Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NKJV)
Like God against the People of Nineveh, when God saw the works of their repentance coming from their contrite heart and how they turned from their evil ways, He had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction He had threatened. It is an obligation of our Church to discipline and chastise the wrong doings of anyone in our congregation, who falls back to the manner of the sinful world. It is a painful surgery to remove anything in the body which makes it unhealthy. However, after the operation, health and wellness will be restored. Like in the case of the Church in Corinth, a fornicating brother who did not heed Apostle Paul’s instruction was disciplined to maintain the purity of the Church. It caused grief to the brethren, but the removal resulted in repentance and turning away from his sinful activity. The said brother was forgiven and warmly welcomed back to the fellowship. We are to forgive and forget. To forgive in the presence of Christ means we forgive them and accept them sincerely and wholeheartedly.
