Darryl's Blog
Is forgiveness conditional?
The topic of forgiveness keeps coming up. Is forgiveness conditional? In other words, should we wait for someone to confess before we forgive them? Or should we forgiven another person even if they don't repent?
In the next few days I'll list some arguments on both sides, suggest a definition of forgiveness, and then try to argue for the position I think makes the most sense. Feedback welcome.
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Is forgiveness conditional?.
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://www.dashhouse.com/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2250
I think it comes down to definitions. Where there is no repentance can we really use the word forgiveness? Or is it really being ready to forgive and releaseing ourslves from it?
God does not forgive sinners unless they repent.
I would like to suggest that God indeed forgives the sinner whether he/she repents or not. Stay with me here, don't get your knickers in a knot! Let me explain my reasoning:
On the cross, Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Whether He prayed that for the Romans who crucified Him, or the Pharisees who demanded His crucifixion, or for us beause we were (are) sinners in need of salvation, is immaterial. Did the Romans repent for crucifying Him? Did the religious Authorities repent for not believing in Him as The Messiah and for demanding His crucifixion? I don't see any of that in my Bible. Did God nevertheless hear and answer that prayer? I believe so.
I also believe that forgiveness IS conditional. NOT in the sense that we forgive others with conditions attached, - as in, "If he apologises, then I'll forgive him."
But, in the Lord's prayer in Matthew 6:12: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Some versions read, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”)
Luke 11:4 “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.”
Matthew 6: 14 - 15: For, if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But, if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses.”
Thus, God's forgiveness IS conditional upon our forgiveness of others.
Make sense?
Arthur:
Jesus did pray, "Father, forgive them..." but not all prayers are answered. Were those who crucified Jesus forgiven even if they didn't repent?
We'll return to some of these themes in a couple of days!
I disagree. ALL prayers ARE answered, but not necessarily the way we would like them to be.
Be that as it may, however. Are you telling me that Jesus, who was “God-made-flesh;” who only ever said and did those things His Father desired Him to say and do; who was the perfect embodiment of the God of Love, could not expect His Father to hear and answer His prayer in the affirmative? Sorry, THAT I find very hard to believe!
I believe those who crucified Jesus were indeed forgiven at that point. However, if they did not repent, then they are still to be held accountable for their actions.
Another point: Was Jesus’ sacrifice not for our future sins as much as it was for our past ones? In other words, does not His forgiveness extend to the sins we have not yet committed, and therefore have not yet repented of? According to my understanding, when we appear before Him at the Throne of Judgment, the sins we were not even aware that we had committed, (and hence had not repented of,) will never-the-less be forgiven and burned away. Thus, I believe, God’s forgiveness of us is only conditional upon whether we believe in and accept Jesus’ sacrifice for us, and our forgiveness of others.