew

it would

hurt them

but it

caused him

greater pain

having to be

the one

to confront

them.

It wasn't

easy.

Look at

verse 4

I wrote

out of

great distress

and anguish

of heart

and with

many tears

things.

Why did

he put

him through

so much

anguish?

Why not

just turn

to blind

eye and

hope for

the best?

Well look

at the rest

of verse 4

it wasn't

to grieve

you

but to

let you

know the

depth of

my love

for you.

My goal

is that

you would

be full

of joy

as you

stand

firm

in

Christ.

If you're

a member

of this

church

or any

church

if you're

visiting

do you

love

the

church?

Do I

love you

enough to

correct

any

spiritual

drift?

Do you

love me

enough

to

rebuke

me

over

some

sinful

behaviour

or

attitude?

You see

such action

isn't

pushy

or superior

or

judgmental

it's an

expression

of our

love.

The easiest

thing would

be to

ignore it

and say

sure it's

just the

way they

are.

That's

unloving.

Loving

correction

comes from

a heart

of deep

concern

for a

brother

or sister

who is

drifting

away.

Our

goal

is that

we would

together

be full

of joy

as we

stand

firm

in

Christ.

With

loving

correction

comes

loving

restoration.

So far

as we've

studied in

this section

we haven't

been told

what the

issue was

that needed

corrected.

But I

think in

verses 5

following

we're given

a clue.

Let's read

verse 5.

He's

talking about

a particular

person.

If

anyone has

caused

grief

through

their

sin

that is

he has

not so

much

grieved

me

as he

has

grieved

all of

you

to some

extent

not to

put it

too

severely.

The

punishment

inflicted

on him

by the

majority

is sufficient.

Now

instead

you ought

to forgive

and comfort

him

so that

he will

not be

overwhelmed

by excessive

sorrow.

It seems

that there

is a

member of

the church

who was

not walking

with Christ

and was

unrepentant.

Despite

being told

nothing seemed

to change.

It could

be

that the

issue being

referred to

is what we

read about

in 1

Corinthians.

So you

can put

a finger

in 2

Corinthians

and go

back to

1

1 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

Corinthians

chapter

5.

1

1 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

Corinthians

chapter

5.

It could

be the

issue here

that we're

about to

read.

If it's

not, it's

certainly a

good example

and helps

explain what

might be

going on.

1

1 Corinthians 5:1–2

Corinthians

5

verses

1

to 2

Paul

says to

the same

church,

it's actually

reported

that there

is sexual

immorality

among you

and of a

kind that

even pagans,

that is

those who

are not

yet Christians,

do not

tolerate.

A man

is sleeping

with his

father's

wife or

a man

is sleeping

with his

mother-in-law.

Verse 2,

6.

And you

are so proud.

Shouldn't

you have

gone into

mourning and

have put

out of

your

fellowship

the man

who has

been doing

this?

Verse 6,

your

boasting

is not

good.

Don't

you know

that a

little yeast

leavens the

whole batch

of dough?

Just as

yeast

goes and

works in

the whole

loaf of

bread,

so he's

saying

undealt

with

sin

will

affect

the

whole

church

family.

Let's

go back

to

2 Corinthians.

So the

concern is

that a

member of

the church

has been

having an

affair

and despite

the seriousness

of it,

despite the

warnings and

the

encouragements,

has remained

unrepentant.

And not

only that,

the church

is turning

a blind

eye to

it as

well.

They're

ignoring

it.

The church

has become

desensitized

to the

issue.

So what

harm are

they doing?

It doesn't

matter.

It's just

the way

they are.

Let them

be.

Well,

thankfully,

the church

had listened

to Paul's

correction,

even though

it was

painful

and tearful.

He was

disciplined

by the

church and

treated as

someone,

well,

who was

not yet a

Christian.

They needed

the gospel.

Look at

verse 6.

This is 2

2 Corinthians 2:6

Corinthians

chapter 2

verse 6.

He says,

the punishment

inflicted on

him by the

majority,

that is,

the members

of the

church,

is

sufficient.

Now,

we must

think about

this and

wonder,

well,

if I

sin,

is that

going to

happen to

me?

Well,

I think

what's being

talked about

here is

something

serious.

It's about

persistent

sin,

rejecting

correction,

and

remaining

unreplaced.

unrepentant,

persisting

in a

particular

behavior or

attitude,

rejecting

correction,

and

remaining

unrepentant.

That is

why the

church had

to act in

such a

way to

say,

you are

no longer

a part of

this

fellowship.

You are

not living

as a

Christian.

Now,

again,

this is

hard for

us maybe

to hear,

but it's

not being

judgmental.

This is

driven by

a heart

of love

and concern

for their

brother and

sister,

in the hope

that they

would turn

back to

Christ.

It's not a

case of the

religious police

coming along

and kicking

people out

left,

right,

and center.

