Forgiveness and restoration are topics that are critical to both understand and practice as we follow Christ Jesus. When we read 1 Corinthians 5 the need to remove from the fellowship of the church those who are living in open and unrepentant sin. This practice is rarely followed by churches but then the second half of this is even more important. Here we read in verses 5-11 of the need to forgive and restore fellowship after someone who has been removed from fellowship repents. I think that the critical part of this is that it is done officially and in public. Note that Paul's letter was read to the whole church, not just to the leaders or a select few. So his instructions to bring back and forgive the repentant sinner is being done in a public way. These issues need to be approached head on and publicly or the rumor mill will be in full force and people won't know for sure what is true and what to think.
As painful as a disfellowshipping situation is, as Paul says, the forgiveness and restoration must be public. This reminds me of the story in 2 Samuel 14 regarding Absalom, king David's son. Absalom had murdered his half brother because he had raped his sister and he fled to a distant city banished from David's presence and from the capital city of Jerusalem. After some time David wanted to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, saying that he forgave him, but didn't want to see him. David may have forgiven Absalom, but he didn't know how or if he should restore the relationship. After three years, Absalom still hadn't seen his father and felt the separation and asked David'd general why he had been brought back if he couldn't see his father. He said, if I'm guilty, then let me be put to death. So David was told and Absalom was brought back to the king and their relationship was restored. In a parallel to this, if someone is brought back into fellowship but not publicly announced as restored, they would be like Absalom, feeling guilty and left out. Absalom's pain was so much that he was willing to be put to death. When restoration is not complete, it leaves an ambiguity which becomes isolation and condemnation and leads to depression to the point of death because Satan will be bringing accusations and whispering them in the ears and putting them on the heart and mind. That is what Paul was warning about in verse 11.
Fragrance is in the nose of the smeller
Paul's discussion about being the aroma of Christ in verses 15-17 is always interesting to me. We see an unusual situation where the same item smells great to one person and terrible to another. I guess this is not that uncommon. For instance, I like the smell of gasoline and others find it horrible. Some people love the smell and taste of foods such as brussels sprouts and others hate them. A common saying is "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and in this case, "Fragrance is in the nose of the smeller" :) Here Paul says that as we are the aroma of Christ, for those who are being saved, we are a beautiful fragrance of life, but to those who are perishing apart from Christ, we are the stench of death. It takes the work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life to change their smelling ability so that they aren't put off by the stench of death, but can begin to smell the aroma of life.
This reminds me of two things: 1) we shouldn't expect to please everyone all the time 2) there will be opposition to us as we follow Jesus completely. Paul himself is a good example of one who was very opposed to Christ Jesus for a period of time. He smelled the aroma of death. But then Jesus interrupted his life and the Holy Spirit changed his heart and "smell capability" he was changed, found life and began to preach the good news about Jesus Christ.
Thank you Lord Jesus, that you change our minds, our hearts and the way that we see and experience the world around us. Continue to change me and make me more like you!
As painful as a disfellowshipping situation is, as Paul says, the forgiveness and restoration must be public. This reminds me of the story in 2 Samuel 14 regarding Absalom, king David's son. Absalom had murdered his half brother because he had raped his sister and he fled to a distant city banished from David's presence and from the capital city of Jerusalem. After some time David wanted to bring Absalom back to Jerusalem, saying that he forgave him, but didn't want to see him. David may have forgiven Absalom, but he didn't know how or if he should restore the relationship. After three years, Absalom still hadn't seen his father and felt the separation and asked David'd general why he had been brought back if he couldn't see his father. He said, if I'm guilty, then let me be put to death. So David was told and Absalom was brought back to the king and their relationship was restored. In a parallel to this, if someone is brought back into fellowship but not publicly announced as restored, they would be like Absalom, feeling guilty and left out. Absalom's pain was so much that he was willing to be put to death. When restoration is not complete, it leaves an ambiguity which becomes isolation and condemnation and leads to depression to the point of death because Satan will be bringing accusations and whispering them in the ears and putting them on the heart and mind. That is what Paul was warning about in verse 11.
Fragrance is in the nose of the smeller
Paul's discussion about being the aroma of Christ in verses 15-17 is always interesting to me. We see an unusual situation where the same item smells great to one person and terrible to another. I guess this is not that uncommon. For instance, I like the smell of gasoline and others find it horrible. Some people love the smell and taste of foods such as brussels sprouts and others hate them. A common saying is "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and in this case, "Fragrance is in the nose of the smeller" :) Here Paul says that as we are the aroma of Christ, for those who are being saved, we are a beautiful fragrance of life, but to those who are perishing apart from Christ, we are the stench of death. It takes the work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life to change their smelling ability so that they aren't put off by the stench of death, but can begin to smell the aroma of life.
This reminds me of two things: 1) we shouldn't expect to please everyone all the time 2) there will be opposition to us as we follow Jesus completely. Paul himself is a good example of one who was very opposed to Christ Jesus for a period of time. He smelled the aroma of death. But then Jesus interrupted his life and the Holy Spirit changed his heart and "smell capability" he was changed, found life and began to preach the good news about Jesus Christ.
Thank you Lord Jesus, that you change our minds, our hearts and the way that we see and experience the world around us. Continue to change me and make me more like you!
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