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Not Outwitted by Satan’s Devices
2 Corinthians 1:23 – 2:11
Introduction: Paul’s final words of this text is his concern that any Christian be “outwitted by Satan.” CSB translates, “That we may not be taken advantage of by Satan.” Specifically, Paul’s concern in this text does not have to do with moral issues, but with how Satan takes advantage of how we handle our relationships between one another. Therefore, Paul presents choices he made concerning his dealings with the Corinthians that would avoid the schemes of the devil, protecting both him and them from Satan’s devices. Paul offers a number of valuable principles that keep us from being deceived by Satan in how we treat one another.
What Do We See?
Scanning the text, we are struck with a number of highlights that are key to framing Paul’s actions toward the Corinthians. These set the stage for what we should learn to avoid the schemes of Satan.
First, we can highlight Paul’s overall purpose toward the Corinthians:
- 1:23-24, Look at the words, “spare you…not lord it over your faith…work with you for your joy…you stand firm in your faith.”
- 2:4, “but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you.”
- 2:10, “what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake…”
- As Paul will repeatedly remind the Corinthians, all that he does is for their sake. This is another way we are called to be imitators of Paul as he is of Christ. We must always ask ourselves before we act or speak, am I saying this or doing this for my sake or for the sake of my fellow brothers and sisters?
Second, something has happened between Paul and the Corinthians (not revealed any place else) that created a serious rift between them. Notice the phrases that give us a clue to what took place:
- “It was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth” (1:23)
- “I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you” (2:1)
- “I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice”- (2:3)
- “For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you” (2:4)
- “For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow” (2:6-7)
- “This is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything” (2:9)
Therefore, we can draw certain conclusions:
- Paul had made a visit that turned out to be painful for him and them (“another painful visit”).
- This visit was painful because of a certain person within the church who attacked Paul, causing him, and ultimately, the whole church great pain.
- Therefore, instead of making a second painful visit, Paul cancelled his plans and wrote a letter instead (brought by Titus, 7:7). Having to write the letter was painful for Paul to write, but his primary purpose was not to cause them pain, but out of abundant love for their spiritual welfare.
- The sin of this individual was so serious that the church had withdrawn from him exacting a “punishment by the majority.”
- However, this church action had caused him to repent, which stirred Paul’s concern that the church forgive him and renew their love for him lest he be overwhelmed with sorrow.
Wisdom in Avoiding the Schemes of the Devil
First, notice that Paul avoided the dangerous tendency to “lord it over” the faith of the Corinthians. Notice the words, “your faith.” As an apostle, Paul could have shown up and bullied them by exercising authority over them. But that would have invaded their ability to develop their own faith and truly be obedient because of their respect and love for Christ and not as a result of Paul’s coercion.
What can we learn from this?
- This should affect how we teach others. Any “persuasion” we do is simply from presenting the word of God, not from pressure or manipulating a person into a decision. We want them to have their own faith.
- We should apply this same principle in raising spiritual children. Again, we want them to have their own faith. Therefore, we teach with patience and love (as we would anyone), and give them the “space” to “work out their own salvation with fear and trembling.” We want their conscience trained by their love and respect for God not out of fear of what we will do to them if they do not obey.
- This is a lesson for elders, preachers, and other leaders within a church. We are not allowed to bully people into obedience. In Titus 1:9-11, Paul gives the purpose for appointing elders: insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers must be silenced. But how? Not by yelling, “Be silent!” but by “giving instruction in sound doctrine and rebuking those who contradict it…that they may be sound in the faith.” In other words, we persuade through biblical presentation, allowing a person time to study and consider, not by demanding compliance.
- We will never come to the unity of the faith with one mind and one spirit any other way.
Second, there was the action of the church (just as we see in 1 Cor. 5) that Paul refers to as the “punishment by the majority.”
- At first, this may seem counter to the principle of not lording it over a person’s faith. But there is a difference here on two fronts. First, this person was obviously committing serious sins and was unrepentant. Second, his sins were causing upheaval and division in the church. This is not a situation where a person is needing time to understand the scriptures more completely and make appropriate changes in his life. This is blatant disobedience leading to division in the church.
- Next, we need to understand the importance of this action. This is God’s plan for renewing repentance and saving a rebellious soul. It is sinful and disappointing today to see a Christian fall into sin and even post their wickedness and evil views on Facebook, only to have other Christians “like” their post! Befriending and continuing a social relationship with a sinning Christian as if everything is fine is as wicked as the person practicing the sin – Cf. Rom. 1:32.
- Then, we also have instruction on how a person returns to the Lord when he or she has committed public sin. Verse 7 tells us that this person was made sorrowful. How did the church know that? How did Paul know that? Because he obviously let that be known to Paul and the whole church. There wasn’t a repentance that was “silent, between me and God.” The principle is, the sin is acknowledged to whoever knows of the sin and was affected by it.
- Further, you will notice that their obedience to Paul’s command to not company with such a sinner was a “test” to see if they would be obedient in all things.
- Finally, once there was repentance and confession of the sin, there was the need to forgive and comfort. We cannot hold sin over our fellow Christian’s head. We cannot treat them in such a way that they lose hope and be overwhelmed by “excessive sorrow.”
Violating any of these principles gives Satan an opportunity to take advantage of us. We get the clear message that even though our intent may be to practice righteousness, to do so incorrectly can open the door for Satan to get a foothold and destroy the work of God.
We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices! And when it comes to the local church, those devices usually come from us not following Paul’s path with the Corinthians.
Conclusion: All that Paul did, whether in rebuke, instruction, or even not visiting when he had promised, was for the joy of the Corinthians, the development of their faith, and to show his abundant love for them. May this always be the sole reasons we speak and act for the cause of Christ.