2 Cor. 2:10-11, “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, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
Paraphrase of verse 11.
“Lest the adversary (Satan) should lit., “to seek to get more”, take advantage, or covetously attempt to steal more.”
More? More of what? Our life! Christ life in us. All the good things in Christ, Philemon 1:6. “More” could be anything Christ has given us through His death and life. The enemy in his evil nature, jealously and selfishness does not want you or me in Christ to have anything from Christ. I say, “Devil, demons and all unclean spirits, read Col. 2:15, Luke 8:31, James 2:19, 1 Cor. 15:55-57.” That’s enough scripture for now.
So, back to 2 Cor. 2:10-11, what really happens if I have unforgiveness in my heart towards whosoever? Apparently, it potentially gives the enemy a window of opportunity to gain an advantage in my walk with the Lord.
I saw today that if I hold a grudge against whosoever including myself and God then I am putting myself under my law in my heart. Whoever I have the animosity and resentment towards is not meeting my expectation of what I think they should do or be. Does it matter if they are knowing or ignorant of their offensive act towards me? It does if my self-imposed law contains a by-law. As I actively put myself under this self-imposed law based on unforgiveness I do something else. I enable self-strength in my life! Ah hah!, now we’re getting somewhere. If the enemy can get me into self-strength then I am destined for constant perpetual spiritual failure with no end.
What is the answer? Some say, “Well brother, you gotta forgive.” That is not complete truth and is not quickened in me when I hear it. If I listen to “I gotta forgive” then I will TRY to forgive based on my perception of forgiveness. Is this real forgiveness? I say No. Chapter and verse please?
1 Cor. 13:5 (NIV), “It (God’s Love) is not rude, it is not self‑seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”
Ephesians 4:31-32, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Real forgiveness forgives as Christ did based on revelation of Him by His word through His grace and not my perception. If I know His forgiveness by faith then I can forgive and release myself from my self-imposed law or old self by His power! This is so awesome. Reminds again of 1 Cor. 15:55-57. No self-help book can do this. Self-help books will actually give the enemy and book publishers more advantage and money. Pushing a million peanuts cannot do this. Only Christ in me and you can do this. This is His power in me. The power to truly forgive.
Eph. 2:13-16, “…Having abolished in his flesh the enmity…” Even self-imposed law can be enmity1.
Col. 1:14, “In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:”
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