Sunday, June 14th - Pastor Kyle Van Tine - 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:11 "Compelled to Integrity and Forgiveness"
Growing deeper
There are several themes that flow together in this passage - integrity and confidence, discipline and love, mercy and grace, forgiveness and restoration. Each theme is grounded in the others. Paul knows that by following God’s wisdom for life, he can be confident in a clear conscience that is fully dependent on the triumph of God’s grace.
Christ’s character is Paul’s character, and our own character.When we say “Yes” to Christ in our lives, we are saying “Yes” to a life of integrity, confidence, sincerity and power centered on a reliable and gracious God. God is the God of truth and restoration. He fulfilled all His promises of the Old Testament Covenants (Genesis 9, 12, Exodus 19, 2 Samuel 7, Jeremiah 31) in Christ.
God disciplines us lovingly, mercifully warning us of our sin and patiently waiting to restore our fallen standing with Him (2 Peter 3:9). He makes us His people, guarding and protecting our faith, giving us His Holy Spirit and granting us full inheritance when we accept Christ as Lord.
Now, as recipients of the New Covenant, we must, in obedience, grant forgiveness and restoration to repentant fellow sinners with whom we are bonded together in Christ, for both the health of the individual and the church body. In our new life, acknowledging our own weakness and sin, we must passionately pursue integrity in prayer, Bible study and intentionally move forward as we stand firm in Christ.
Read 2 Peter 1:2-4
Integrity comes from the Latin word for wholeness or completeness. How does the knowledge of the character of God create wholeness in us?
What does merciful love look like biblically?
What are ways God has been faithful, loving and merciful to you?
Do you have anything for which you need to repent and seek forgiveness?
What does the restoration of repentant sinners look like, according to Paul?
Is there anyone in your life who is repentant that you need to forgive and restore?
Prayer is a powerful tool in our Christian lives. God listens. Take some time to bring your struggles to God and seek His wisdom.
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