Does God ever ask our forgiveness?

[Davy]

Forgiveness of others is at the heart of the Gospel, but not just forgiving those who run roughshod over us, but asking forgiveness when we (inadvertently) harm others. We know that God forgives those who sincerely repent of their transgressions, but does God ever need to ask our forgiveness for inadvertently harming us, which results from actions taken by God?

We are created in God’s image. If I am a reflection of Him, and I know He loves me, then it follows I should love Him. Also, because God loves all humanity unconditionally, it follows that I should love my neighbors, all of them. (Aside: how wonderful that the two Great Commandments can be derived from this singular verse in Genesis.)

So: since it would appear that God would not ask us to do anything He wouldn’t do, and since asking for forgiveness and forgiving others is a characteristic of loving others, it would seem God will in some fashion ask our forgiveness (make amends) when His actions inadvertently harming us us.

Are there examples in scripture? Zachariah 9:12—Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles. Job, Epilogue.

Others?
Blessings.

He wouldn't be GOD if He asked 'our' forgiveness. So your question is not Biblical, nor does it make sense.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Does God ever ask our forgiveness?

No. God never sinned so He has no need to ask anybody for forgiveness.

 

[Wrangler]

The title is asking if God ever has to ask us to forgive HIM

Yes!

And the answer seems to be: although not exactly that

No. That would imply God made a mistake, is at fault.

My thoughts EXACTLY @Ronald David Bruno!

The question is blasphemous for it violates James 4:11-12, implying that we have the authority to not only judge our neighbors but to judge our Creator.

 

[Bob]

My thoughts EXACTLY @Ronald David Bruno!

The question is blasphemous for it violates James 4:11-12, implying that we have the authority to not only judge our neighbors but to judge our Creator.

Thank you (and all others) for responding, but you are missing the point.

From the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses . . . .

Thus, If I inadvertently hurt someone, I must still take responsibility and make amends.

Does God make amends when He takes action but there is collateral damage?

Here is Zachariah 9:12—Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.

Job 42:
10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.

Peace.

 

[Wrangler]

Thank you (and all others) for responding, but you are missing the point.

From the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses . . . .

Thus, If I inadvertently hurt someone, I must still take responsibility and make amends.

Does God make amends when He takes action but there is collateral damage?

You are missing the point! Collateral damage is not a mistake; it's the cost of making things right. Stop being so feminized! Just because your feelings are hurt doesn't mean that I or God made a mistake. As the saying goes, you got to break a few eggs to make an omelette.

The fear! Oh, I better not make an omelette cause I don't want to break eggs. Oh, the firemen better not put water on the fire in my house, the collateral damage to the furniture might be the result. Oh, I better not make things right cause there might be collateral damage ...

The god complex you must have! The out of control ego to suppose sin you choose, and the collateral damage in correcting it puts the burden on the righteous to apologize to evil doers. What audacity! You don't have the humility that comes with being a Christ follower. Embrace James 4:11-12.

An let me say one other thing. We are not sovereign! We are God's creation for him to do with us as he pleases. No apology or explanation needed.

 

[Bob]

You are missing the point! Collateral damage is not a mistake; it's the cost of making things right. Stop being so feminized! Just because your feelings are hurt doesn't mean that I or God made a mistake. As the saying goes, you got to break a few eggs to make an omelette.

The fear! Oh, I better not make an omelette cause I don't want to break eggs. Oh, the firemen better not put water on the fire in my house, the collateral damage to the furniture might be the result. Oh, I better not make things right cause there might be collateral damage ...

The god complex you must have! The out of control ego to suppose sin you choose, and the collateral damage in correcting it puts the burden on the righteous to apologize to evil doers. What audacity! You don't have the humility that comes with being a Christ follower. Embrace James 4:11-12.

An let me say one other thing. We are not sovereign! We are God's creation for him to do with us as he pleases. No apology or explanation needed.

Thank you for the example of collateral damage from firefighters, whose purpose is to save an entire structure, albeit causing water damage in the process.

We do not expect firefighters to make amends when their job is over. Perhaps they just pack up their gear and leave. But we could expect a caring community to support those grieving their loss. And, we could expect an investigation into the fire’s causes, that future fires might be prevented.

There is collateral damage to humans from God’s actions daily—fires, storms, diseases, . . . , all part of His purposes for our world. His responses to our suffering, from time immemorial, have been at least twofold: first—to comfort, strengthen, and sustain the aggrieved; second—to help us understand the damaging phenomena and work to mitigate future damage. These have been His ways of making amends.

The Zachariah and Job passages are biblical examples.

Blessings.

 

[Wrangler]

His responses to our suffering, from time immemorial, have been at least twofold: first—to comfort

Totally untrue. He did not comfort Adam or those wiped out in Noah's time or those in Sodom and Gomorrah or those Midianite women who had sex (Numbers 31:17) or the Amalekite women, children and infants (1 Samuel 15:3).

You have embraced a feminized God. Not only have you created an IDOL of him comforting all the time, but do not fear him, supposing he owes us an apology for making right the evil we have done.

 

[Bob]

Totally untrue. He did not comfort Adam or those wiped out in Noah's time or those in Sodom and Gomorrah or those Midianite women who had sex (Numbers 31:17) or the Amalekite women, children and infants (1 Samuel 15:3).

You have embraced a feminized God. Not only have you created an IDOL of him comforting all the time, but do not fear him, supposing he owes us an apology for making right the evil we have done.

Ok, so He does not comfort unrepentant sinners (but loves them all the same, and will welcome them if they turn to Him sincerely).

The general assertion still stands: for those that love God and their neighbors, He will make amends for collateral damage. Will there be additional blessings (re Job)? Perhaps so, perhaps not.

Peace be with you.

 

[Wrangler]

Ok, so He does not comfort unrepentant sinners (but loves them all the same, and will welcome them if they turn to Him sincerely).

The general assertion still stands: for those that love God and their neighbors, He will make amends for collateral damage

Never read Hebrews 11? God doesn’t always make ‘amends’ is not the same as NEVER having done anything that needs amending.

You keep having to qualify your anti-Biblical assertion. Next, you’ll be relying on after-life ‘amends.’

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

Never read Hebrews 11? God doesn’t always make ‘amends’ is not the same as NEVER having done anything that needs amending.

God has never made any decisions that were mistakes that requires Him to make amends for any decisions He has ever made.

People need to understand God is perfect and is not capable of making mistakes or wrong decisions

 

[Fred J]

GOD would only ask forgiveness to HIMSELF that HE created man.

Genesis 6:
6. And it repented the LORD that HE had made man on the earth, and it grieved HIM at HIS heart.

Even to what happened to Job seemed like an innocent man caught between GOD and the devil, but to Job GOD is Just and Holy in what HE willed.

To serve GOD is to the point one must be ready to lay down one's life without questioning, and 'lukewarm' HE would 'spit out'.

Shalom in the name of Lord Jesus Christ

 

[Lambano]

Does God ever ask our forgiveness?​

I can't recall any place in the Bible where it is recorded that God asked anyone's forgiveness, but I can think of one place He does appeal to us that we be reconciled to Him. Reconciliation, the restoration of a broken relationship, is related to forgiveness.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20)

 

[SavedInHim]

He wouldn't be GOD if He asked 'our' forgiveness. So your question is not Biblical, nor does it make sense.

 

[Bob]

Never read Hebrews 11? God doesn’t always make ‘amends’ is not the same as NEVER having done anything that needs amending.

You keep having to qualify your anti-Biblical assertion. Next, you’ll be relying on after-life ‘amends.’

Thank you for engaging in a spirited discussion.

Hebrews 11 reminds us that God keeps His promises to the faithful. So: if I suffer from collateral damage as He carries out His purposes, I have faith that He will not only comfort, strengthen, and sustain me, He will also inspire me to search for the means to mitigate the consequences in the future, for myself and others. That is God making amends.

In browsing X today, He reminded me of Joel 2:25–
I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.

With love

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

GOD would only ask forgiveness to HIMSELF that HE created man.

OK so chapter and verse showing where He asked Himself to forgive Himself?

Your quote from Genesis 6 just shows that God changed His mind about creating man due to man walking with the devil and rejecting God.

That's not proof showing where He asked Himself to forgive Himself

If creating man was in error then that is claiming God made a mistake claiming He is not perfect.

Is this what you are claiming about the Father?

Even to what happened to Job seemed like an innocent man caught between GOD and the devil

No, God is the One Who put the hedge of protection around Job.

Job is the one who started walking in fear which broke down the hedge of protection.
Job caused his own problems, not God.

Carnal minded religion frequently claims God is the problem because they are being deceived by the devil who is activity seeking to deceive people in to believing God is the One causing or allowing evil to be in their lives.

Those believing such are ignorant of God's Word and are accusing God of wrong doing just like their daddy the devil.

 

[Fred J]

The saving Gospel for 'today' as taught by Christ through Paul is :-
Gal 1:11-12, 1 Cor 15:1-4, Eph 1:13
Where does that Gospel teach ANYTHING but faith/belief /trust in the death/burial/resurrection of Christ to be saved & sealed ?
""Are you concerned there are some people.....""
I believe that not forgiving is a sin as are many other things we do/don't do.
eg- failing to ""love your neighbor as yourself"", gluttony & more.

The Gospel according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and 'in context' with Paul's, overall as taught by Christ, isn't it the Gospel since then and until today?

To you and alike, there's Gospel of that day and there's Gospel of today taught by Christ?

You like others believing so are just 'deceived' by the devil.

The Gentiles from the beginning were already saved and discipled by the Gospel orally ministered and witnessed by the 12 Apostles.

From Israel the 11+1 were commissioned to bring the Gospel they were already discipled with Christ, henceforth to all nation, kindred and tongue or 'to the ends of the earth' or 'to all creatures'.

This is way before Paul became born again, ministered and witnessed his given Gospel way later, from Jerusalem to the surroundings and ending up in Rome.

These Gospels from the 13 Apostles are 'in context' to what Christ taught and discipled the 'church' or 'His body' furthermore until the ends of the earth.

Even today we Jews and Gentiles as the 'one body of Christ' were saved and discipled 'in context' with the Holy Bible (2Timothy3:16&17).

For the record, there's no way that Jesus throughout the 12 Apostles' ministry by the Holy Ghost in all nations, suddenly confused the Gentiles by giving them a new Gospel through Paul later.

Absurd and indeed Jesus Christ is an author of confusion and He conflicts with the scripture that says otherwise.

 

[Fred J]

OK so chapter and verse showing where He asked Himself to forgive Himself?

For example, am born again and by the Holy Ghost the 'image' of the FATHER and Son supposedly.

Therefore when something given a chance out of my hands does not succeed, i would regret it saying sorry to myself.

That i shouldn't have started it in the first place, since i only gave that thing a chance hoping it will succeed and not fail itself.

Apparently i don't have to say sorry to that thing since know it's flaw, i've only given it chance to succeed, not fail itsel and me.

But it failed on it's own miserably again and again, and as a result caused a 'chain reaction' of failures, in return making me ashamed for trying.

Nevertheless, i saved it once again and gave the new generation of things a new way to succeed, and succeed will some of them things in the end.

To conclude, my regret feeling sorry for myself in the first place for creating that thing, but in the end my forbearance and perseverance with that thing to succeed did pay off.

Your quote from Genesis 6 just shows that God changed His mind about creating man due to man walking with the devil and rejecting God.

What's the difference between 'regret' from mine and 'change HIS mind' from yours?

They are the same, that HE is imperfect and make mistakes in order to 'regret' or 'change HIS mind.

That's not proof showing where He asked Himself to forgive Himself

There is 'proof' as am born again in HIS image, and i do feel sorry for myself for trying to help you and others 'lacking' understand.

If creating man was in error then that is claiming God made a mistake claiming He is not perfect.

Creating man and everything on earth in six days and declaring them all as 'very good', is no 'error' nor 'mistake', nor 'imperfect' is HE.

But on the contrary, first man Adam sinned and so did His offspring after him, and continue did they involving the innocent.

Therefore have all fallen short of the Glory of GOD and imperfect they've become, not GOD who is good.

No, God is the One Who put the hedge of protection around Job.

And GOD himself removed that 'hedge' that HIS faithful servant Job shall be tested for his faith by the devil.

Didn't you know??

Job is the one who started walking in fear which broke down the hedge of protection.
Job caused his own problems, not God.

No!

False due to your 'shortsightedness'

Carnal minded religion frequently claims God is the problem because they are being deceived by the devil who is activity seeking to deceive people in to believing God is the One causing or allowing evil to be in their lives.

You're a 'babes in Christ'!

At GOD's will satan did what he wanted to do with Job, but he was not allow to take the life of Job.

Those believing such are ignorant of God's Word and are accusing God of wrong doing just like their daddy the devil.

That includes you too.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

To conclude, my regret feeling sorry for myself in the first place for creating that thing, but in the end my forbearance and perseverance with that thing to succeed did pay off.

And yet God never sinned and never made any mistakes.
The devil claimed He did, but the devil is a liar so the smart ones never believe what the devil says

They are the same, that HE is imperfect and make mistakes in order to 'regret' or 'change HIS mind.

Only the devil claims God is imperfect and made mistakes.
I'm not a devil guy, but I understand that some are.

There is 'proof' as am born again in HIS image, and i do feel sorry for myself for trying to help you and others 'lacking' understand.

Trying to help people understand satan's point of view where He claims God is imperfect and makes mistakes is not something I'm interested in being in agreement with.

I'm not a devil guy, but I understand that some are.

And GOD himself removed that 'hedge' that HIS faithful servant Job shall be tested for his faith by the devil.

Didn't you know??

Job tells us he was 'IN FEAR" which is sinful behavior which created an opening in the hedge of protection.

You weren't aware that being in fear is sinful and is giving place to the devil?

False due to your 'shortsightedness'

Feel free to deny the Truth found in God's Word and believe satan';s narrative that it was God's will for satan to attack Job and that satan works for God

The fearful will have their part in the lake of fire (Revelation 21:8)

Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind

At GOD's will satan did what he wanted to do with Job, but he was not allow to take the life of Job.

Ah yes here we have it.

The devil's point of view being putt forth as though it were Truth

That includes you too.

Actually I advocate for what God says in His Word

I do not advocate for the lies of the devil

 

[Fred J]

Ah yes here we have it.

The devil's point of view being putt forth as though it were Truth
View attachment 80445

'Ignorantly' you just called GOD the devil, since being haughty and wise in your own conceit, as a result that the picture symbolizes you.

Job 1:
12. And the LORD said unto satan, Behold, all that he(Job) hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Actually I advocate for what God says in His Word

I do not advocate for the lies of the devil

Look who's talking, it's like the pot called the kettle black.

You're 'babes in Christ' yet in 'milk', ignorant not knowing you're not to bring railing accusation against satan.

 

[Big Boy Johnson]

you just called GOD the devil

You are confused. Job was living in fear which is sinful behavior so Job was already in satan's hand and the devil was so slow he didn't even know.

All God did was set a limit on the devil forbidding him from killing Job. The devil had every right to attack Job because Job tells us plainly that he was in fear which is sinful and this is the reason God's hedge of protection was no longer available to protect Job.

Look who's talking, it's like the pot called the kettle black.

You're 'babes in Christ' yet in 'milk', ignorant not knowing you're not to bring railing accusation against satan.

Well milk boy we'll see who ends up where when it's all over.

Right now the old devil can slap you around at will be he can't do that to me.