Failing to Forgive is a Dart of Satan’s Designs - 2 Corinthians 1-3

 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 (ESV)

Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.

Paul wrote a letter to the church at Corinth that sternly chastised a young man who was living in an impure sexual relationship with his step-mother.    He claimed to be a believer in Christ and that brought shame to the church.  Paul wrote many things in that first letter that brought about correction.  Apparently this young man repented and now, in this letter to the church, Paul is telling them to forgive the young man.   In the context of the above two verses we read that the majority of the church did what Paul told them.  He told them to have no company with the young man.  Here are the words of Paul from the first letter:

1 Corinthians 5:9-12 (ESV)

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

Sexual impurity in the church was not to be tolerated.   But now that the young man had repented Paul wants to make sure they forgive him.   Why? Because the lack of forgiveness for an offense committed in the Body of Christ is a tool Satan uses to separate us.   This is such a powerful takeaway from this entire situation.    The young man sinned.  The young man failed to repent.  The church must practice discipline of the young man.  The young man repents.  The church must practice forgiveness of the young man.  If they fail to forgive, Satan will use this to cause great harm and division in the church.   We should know this about Satan. We are not to be ignorant of his devices and designs.   While telling the Ephesian church to put on the armor of God, Paul stated this about Satan and his designs:

Ephesians 6:16 (ESV)

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

By faith we forgive.  Our unwillingness to forgive is a fiery dart of Satan’s work.   We don’t wait until we feel like forgiving.  We take up the shield of faith and forgive by faith out of obedience to Christ.   That stops the designs and devices of Satan.   An unforgiving heart is a tool Satan uses to divide the church.