In this daily Bible reading Paul told the Corinthian Church that they should forgive one of its members who they had seriously admonished for committing a significant sin. Evidently this person was having an affair with his step-mother.
When Paul learned this, he admonished the church to remove the person from the church. Paul said this person’s action would corrupt the church if he remained in the church. Paul then said regarding this person, “I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”
Evidently, the church did severely punish and shun this individual. After a long period of time, Paul became aware that the person was suffering excessively from his punishment. Paul told the church that they should now forgive and restore the person to fellowship with the church. Otherwise, the person would be overcome with excessive sorrow.
In a like manner, God punishes believers for their sins. However, He does not punish them to the point of destruction. God is a Father who chastises His children for their wrong-doing. This motivates them to stop doing wrong things.
God corrects those who He deems to be His children. His children are those who believe in Jesus Christ and are truly sorry for their sins.
The Bible says that God may not correct those who are not His children: These are those who refuse to believe and are unrepentant for their sinful life. God may give these people over to their sins.
They are on a very slippery slope to destruction. The Bible says, “The wages of sin is death.” Unrepentant sin may well lead to one’s physical and spiritual death.
