“Sucker Punches From The Devil”



“Sucker Punches From The Devil”

Text: 2 Corinthians 2:11

INTRO: This verse should remind the believer that we are not above the attacks from Satan. Paul is writing to the believers in Corinth concerning the fact of dealing with an offending brother (1 Cor 5:1). This had grieved Paul but it had also grieved the Corinthian church as well. This man had to be put out of the church. Paul however wrote to them and encouraged them to show forgiveness towards the offender in spite of possible hardness shown towards the man’s sin. We must forgive likewise to those who do us wrong. When one member suffers, we all do (1 Cor 12:12-27). We must not allow Satan to get the advantage over us especially when it comes to matters of the church. If he can stop God’s people from doing what is right then we are in trouble.

[Thayer] νόημα

νόημα, νοηματος, τό, from Homer down; 1. a mental perception, thought. 2. specifically, (an evil) purpose: αἰχμαλωτίζειν πᾶν νόημα εἰς τήν ὑπακοήν τοῦ Χριστοῦ, to cause whoever is devising evil against Christ to desist from his purpose and submit himself to Christ (as Paul sets him forth), 2 Cor. 10:5; plural: 2 Cor. 2:11 (τοῦ διαβόλου, Ignatius ad Eph. (interpolated) 14; τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν πονηρᾶς, Baruch 2:8). 3. that which thinks, the mind: plural (where the minds of many are referred to), 2 Cor. 3:14; 4:4, and perhaps (2 Cor. 11:3); Phil. 4:7, for here the word may mean thoughts and purposes; (others would so take it also in all the examples cited under this head (cf. καύχημα, 2)).*

Verse 11. Lest Satan. The devil. The name Satan denotes an adversary, an accuser, an enemy. It is the usual proper name which is given to the devil, the great adversary of God and man.

Should get an advantage of us. The literal translation of the Greek would be, "That we may not be defrauded by Satan," ina mh pleonekthywmen upo tou satana. The verb here used denotes, to have more than another; then to gain, to take advantage of one, to defraud. And the idea is, that they should at once re-admit the penitent offender to their communion, lest, if they did not do it, Satan would take advantage of it to do injury to him and them. It is a reason given by Paul why they should lose no time in restoring him to the church. What the advantage was which Satan might gain, Paul does not specify. It might be this: That under pretence of duty, and seeking the purity of the church, Satan would tempt them to harsh measures; to needless severity of discipline; to an unkind and unforgiving spirit; and thus, at the same time, injure the cause of religion, and ruin him who had been the subject of discipline.

For we are not ignorant of his devices. We know his plans, his thoughts, his cunning, his skill. We are not ignorant of the great number of stratagems which he is constantly using to injure us, and to destroy the souls of men. He is full of wiles; and Paul had had abundant occasion to be acquainted with the means which he had used to defeat his plans, and to destroy the church. The church, at all times, has been subjected to the influence of those wiles, as well as individual Christians And the church, therefore, as well as individual Christians, should be constantly on its guard against those snares. Even the best and purest efforts of the church are often perverted, as in the case of administering discipline, to the worst results; and by the imprudence and want of wisdom--by the rashness or overheated zeal--by the pretensions to great purity and love of truth --and by a harsh, severe, censorious spirit, Satan often takes advantage of the Church, and advances his own dark and mischievous designs.

I. His Purpose Is To Deceive (Mat 24:4)

II. His Purpose Is To Distract (Gen 3:4-5)

III. His Purpose Is To Dilute (Rom 1:25)

IV. His Purpose Is To Destroy (John 10:10)

V. His Purpose Is To Discourage (1 Thess 2:18)

VI. His Purpose Is To Divide (John 9:16)

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