Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | forgiveness | Matt 18:1 | rabban | 191351 | ||
The first thing to note about forgiveness from our point of view is that we can only forgive an offence against ourselves (even if it is sometimes indirect). I cannot forgive someone who offends against society or another. Only society as a whole or that other can do that. Thus due punishment may be required in that case. Having established that there are different levels of forgiveness. There is the total forgiveness that I should give to the one who has come to me saying 'I am sorry, and will not do it again' and means it. For such a person my forgiveness should mean that I reinstate them into the same position as if they had never sinned. That is the forgiveness that Jesus had mainly in mind in the Lord's prayer. It is the forgiveness that God gives us. He treats us as though we had never sinned. Then there is the lesser forgiveness that I give to those who have sinned against me but have not repented. I seek not to be bitter against them and to show a Christlike spirit towards them, but I have to take into account their previous behaviour. This would seem to be the situation in your case. Forgiveness does not mean being foolish. Sometimes you have to forgive from behind a protecting wall. Thus with a violent husband or wife forgiveness does not mean making yourself open to further abuse. You have no responsibility to do that. Unless there is a dramatic change e.g. through Christian conversion, a wife or husband beater will remain a wife or husband beater. But for your own sake it is good to be rid of any bitterness that may be in your heart, and to wish them well and pray for them. Nor does forgiveness mean that you should forego justified compensation. It simply means revealing Christlikeness towards them in your general attitude towards them, while keeping them out of your life. |
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2 | forgiveness | Matt 18:1 | Parable | 191356 | ||
I do not recognize the "levels" of forgiveness that you have described as being fundamentally different, because all require the person to let go of their right to justice for the wrongs that were committed against them. Perhaps I need to clarify that a right is another way of saying entitlement. I can demand an entitlement, but with forgiveness, by grace I release my claim on that. This doesn't mean I act foolishly or irresponsibly. | ||||||
3 | forgiveness | Matt 18:1 | rabban | 191366 | ||
You say that you do not recognise the difference between the two levels of forgiveness, the one where someone has repented, the other where they have not? I would have thought that the difference was huge. Central to the forgiveness that Jesus describes in Luke 17.3-4 (compare Matthew 18.21-35) where a brother or sister has said 'I repent' is that the person is reinstated in the position that he or she was in before they sinned. We are saying with God, 'their sins and iniquities I will remember no more' (Hebrews 8.12 and Parallels). We are to treat them as though they had never sinned. They are a repentant brother or sister. Full trust must be restored. But in the case of the person who has not repented, while I will show full love to them (Matthew 5.42-48)I will not show full trust. I cannot trust someone who is likely to do it again. I am not sure that forgiveness necessarily means foregoing a right to justice. I can forgive and still seek justice. What I cannot do is forgive and seek vengeance. The two are incompatible. 'Vengeance is mine' says the Lord. 'I will repay' (Romans 12.19; Hebrews 10.30). |
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4 | forgiveness | Matt 18:1 | Parable | 191374 | ||
I don't disagree with the differences you describe, but those are not related to the quality of the forgiveness, but rather are consequences of the decision by the transgressor not to seek that forgiveness. Forgiveness is unilateral and not dependent upon anything done or not done by the transgressor. As I said in another post, forgiving does not necessarily imply not seeking justice, but rather releasing one's claim of entitlement to it. I agree completely that vengeance is contrary to forgiveness, for vengeance is driven by the idea that vengeance belongs to onself, and clearly it belongs only to God. |
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