14, 15. Under what type of circumstances may our attitude toward Jehovah’s forgiveness be tested?

¹⁴ What if a brother who sinned gravely was unrepentant and had to be expelled from the congregation? Such a thing occurred back in the first century; Christians who became unrepentant sinners had to be disfellowshipped. If that happened while Jesus’ apostles were still present, it is not surprising that it occasionally happens today. In such cases, loyal ones in the congregation accept the Bible’s direction not to associate with someone who has been expelled. Their loyalty to Jehovah may help the wrongdoer to see the seriousness of his wrong course, and he may be moved to repent. We read in the Bible that a man in Corinth who was expelled did later repent and turn around, and he was reinstated. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 2 Corinthians 2:5-8) When that happens today, how do you feel, and how can you show your interest in others’ gaining life?

In the case of the reinstated Corinthian man mentioned earlier, Paul exhorted the congregation to forgive and encourage him, letting him know that they really loved him: “This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man, so that . . . you should kindly forgive and comfort him, that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad. Therefore I exhort you to confirm your love for him.” (2 Corinthians 2:6-8)