Subject: When is forgiveness not necessary? |
Bible Note: Hi Bill, A couple things in your post bother me as they are not consistent with scripture. 1. You said "IF we hope to get forgiveness for our sins, we MUST be just as willing to forgive others." I can only assume you meant this in it's absolute sense pertaining to salvation. We don't get forgiveness (of our sins) because we forgive others. it's not something we merit based on what WE do. Eph. 1:7 clearly states, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace". Our forgiveness is conditioned by being "in Him" through faith, and it is "according to the riches of His grace", not by what we do or don't do! You are not considering the analogy of faith in presenting your statement. Have you read and studied the book of Romans? 2. I take issue with your implication when you concluded with, "I'm afraid if you truly want to go to Heaven, it's very clear as to what we all must do." What is it we all must do to go to Heaven? Is it to order our behavior and perform some specific work? Or, is as scripture teaches, "that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life" [John 3:15]; or "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." [John 6:29] Rom. 10:9 unequivocably states, "that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;" (NASB) I hope this is what you meant to say. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |