Should we forgive others who have not repented?
Community understanding on any question is invariably warped – so let’s reject it:
Instead, let’s always go to the truth God’s word!
| 1. We should certainly be forgiving others! |
So we certainly should be forgiving others! There is no doubt/dispute about that.
But should we forgive others if they have not repented?
| 2. How does God forgive? |
God requires repentance from all:
Without repentance, there is wrath:
With repentance, there is forgiveness (e.g., the prodigal son):
Even a Christian who sins must repent before they can be forgiven:
So: God does not forgive if there is no repentance: No U-turn, no mercy!
But what about Jesus’ prayer on the cross?
Similarly with Stephen’s prayer while being stoned:
- Were these people forgiven there and then without repentance?
| 3. No repentance = no forgiveness! |
We should forgive like God has forgiven us:
God forgives us after we repent and are baptised (recall point 2):
- That is the example we should follow when forgiving others.
- We should not forgive others if they have not
- e., No repentance = no forgiveness!
Repentance precedes forgiveness according to Jesus!
Think about it:
If forgiveness was to be granted before repentance, it would then make the process of church discipline a futile exercise
- Forgiveness, and thus reconciliation, is extended when the sinner repents, not before!
Too many today want to be seen as “forgiving” when no repentance is evident in the ones they are “forgiving”. But God doesn’t work that way, and neither should we.
Some believe today that it is a noble thing to do – something that will somehow help us – to forgive someone who remains unrepentant. But there is no biblical basis for that kind of thinking!
Should we forgive others who have not repented?
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- The answer is clearly No.
Sinners need to know that they are sinners and are lost until such time as they repent!