Results 1 - 2 of 2
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Can we not ask God to forgive another? | John | Aixen7z4 | 150988 | ||
My Brother Hank: It is easy to say, “You are wrong”. It is more difficult, but more rewarding, to try to understand why the person says what he’s said. Usually, there is some kernel of truth in it. Your scenario leaves us with only one option: Forgive, forgive, forgive. Is that what you would do to the man who punches you repeatedly? Jesus gives us another option: help him to the point of repentance. Thus, we do not simply forgive the brother who is living in sin. There are steps that we take (See 1 Corinthians 5). We cause him sorrow, not by insulting him or threatening him, but by entreating him, by withdrawing fellowship from him if he does not respond. If he repents you forgive him. If he does not repent, you disfellowship him. That loss of fellowship with God’s people will eat at one of God’s people. It is reflecting a lack of fellowship with God. That will cause sorrow, godly sorrow, and repentance, and restoration. I am afraid that unconditional forgiveness, if there is such a thing, will not accomplish that goal. God knows that the constant offer of such forgiveness often fails to accomplish that goal. For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Isaiah 30:15). But God does not change his requirement. God still commands all men everywhere to repent. And he tells us in Luke 17 to require it. But why do we assume that a passage with additional information must be diluted because another passage does not have the information? God says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10). He does not tell us there that they must repent, but don’t we know it? Don’t we have that information in other passages? We do not go for the least common denominator. We add the factors. We do not discard the additional information. We add it. Matthew 18 does not tell us that the brother must repent, but Luke 17 does. 1 Corinthians 5 does. Luke 13 does. Ezekiel 33 does. Do we then delete the requirement of repentance from Luke 17, or do we add it to Matthew 18? It seems to me (and I do not use that phrase to disregard the forum guidelines but to avoid any appearance of evil arrogance and dogmatism) it seems to me that forgiveness has no meaning without repentance. God requires it of us, and he asks us to look for it in others. If there could be restoration without repentance then I suppose anyone could be granted a place in heaven. But Jesus linked the two when he said, “repentance and remission of sins” should be preached in his name (Luke 24:47). God loves the world, and he is not willing that any should perish. But “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish”. Without repentance from the offending person, forgiveness is not possible. You may wink at a person’s transgression, and you may overlook it. But that is not my understanding of what the word Forgiveness means. Forgiveness is a relieving of the person of his sense of guilt and culpability. If he has no such sense, then you cannot relieve him of it. There may be consequences that he does not have to pay, but that fellowship will not be restored in the absence of repentance. If you “forgive” a person who has not repented, then you have done him no favor. You may have relieved yourself of a burden, but you have not helped the brother. Why does God require repentance? Why does he insist of it? My words are ended now, but I trust we can think on it. |
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2 | Can we not ask God to forgive another? | John | Hank | 150992 | ||
My dear Aixen: May be exit this thread in agreement that forgiveness is not only necessary but made possible through God's enablement. May we also take our leave of this thread with these words of our Lord upon our lips and inculated upon our hearts, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." -- from Luke 6:27:28. ..... Now that is what I'd call forgiveness in action -- action that speaks louder than words! --Hank | ||||||