~ A place to find answers to gnawing spiritual questions ~
Question: Are we supposed to forgive everyone of everything? If someone does not ask you for forgiveness, are we to forgive them anyway or are they to admit and ask for forgivenessAnswer: The most important principle regarding forgiveness, is that if we do not forgive others, we cannot receive forgiveness from God for our own offences. (See Matthew 6:12, 14-15; Mark 11:25-26; Matthew 18:21-35.)
If our brother sins against us we should confront him about it, and if he repents, we should forgive him (Luke 17:3-4). This means that a proper apology should bring a gracious, forgiving response toward the person who has offended us.
However, if a person does not repent, or ask for forgiveness, should we then forgive that person? The answer is yes.
Two examples should suffice:
When Jesus was being nailed to His cross, He prayed, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).
When Stephen was being stoned, he prayed, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" (Acts 7:60). Jesus, as well as Stephen, the first martyr, forgave their offenders immediately, before there was any record of repentance. Holding a grudge in our hearts, we cannot feel any confidence of receiving an answer to our prayers.
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This page was last updated January 7, 2009.
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