THOSE YOU CAN’T FORGIVE
As I wrote in the previous post, we are never allowed to withhold forgiveness from another person, especially considering the infinite weight of the debt of which God has forgiven us. We must always be willing to offer forgiveness to the person who has wronged us. But for “forgiveness” to truly take place, one part must offer forgiveness while another must request and receive it. Forgiveness is a two-way street.
HOW GOD FORGIVES US
The pattern for how we ought to approach forgiveness is found in God Himself (Lk 11:4). He offers forgiveness with the only requirement being our desire to be forgiven. So, a person is forgiven by God if, and only if, he or she has desired or sought forgiveness. Those who are unrepentant will never receive such a pardon. The whole point of forgiveness is the restoration of relationship. Forgiveness leads to two estranged or embattled parties being reinstated in a bond of peace.
Therefore, you or I cannot forgive someone until he or she has requested or received our offer. Every time the Bible commands us to forgive another person (Lk 17:3), or even when Jesus asks his Father to forgive others (Lk 23:34), it’s always conditioned upon repentance. Then, does this take away from our need to forgive? Not at all! As we’ve said, we are mandated by God to forgive. Our attitude should always be such that we are willing to forgive. Our hands should be stretched out in an offer to exonerate the person who has wronged us. And this willingness to forgive means that we lay down our right to get back at another person for the wrongs they’ve done to us.
To be continued . . . “How to love a jerk” & “A first step in loving our enemies.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Read the account of when Jesus was anointed by “a sinful woman” (Lk 7:36-48). How does Jesus’ statement at the end relate to how we approach forgiveness with those in our lives?
2. How do you suppose this event impacted the “sinful woman’s” life? How might she have been different after this interaction with Jesus?