Your Excuse For Not Forgiving Others Was Destroyed By God

Here is a question from a blog post I read from Got Questions?.org, on 8/19/11, concerning Christians being required to forgive people even when they were not asked or apologized to by the offending party.
"Since God does not forgive until a person confesses/repents, does that mean we can withhold forgiveness from those who sin against us until they confess/repent?"

In my time as a minister I can remember many people who have confided in me with the problem of not being able to forgive someone who had done a great emotional, physical or criminal wrong to them.
How or why should a Christian forgive when a violator performs a crime with intent to harm, when the offender perpetrates physically, emotionally or financially against you or an innocent loved one. Today hateful persons purposefully harm us with violence and abuse too horrible to speak of. Today it is common to hear about premeditated financial fraud when often family savings and or retirement plans are left in ruins. These actions do not cause us to turn to forgiveness. Our human reaction is for retribution and revenge. We are left shattered.

The article I read in GotQuestions.org said that God was not required to forgive humanity. God has never been the offender. Grace is God's charitable act of love and mercy applied to us they is totally unearned or deserved. God through Jesus Christ's act of atonement for our sins on the cross, and drawing us through the Holy Spirt calls us to repent and to believe the gospel. Mark 1:15(ESV) "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel." Our King Jesus, who was resurrected in victory over sin, death, Hell and the grave gives us a command. He is no figure head King. He is The King over all by decree of His Father. Our real King gives us, His subjects, a very real command REPENT! Turn from sins in humbleness and turn to Jesus Christ our King for forgiveness.

But what about when we are so wronged, or a loved one of ours is grievously wronged?
Does the offending party have to repent and ask for forgiveness in order for a Christian to forgive the offending party?

This is a hard answer, but the answer is FORGIVE. In what we call "The Lord's Prayer" or "Model Prayer" given to the Disciples by Jesus Christ we are taught
"and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." in Matthew 6:12 (ESV).

We scream out "HOW DO WE FORGIVE LORD? DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE DONE?" John 13:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)

Yes, He knows what they have done.

Then Jesus with hands, that were soon to be pierced by Roman spikes, took a towel, knowing fully His mission was soon to be completed on Golgotha or "Skull Hill" with His life laid down, a ransom, for many, and he then washed all of His Disciples feet.
John 13:1-5 (ESV) "1Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him."

YES, JESUS WASHED JUDAS' FEET. In His full knowledge, that He being the perfect Lamb who knew no sin, The Son of God, knowing the heart of his men, even Judas, Jesus used His soon to be scarred for eternity hands and feet, to walk over and wash Judas's feet, in total love.

1 Corinthians 7:22-24(ESV) "22For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God."

You can not forgive from your own goodness, you do not have the ability. We have a Master and King. When you give yourself as a a slave and subject, this King will give you freedom.



Hallelujah what a Savior!

In Christ Alone!

Fletcher