November 29, 2026 - Why Forgive

2 CORINTHIANS 2:5-6:13

Chronological Bible Readings

^{2 Corinthians 2:10} When you forgive this man, I forgive him, too. And when I forgive whatever needs to be forgiven, I do so with Christ’s authority for your benefit, ¹¹ so that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.

Someone had wronged them and there was opposition against him. They didn't just ignore what he did and ack like nothing happened. The hurt was acknowledged, and it did affect their interaction with him. But now Paul is saying that it is time to forgive. It is natural and appropriate to respond w

hen someone hurts us. But we are also to quickly come to forgive them. Why forgive? When we forgive, we are outsmarting Satan who is trying to keep us from following Christ example.

^{2 Corinthians 5:19} For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Why forgive? Christ is about reconciliation and love that results in restoration. Regardless of the depth of our sin. Satan is about conflict, anger and separation. We are called to be like Christ. When a brother or sister sins against us we can acknowledge that sin and respond to it, but it should be done in love with a heart of forgiveness and a desire for reconciliation. If we respond in anger and unforgiveness we are being outsmarted by Satan. He has figured out how to convince us that he is right not Christ. If Christ can forgive us for all of our sins, suffering the most brutal punishment to take it all on Himself He should be the one we believe and obey. There is no sin that can be perpetuated against us that is as great as the culmination of all our sins that was put on Christ. He gives us a message of reconciliation and that is the truth. To be His ambassadors we need to live in that truth.

^{2 Corinthians 6:3} We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. ⁴ In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind. ⁵ We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food. ⁶ We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our love.

Why forgive? As Christ's ambassadors living in the truth, we will need to endure difficulties. If we do not endure those difficulties with love, grace and forgiveness with a heart of restoration we can cause those who are "weaker" in faith to stumble. Just as when we are falling into the trap of the enemy those who are "stronger" in faith can help us to see the truth and bring us around to living in that truth again.

^{2 Corinthians 6:8} We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.

Amen. Lord please give me the heart and strength to forgive and when I am weak bring truth speakers into my life to remind me why I should.