Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
- Grace and love are more important than knowledge and sorrow.
- We want Believers to know Christ’s love and to be a source of joy.
- One agitating person disturbs the fellowship within the gathering of Christians.
- The Gospel of peace hinges on forgiveness which we need to be obedient to.
Grace and love are more important than knowledge and sorrow. “But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?” 2 Corinthians 2:1-2 Paul was sorrowful that the Corinthians needed many things set in order, but the overcorrection wasn’t worth losing the joy of the Lord.
We grow in the knowledge of Christ day by day, so we can’t expect new Christians to know everything an experienced Christian knows. The grace of God enables us to overlook a lack of knowledge as the love of God in Jesus Christ is more important. If we were constantly correcting somebody it would add more frustration and sorrow than anything, then where would be the joy in serving Christ? We have to refrain from imposing on others the sorrow we have of their lack of knowledge.
We want Believers to know Christ’s love and to be a source of joy. “And I wrote this very thing to you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow over those from whom I ought to have joy, having confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all.” 2 Corinthians 2:3 It’s a sorrowful thing to see fellow Believers not growing in the knowledge of Christ and lacking His Spirit in their day-to-day life. Joy comes as we see each other growing in the knowledge, grace, and Holiness given through Jesus.
“For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote to you, with many tears, not that you should be grieved, but that you might know the love which I have so abundantly for you.” 2 Corinthians 2:4 In today’s world, there is a lot of anguish and affliction within the heart of the followers of Christ to see how the body of Christ has been sieged. The thing that has the ability to form our feelings, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors is stifling the growth of Christian faith. It is synchronizing people to the mark of the beast. The sorrow and tears of Christians is not to grieve other Believers, but to show how much we care and love them in these days of affliction.
One agitating person disturbs the fellowship within the gathering of Christians. “But if anyone has caused grief, he has not grieved me, but all of you to some extent—not to be too severe.” 2 Corinthians 2:5 Instead of pouring out a tongue-lashing on those who caused Paul sorrow, Paul made it clear in a nicer way that it’s the whole body of Christ that is being hurt. One person’s actions against the Spirit of Christ are hurtful to all followers of Christ in the fellowship. That is how one or two who live by the mark of the beast mars the fellowship of Christians. When they do that, it is very hurtful, causes anguish, and much sorrow.
“This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow.” 2 Corinthians 2:6-7 The best thing for the followers of Christ to do when there is an agitator in the midst is to shun them. But don’t shun them to the point of being destructive. It’s important to show the love and grace given through Jesus Christ. Forgiving others prevents the roots of bitterness, grudges, and anger from sprouting forth. “Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.” 2 Corinthians 2:8
The Gospel of peace hinges on forgiveness which we need to be obedient to. “For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things.” 2 Corinthians 2:9 Paul’s instructions written to the Corinthians, in 1 Corinthians, would be a test of whether they were willing to listen to him. If they were willing to listen to him then they would be trusted to walk in the Spirit of Christ. Likewise, when the followers of Jesus are willing to live by the teachings in the Bible, then we find approval in the eyes of God.
“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ,” 2 Corinthians 2:10 Forgiveness in the Spirit of Christ is to embrace the Holy Spirit and to continue in the faith we have in God. In the presence of Christ, it’s necessary to agree with other members of the body of Christ concerning who forgiveness is directed towards.
“…lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 If there is the tiniest crack of unforgiveness, grudges, and bitterness in a Christian fellowship, Satan will use that to fracture and destroy the whole body of Christ. Those who govern by the mark of the beast have already scattered and separated Believers and erased the Gospel of Christ from the churches.
“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11
Spiritual Society in Jesus Christ 