Principles of Forgiveness

In 2 Corinthians Chapter 2 we find at least eight principles of forgiveness.  I will give the skeleton outline, and you can work up your own thoughts.  Here are the eight principles:

I.  DO NOT PRESS THE POINT (1)

II.  DO NOT LOSE YOUR SOURCE OF JOY (2-3)

III.  REBUKE OUT OF DEEP LOVE (4)

IV. DO NOT PUNISH A PERSON MORE THAN THE OFFENSE DEMANDS (5-7)

V. CONFIRM YOUR LOVE AFTER THE REBUKE (8)

VI. FORGIVENESS IS A PROOF OF OBEDIENCE (9)

VII. FORGIVE IN THE PERSON OF CHRIST (10)

VIII. UNFORGIVENESS IS A DEVICE OF THE DEVIL (11)

Notes:  Remember, this is a letter to a local church and is not meant for individual believers but is applied in a church context.

We believe in church discipline, and some of the principles given here are in relation to that discipline.