The Theological Basis for Forgiveness

[swaimj]

Thanks DHK, I think this verse that you cited is a key one:

On the other hand when a Christian's forgiveness for others is directed to God it may be unconditional, such as Stephen's was. Stephen asked God: Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.

This cry by Stephen is very similar to Jesus request to the Father while being nailed to the cross: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do". Neither Jesus nor Stephen could grant forgiveness to a person who was in the act of sinning and was totally unrepentant. What they could do is release their persecuters to God's soveriegn control with a prayer to God that he would forgive them. I think that the family who loses a loved one to a murderer, in the same way, cannot grant forgiveness to the murderer, but can release the murderer to God's sovereign control with a prayer that God will forgive that person by working in their life to bring them to repentance. We also have confidence that God will meet out justice to those who do not repent. And God will wipe away every tear from the believer's eye. In the case of Jesus, we know that God did work in the lives of some who crucified Jesus and he brought them to repentance as recorded in the book of Acts.

 

[Aaron]

But what about the person on whom God does not shower his mercy? If God does not forgive this person, what is the theological rationale for the believer to forgive this person?

You're defining forgiveness as the bare act of releasing from punishment.

First, you cannot forgive sin. You can only forgive trespasses, the injuries that you have suffered. (They're different. There was a sin offering and a trespass offering.)

But forgiveness is more than that. Forgiveness must be from the heart, which means that you bear no ill will nor resentment against another—more than that—it means you must love him (which is not limited to, but includes affectionate feeling.)

I thought you were asking the theological basis (or why) of the forgiveness we're commanded to exercise, not the nuts and bolts of the conditions that must exist before you're required to spare a malefactor justice.

 

[swaimj]

You're defining forgiveness as the bare act of releasing from punishment.

On what statement that I have made do you base this conclusion?

First, you cannot forgive sin. You can only forgive trespasses, the injuries that you have suffered. (They're different. There was a sin offering and a trespass offering.)

My question on this thread is, can a saved person forgive an unsaved person? Is this quote your answer?

But forgiveness is more than that. Forgiveness must be from the heart, which means that you bear no ill will nor resentment against another—more than that—it means you must love him (which is not limited to, but includes affectionate feeling.)

I don't see how this statement answers the topic of the thread. I don't see how it is relevant to the discussion. Perhaps you can clarify.

I thought you were asking the theological basis (or why) of the forgiveness we're commanded to exercise, not the nuts and bolts of the conditions that must exist before you're required to spare a malefactor justice.

Aaron, here is what I am addressing, as found in a question I asked you earlier: But what about the person on whom God does not shower his mercy? If God does not forgive this person, what is the theological rationale for the believer to forgive this person? This is the question. This is the topic of this thread.

Could you attempt to answer this question? It is the topic of the thread. I don't know why you want to post on this thread, but do not want to address the topic of the thread.

 

[Lux et veritas]

On the matter of forgiving an unsaved person, we must not forget that we cannot forgive the sin in the judicial sense that God forgives a repenting sinner, but we can forgive the act of injury toward us. But I do not see where there can be forgiveness without repentance.

It is possible - in fact necessary - to distinguish between forgiving and grudge bearing. I must not hold a grudge against one who has offended me, but I cannot "forgive" until there is repentance on their part.

 

[swaimj]

Thanks Lux, I agree with your post and I think you have made some key distinctions.

 

[Johnv]

It would help if we understood what scriptural forgiveness is. Both Christians and nonchristians use the word so freely and casually that they have no idea what it means.

Scripural forgiveness does not require a victim to hold blameless his/her transgressors. For example, a victim of child molestation is not required to hold blameless his/her molester, or a victim of spousal abuse to hold blameless his/her abusing spouse. In fact, doing so often leads to enabling the transgressor of greater or continued transgressions.

Rather, scriptural forgiveness calls us to let go of the control which a transgressor has over us, due to his/her transgressions. For example, if I loan my brother money, and he refuses to pay it back, I will forgive his debt rather than let it ruin our relationship. However, I will never loan him money again. This is evidenced in Jesus' words to the adulterous woman, who is first told she is not condemned, but is also admonished to go and sin no more. Without the "sin no more" part, the "neither do I condemn you" part is worthless.

So, the answer of "the theological basis for forgiveness" is to release the stranglehold that condemning a person has on you, but to also put yourself in a position where that person will not be able to sin against you in the fuure.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Along with that is the idea that if you forgive someone you must immediately trust that person. Forgiveness is given. Trust is earned.