This sermon explores the biblical process of moving from sin to restoration through repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation, grounded in 2 Corinthians 2:5–11 and referenced passages from 1 Corinthians 5. It emphasizes that sin—both personal and corporate—causes pain and disrupts the church, necessitating faithful church discipline as a mark of a true church, not as punishment but as a means to lead to repentance and spiritual recovery. The path to forgiveness begins with genuine repentance, which involves both turning from sin toward God and making amends with those wronged, as seen in the case of a man who committed incestuous immorality and the church's initial failure to act. The sermon highlights that discipline, though painful, is designed to produce godly sorrow that leads to salvation, not worldly grief that leads to death. Once repentance is evident, the church must move swiftly to forgive, comfort, and reaffirm love, restoring the individual not out of leniency but out of grace, so that Satan is not allowed to exploit division or unforgiveness. Ultimately, the entire process is not for human pride but for the glory of Christ, as the church becomes a living testimony of His grace, love, and power to redeem.