It's about

the restoration

of the

church family.

it's about

that they

may know

a joy-filled

life of

being firm

in Christ.

One author

put it

like this,

a critical

test of

genuine

love is

whether we

are willing

to confront

and discipline

those we

care for.

Nothing is

more difficult

than disciplining

a brother or

sister in

Christ who

is trapped

in sin.

That's why

Paul was

of great

anguish

and great

distress.

Or as

Jesus himself

says to

the church

in Revelation,

those whom

I love

I rebuke

and discipline.

So be

earnest

to repent.

You see,

the purpose

is that they

might be

restored in

their relationship

with Christ,

standing

firm.

The goal

is that

they would

have a

joy-filled

life and

that the

church

together

would be

filled

with joy

as together

they stand

firm in

Christ.

Thankfully,

the correction

had the

desired effect.

Look at

verse 7.

Now

instead,

you ought

to forgive

and comforted

him so

that he

will not

be

overwhelmed

by

excessive

sorrow.

I urge

you

therefore,

reaffirm

your love

for him.

Isn't

it wonderful?

It would

be unloving

to leave the

brother or

sister who

had been

unrepent and

had now

turned back

to the

Lord

outside.

That would

be

judgmental.

Instead,

they are

now to

embrace

them and

welcome

them to

celebrate

their return.

Verse 8,

I urge you

therefore,

reaffirm

your love

for him.

Make it

your goal

that they

have a

joy-filled

life.

They are

right with

Christ and

right with

each other.

are you

a member

of this

church?

Do you

love the

church?

Do you

love your

brothers and

sisters so

much that

you will do

whatever it

takes to

restore them

if they

have drifted

from Christ?

Will I

forgive them

just as God

has forgiven

them?

Will I

comfort them

and embrace

them and

welcome them

home?

You see,

to withhold

forgiveness is

a serious

matter.

Instead,

we embrace

and reaffirm

our love.

Loving

restoration

comes from

a heart

that cares

deeply for

the spiritual

health of

our brothers

and sisters.

Our goal,

our motto

is that we

would have

a joy-filled

life as we

stand firm

in Christ.

You see,

what this

text is

really getting

at

is that we

would have

a Christ-like

love.

love.

The members

of the church

are to

love one

another just

as Christ

loved us.

And how

did he love

us?

Well,

God loved

the world.

He loved

his church

so much

that he

gave his

one and

only son

into the

world for

us.

And Christ

coming into

the world,

it was a

most painful

visit.

a life

filled with

tears as

he longed

for people

to return

to him,

as he

wept over

the city.

He came

to take

my sin

and your

sin on

himself.

On the

cross,

Jesus Christ

was corrected

for us.

There he

faced the

greatest

discipline

as he

was punished

by God

for the

wrong things

you and

I have

done.

In love

he took

our sin.

But that

wasn't the

end,

was it?

Three days

after his

death,

Jesus was

raised to

life again.

He was

lovingly

restored,

crowned

with honour

and glory.

That's the

love of

Christ for

us today.

Christ was

corrected so

that by

faith in

him we

are corrected.

And just

as Christ

has been

restored,

so by

faith in

him we

are

restored.

What's that

going to

look like

for us

tomorrow as

we go to

our college,

our school,

our work,

at home?

Well, it

causes us to

gaze at

Christ.

Because as

we look to

the cross,

we see on

the one

hand the

seriousness of

our sin,

but also we

see the

greatness of

God's grace.

True love

will both

correct us

and restore

us.

The love

of Christ

leads us

daily in

repentance

before him

and

receiving

his freeing

forgiveness.

Not

least does

it affect

our

relationships

with each

other.

Look at

verse 10.

He says,

anyone you

forgive,

I also

forgive.

And what I

have forgiven,

if there was

anything to

forgive,

I have

forgiven in

the sight

of Christ

for your

sake.

just as

we have

been

forgiven,

we need

to forgive

one another

and show

grace to

one another,

not to

do so.

To

withhold

that

forgiveness

and grace

is so,

so dangerous.

And here's

why.

Look at

verse 11.

We

forgive

in order

that Satan

might not

outwit us,

for we

are not

unaware of

his schemes.

Satan

would love

nothing more

than for us

to turn a

blind eye

to each

other and

say it

doesn't

matter.

But not

to repent

will mean

sin is

ignored and

that will

lead to

greater

hardness

of heart.

And not

to forgive

will mean

grace is

withheld

and will

result in

deeper

bitterness

amongst

one another.

So

together

we fix

our eyes

on Christ.

We

remember

his great

embracing

love for

us and

we love

each other.

Our goal

is that we

would have

a joy

filled

life as

together

we encourage

and support

one another

to stand

firm

in Christ.

So let

me ask

us all

do you

love the

church?

Do you

love one

another?

Do you

love and

care for

your brother

and sister

so much

that you

will do

all that

it takes

to ensure

they are

standing firm

in Christ?

Let's

pray.

pray.

Father,

your word is

good.

yes it

is difficult

sometimes

it's hard

to take

in

but it

is good

it is

wonderfully

good.

Would you

please help

us

that we

may increase

our love

for one

another

just as

you loved

us

that there

would be

no bounds

to the

extent

of our

love

to support

build up

and encourage

correct

and restore

that we

would do

all that

we possibly

can

to walk

beside our

brothers and

sisters

that we

would stand

firm in

Christ

filled

with confidence

assurance

and rejoicing

together

as we

stand before

Christ on

the last

day.

What joy

that we

would be

there

together

because

you

helped

me

and I

helped

you.

Thank you

for your

church.

Thank you

for your

people.

Amen.

We're

going to

sing

together.

There is

an everlasting

kindness you

lavished on

us.

With the

radiance of

heaven you

came to

rescue the

lost.

Here is the

love of

God.

Let's

stand

together,

worship and

praise him

and give

thanks for

his love.

happy

!

happy

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Amen.

Amen.

Please take your seats.

We continue in our worship as we remember our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

The Lord's Supper, or Communion, well it's a family gathering, isn't it?

It's a family meal where we remember God's love to us and our love for one another.

A meal where we are reminded of God's commitment to us and our commitment to each other.

Together, we remember Jesus.

We look at the cross afresh and we remind ourselves that he was corrected for us.

Disciplined for us.

Punished, shut out from the Father for you and I.

So that we could be restored.

So that we could be forgiven.

So that we could be comforted afresh in the love of God.

As we eat and as we drink, we are reaffirmed of God's love for us.

And we reaffirm our love for one another.

Who can share in this meal, simple as it is, of bread and juice?

The bread speaking of Christ's body.

The juice speaking of the blood shed on the cross for our sins.

Who gets to eat and drink?

It's for the repentant.

Not the unrepentant.

It's for those who know their need of Jesus.

To see the seriousness of sin and the greatness of God's grace.

If you have your Bibles, please turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 11.

1 Corinthians 11 · chapter mention

Before we eat the bread and drink the juice,

we're going to remind us of the words Paul spoke to the church,

which are written and recorded for us today,

as we remember Jesus.

1 Corinthians chapter 11, verse 23.

1 Corinthians 11:23

Remember this is written to people just like us,

messy and broken,

hidden sins and public ones.

We come afresh that we might know God's grace

and know his love.

Verse 23.

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you.

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed,

took bread,

and when he had given thanks,

he broke it and said,

this is my body,

which is for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.

In the same way,

after supper,

he took the cup saying,

this cup is the new covenant in my blood.

Do this whenever you drink it,

in remembrance of me.

for when you eat this bread

and drink this cup,

you proclaim the Lord's death

until he comes.

So if you are trusting in Christ today,

if you come with your repentance,

needing grace afresh,

reminded of his love,

then come and share

in this meal together.

Let's pray.

Lord Jesus,

we thank you so much

for your death on the cross

on our behalf.

Thank you that you were disciplined for us.

that through faith,

we might be restored

in right relationship with you,

never to face condemnation again,

forgiven,

freed,

comforted,

and loved.

thank you,

thank you,

thank you,

thank you,

for dying for us.

Thank you for your commitment

that nothing in all this world,

not even our sin,

can ever separate us

from your love.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.

It's our practice as a church

to receive the bread,

hold on to it,

and then as a family,

we will eat together

as brothers and sisters.

Please take a piece

and then we will wait

until we're all served.

Please use this time

in the quietness

to bring your own confession

to the Lord.

And there's no idea

of holy holy

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We remember God's love to us, shown to us through his Son, Jesus Christ.

And we remember our love for one another.

As a family, let us eat together in thanksgiving.

And as we drink as you receive.

Nick and Tricia are going to serve the juice

and as we do, please drink as you receive

and as it's being passed around,

let us celebrate God's forgiveness of us

the comfort that we have in his love

and our commitment to love one another.

Amen.

As you are served or wait to be served,

I encourage you just in the quietness of your heart

to pray for the person beside you or in front of you.

Pray that they would know God's love afresh

and that God would strengthen the bonds

of our love for one another.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Please feel free to talk to me afterwards or give me a ring.

Two things.

We're going to have tea and coffee, so invite everybody to stay and chat and catch up.

It would be great to talk with you further.

And there's a big, big card on the table as you came in for Amy, Amy Patterson, who's serving in Sheffield.

Nick and Trish are going to be heading there next weekend to say hi and encourage and support her.

So if you'd like to write a message, it's a nice big one so you can do all kinds of pictures and squiggles and all sorts of things.

Something that Amy would appreciate.

So please do that on your way out.

Let's pray.

Father, may we know the blessing of your grace and your peace upon each one of us this coming week.

Thank you for your love.

Thank you for your love.

In Jesus' name.

Amen.

Amen.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.