forgiveness

[ludwig]

dear everybody
i have to ask this question
if God forgives everybody how come Jesus says that if you do not forgive our Father in heaven will not forgive you?

[Soldier4Christ]

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

[Jon-Marc]

dear everybody
i have to ask this question
if God forgives everybody how come Jesus says that if you do not forgive our Father in heaven will not forgive you?

A person who won't forgive others generally won't ask for forgiveness because (1( He doesn't believe he needs forgiveness (the most common), (2) He doesn't believe he deserves forgiveness, or (3) He doesn't believe he can be forgiven. Still, if he won't forgive others, why should God forgive him?

There's a story in the Bible about a man who is forgiven of a great debt to his master. He then goes out and demands payment by someone who owes him a small debt. The man can't pay and is thrown into prison by the unforgiving man. His master finds out about it and then casts him into prison.

[Eva]

I have been working on forgiveness.  Here is some of what I have learned.  I hope it will be of help to you.

Colossians 3:13 says, Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

Rom 12:19  Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

Matthew 6:14  For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: v. 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Although, God forgives (and even forgets) our past He will not tolerate blatant continued sin. Like the woman caught in the very act of adultery, in John 8  In verse 11 Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. 

Besides, often times when I am angry and upset with someone they have no clue, let alone do they care.

Forgiveness is a choice.  Forgiveness is a process.  While unforgiveness is sin because we can't walk in love and unforgivenss at the same time.

The hardest and most freeing lesson I have learned about forgiveness is that it doesn't mean assuming responsibility for another persons behavior.  Nor does it mean minimizing the offense or condoning the other person's behavior. For example, if someone proves to you they can't be trusted, you don't have to continue to trust them

I'm sure i will have more to share on the subject as I am a work in progress.

Thank you, Eva