The Church Lives on Forgiveness

2 Cor. 2:5-11 (ESV)
Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. [6] For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, [7] so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. [8] So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. [9] For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. [10] Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, [11] so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Here is the true point of admonishment, rebuking, and correcting in the Christian Church. It is not too keep ourselves pure. It is not to show how much better we are. It is necessary so that we can forgive the repentant soul as Christ has forgiven us. If forgiveness is denied the person, than the admonishment, rebuking, and correcting has not been done in Christian love. Forgiveness is the heart of the Christian Church. It lives on forgiveness. It is the only defense, and weapon of the Christian. Forgiveness alone keeps Satan at bay. He can not assail it. So the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the church, which lives on the forgiveness of Christ.