Charlie Garrett on Forgiveness

[PrisonerOfHope]

Do not go beyond what is written. 1 Corinthians 4:6



Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34



But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:7, 8



And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32



For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11



Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:60



Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The LORD look on it, and repay!” 2 Chronicles 24:22



If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. John 20:23



Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:12, 13



It is true that we were forgiven while yet sinners, but all men are condemned through Adam and all are sinners. However, we must actively confess Jesus Christ as Savior (Romans 10:9)for salvation to be effected or Universalism is the result and there is no condemnation, but eternal life for all. The difference between Jesus' words on the cross and what occurs daily in our lives is that most offenses are not unknown - however, they didn't know the Lord of glory as Paul said:



None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 1 Corinthians 2:8



Jesus Himself put forth our guidelines for forgiveness:



So watch yourselves.

"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him." Luke 17:3, 4



Each occurrence mandates the offender acknowledge his guilt prior to forgiveness; however, at that time we must by all standards provide that forgiveness. John confirms this applies even after the resurrection:



If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9



I have no problem with guilt concerning an actively abusive foe - whether it is an antagonist at work or Osama bin Laden. We are under no compulsion to forgive the unrepentant. Jesus' example in Revelation at His glorious return is the ultimate example of this



He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. Revelation 19:15



I went to bed last night and woke up about 2 and couldn't sleep contemplating this issue.



The Lord's prayer says:



Forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Luke 11:4



Again, this is a petition to God for forgiveness prior to the act. To assume we are to forgive without repentance on the part of the offender is to go above the example set by Christ himself. He provided forgiveness without regard to the offense, but only for those who ask for it. Thomas Aquinas postulated correctly that God is pure actuality with no potentiality. I would add that His forgiveness is pure potentiality with limited actuality - that of acceptance of Christ's Lordship and repentance. Only at this time, Jesus Christ forgives our sins; hence, the actualization of Romans 10:8 - But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.



It is to be the same for Christians - our forgiveness must be pure potentiality, meaning the complete forgiveness of offense upon request. However, the actuality is limited to the request.



Again, anything beyond this from a doctrinal standpoint is to say Christ's forgiveness is pure actuality and there is no need to believe that we are in a war with the spiritual forces, that Christ will judge the sins of men (again), and that Revelation is to be taken only allegorically - as something done at the cross. This however is not the case. Jesus Christ will come again with the full wrath of God to judge an unrepentant world. All of those people are people Christ died for while they were yet sinners, but they failed to accept the pardon.



It is no different for His people. We are to demonstrate the highest code of forgiveness - complete and without reservation when asked by another.