Repentance and forgiveness
- Thread starter elysian
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aspen
“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
I think our repentance is necessary for us to feel and know God's forgiveness. If our repentance was actually required, we would be in charge of gaining our forgiveness - 'press the button and get a cookie'.
If we are not truly able to repent of our sin, our guilt from our sin turns to shame, which further isolates us from all relationships, including the relationship with our selves.
So, to answer your question - no. Other people's repentance is not necessary for us to forgive them. But our forgiveness of them is necessary for our own salvation.
If we are not truly able to repent of our sin, our guilt from our sin turns to shame, which further isolates us from all relationships, including the relationship with our selves.
So, to answer your question - no. Other people's repentance is not necessary for us to forgive them. But our forgiveness of them is necessary for our own salvation.
This is the truth, aspen.
Elysian, it is not necessary to wait for repentance to forgive, as it is not always going to come from the ones who have hurt us. Forgiveness on our part is for us and for our well-being in all areas: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. God says that if we do not forgive we will not be forgiven. On occasions where it is most difficult and the sin against us is egregious, we can still do it when we ask the Lord Jesus to help us. With Him all things are completely possible.
No, we are to forgive right away because the command to forgive comes from God and should not depend upon whether or not the person repents. They may feel that there is nothing to repent for. Unforgiveness is a sin and is too high of a price to pay for wanting to be right.
I see two aspects to this. An attitude of forgiveness is always good. However, formal forgiveness of another's wrong is dependent upon their repentance.
“Be concerned about yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times he returns to you saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Luke 17:3-4
aspen
“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
I do not think Luke 17:3-4 is an exclusive rule on forgiveness.
Seems to me, if we waited for people to come to us in repentance before we gave forgiveness, we would be waiting a long time. We would also be missing the blessing of forgiving others, a lot.
Seems to me, if we waited for people to come to us in repentance before we gave forgiveness, we would be waiting a long time. We would also be missing the blessing of forgiving others, a lot.
Is it ok to forgive and then avoid those we've forgiven (because, as unrepentant ppl, they are up to the same old tricks).
aspen
“"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few
Forgiving someone does not mean you have to trust them - they have to earn your trust again. Forgiveness doesn't mean that the relationship is necessarily mended.
I don't think we necessarily have to go around avoiding people who have wronged us but we can choose to not have them in our circle of those we trust.
If I am to forgive when someone does not want or care about my forgiveness, is this an act of charity; or lunacy? Does God forgive people without repentance? Are we greater than God? God is always available for forgiveness upon repentance, and so should we likewise be. If we offer people something that God Himself does not offer, we are not following God’s example. We are in fact saying, “God may not forgive you, but I will…”
It is easy to fall into the trap of designating Christian formulas based on perceived logic or perceived goodness. This is sometimes contrary to God’s way. If we are confused about what God meant on a certain subject, the answer is often explained by looking at God’s example. God demonstrates to us in His actions exactly the same as what He tells us in His words. The two must and do marry up. We are not involved in a democratically elected faith… we belong to a Theocracy where God rules everything; our beliefs, our behaviour, our ideas. Offering our own opinions is sometimes at the expense of contradicting God. Paul offered his own opinion (Gal 5:2; 1 Cor 7:12, 25); but he did not contradict the teachings or actions of God. When we offer our own opinions we also need to be careful that we do not contradict the teachings or actions of God.
“Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.” (1 Cor 7:25)
God Bless
Steve
It is easy to fall into the trap of designating Christian formulas based on perceived logic or perceived goodness. This is sometimes contrary to God’s way. If we are confused about what God meant on a certain subject, the answer is often explained by looking at God’s example. God demonstrates to us in His actions exactly the same as what He tells us in His words. The two must and do marry up. We are not involved in a democratically elected faith… we belong to a Theocracy where God rules everything; our beliefs, our behaviour, our ideas. Offering our own opinions is sometimes at the expense of contradicting God. Paul offered his own opinion (Gal 5:2; 1 Cor 7:12, 25); but he did not contradict the teachings or actions of God. When we offer our own opinions we also need to be careful that we do not contradict the teachings or actions of God.
“Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.” (1 Cor 7:25)
God Bless
Steve
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