To forgive or not to forgive…

Through the years I have been chastised by various people for my views on forgiveness. My view is that forgiveness comes at a price and I stand by that statement. I do not just unconditionally forgive everyone who wrongs me. Many people have misquoted the Bible to me concerning forgiveness. They seem to think that no matter what someone does, that we should forgive them and keep forgiving them like a blank check.

The Bible is clear that we should have a forgiving spirit and it even goes on to say that if we do not forgive others their sins against us, God in heaven will not forgive our sins against Him. It goes on even further to point out that forgiveness is not limited to just one round either. In other words, we are instructed to forgive more than one offense against us.

Getting back to my opening paragraph, if I believe the foregoing, (and I do), what price accompanies forgiveness? Repentance! The Bible makes it clear that if a “brother” sins against us, that we are to “rebuke him” and “if he repents”, forgive him. Most people are not aware of this instruction authored by none other than Jesus Christ.

Think about God’s plan of forgiveness for humanity at large. God does not forgive anyone their sins merely because they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God or that indeed He died on a cross for our sins. Satan and all of the demonic hordes out of hell that he controls know all too well that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Bible states that they shudder at the sound of His holy name. They also know the truth concerning His death upon the cross and what it means to them and the terrible judgment that is soon to come. We must be sorry and regret our sins and repent of them in order to receive God’s forgiveness.

If God wants us to forgive everyone their sins unconditionally, then why would He withhold forgiveness from satan or anyone else for that matter? God’s forgiveness is conditional in that in addition to accepting who Jesus is upon faith, they must also “repent” or turn away from their sins. Fortunately His forgiveness is not limited. If we sin after God initially forgives us, and we ask for forgiveness and sincerely repent, God will forgive us. If we do not, we are damned

Does that mean that if someone wants forgiveness, they must repent before I forgive them, or they can just be damned. I do not think that is the right spirit either. I think when we “rebuke” them it probably means to point out that they have wronged us and try to “reason” with them. If they do not repent at that point,perhaps they will at another; otherwise i guess they can just be damned…

Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves. If
your brother sins against you, rebuke
him and if he repents, forgive
him.
And if he sins against you seven
times in a day, and seven times in a
day returns to you, saying, “I repent,
you shall forgive him.