OK, I’ve got an issue with what I consider to be a current misinterpretation of Christian instruction regarding forgiveness.
The new ideal I hear all the time centers on “Forgive, regardless of whether the offender is sorry.”
Although I’ll concede that it isn’t good to hold a grudge, for one’s own sake, I fail to see anything in Christian teaching that suggests forgiveness should come before reconciliation.
Does God forgive unrepentant sinner? No.
So being able to forgive is one thing, but forgiving an unrepentant person is another.
I’m reminded of Acts 23:3, before Paul realized he was addressing the new high priest. Also Jesus himself, declaring woe to many people.
I’ve often wondered about that. God doesn’t forgive us until we admit and agree with Him that we’ve sinned, we humble ourselves, confess, repent, and attempt to turn from that sin.
In most cases, it would not be hard for us to forgive another person if that person came to us, confessed, humbled themselves, and asked forgiveness. But all too often that does not happen. Heinous crimes are committed, and the offender sits in the courtroom all smirking and defiant. Must the victims still forgive him?
If Christians are required to forgive offenders who are not sorry and never ask forgiveness, (and most Christians would say they are,) then are humans held to a higher standard than God?
Then I think of cases like the Chattanooga victims’ families, and Amish people who forgive their children’s murderers. God must enable them to do it, I guess.
There are some Christians who believe that forgiveness goes hand-in-hand with repentance. And certainly, the unrepentant sinner will not inherit the kingdom of God. However, there is a difference in forgiveness between humans and eternal forgiveness between man and God.
I used to think the same way.
I suggest James MacDonald’s two part audio, or DVD series “Have The Funeral” that you can get online.
...or...
Part 1http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=have+the+funeral+macdonald&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=CC50B0EB206F5F4FDEFFCC50B0EB206F5F4FDEFF
Your question is specifically answered in video number 2 at the 11:15 point
...or a quick bible search...
EXCEPT for Luk 17:4, which has a “repet” requirement.
no conditions on forgiveness anywhere in the NT...
Hope this blesses you
j
~ Saul Alinsky, Rules for Radicals
There is no way someone can live up to every passage in the Bible, and the Left knows it.
OK, I’ve got an issue with what I consider to be a current misinterpretation of Christian instruction regarding forgiveness.
I have been married three times, a total of 51 years.
My first wife of nine years liked other men and I forgave because I was becoming to like other women, not really forgiveness just an agreement.
But still it is like the saying( don`t criticize another man until you walk a mile in his shoes )
My second wife of twenty one years was forgiving and was what I needed although I had no need to forgive her, she was great but I lacked .
My third wife of twenty one years just divorced me about six months ago, she told every one she could not forgive me.
For what? I really don`t know except that it amounts to me talking back, although I have forgiven her many times for things she did which I guess was unawareness.
Every one if they have the spirit of God in them wants to be forgiven but some times just can not or will not ask.
I would like to ask a few people for their forgiveness but it is humanly impossible.
Does God forgive unrepentant sinner? No.>>>>>>>>>
God can see the hearts and knows but we can not do that so I guess we just have to tell our selves we forgive, but do we really?
Yes I have lived one hell of a life, and need forgiveness more than any one so whether any one asks or not I forgive.
But it would make me feel more like a somebody if some one would ask.
We need to forgive the unrepentant as well. we are not God nor do we have His wisdom and discernment. By not forgiving all, even though they are not repentant we harm only ourselves.
However forgiving does not mean excusing the act, removing the consequences of the act, or saying what the other person did was not wrong It simply means you let go and let God deal with it.