Comments on: On Repentance and Forgiveness

By: Sadielouwho

Sadielouwho — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 15:43:18 +0000

Thanks for helping me log on!
I wanted to say that this So, let’s assume a husband is unfaithful. If he is repentant, I believe he should be forgiven. But that specific sin has multiple dimensions of repentance that will need to be addressed over time, and likely in counseling, before the forgiveness “flows” into every aspect of that relationship and cleans away the poison and the wreckage.

Is exactly how it works. To be perfectly honest with a bunch of strangers, I had an internet flirting problem. While I was unfaithful, in a physical sense, my husband felt just as betrayed on an emotional level.
He forgave me, but the trust in the marriage took years. We had a good Christian councelor because frankly, we needed moderation.
Thank you for this post–it was valuable to have some forgiveness issue reaffirmed.

By: sshields

sshields — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 04:41:09 +0000

michael, i just loved the picture connected with your topic. it meant a lot to me. thank you for this gift.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 03:10:56 +0000

This post addresses a topic I’ve wondered about, and you clear up the matter very well. Forgiving others is essential for our relationship with God – and our forgiveness, regardless of the repentance of those who’ve wronged us, is necessary all by itself. Our relationship with other people is another matter: we begin with forgiveness, but without their repentance we may not be able to restore the relationship on our own. Taking that first step is up to us, though.

By: One_SalientOversight

One_SalientOversight — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:17:22 +0000

We are called to love our enemies, but not on the precondition that they become our friends.

We are called upon to turn the other cheek, but not on the precondition that the slapper repent.

For God, forgiveness and repentance are two sides of the same coin the God flipped. He forgives us, and he has caused us to repent by the inworking of his Holy Spirit (monergism related).

We have no ability to affect the souls of other people – we can’t indwell them and make them repent. But we are to forgive – and forgiveness does not require repentance on our part.

But, I am sure, it does require us to call for a person to repent.

By: thechurchgeek

thechurchgeek — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:51:25 +0000

William Willimon in his excellent book “Thank God It’s Friday; Encountering the Seven Last Words” makes the argument based on Jesus words from the cross “Forgive them for they know not what they do” that forgiveness from God ALWAYS comes before repentance; before we even are aware that we need forgiveness.

So, why should it be any different for our extension of forgiveness to others???

By: Pastor Rod

Pastor Rod — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 17:09:59 +0000

Michael, Have you read Volf's book, Free of Charge? I found it quite helpful on this topic. Here are a couple of quotations: "When we need to forgive, most of us, perhaps unconsciously, feel entitled to draw a circle around the scope of forgiveness. We should forgive some, maybe even most, wrongdoings, but certainly not all." Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge, p. 178 "Repentance is important, even indispensable, and it is indispensable because forgiveness is an event between people, not just an individual’s change of feelings, attitudes, or actions. Instead of being a condition of forgiveness, however, repentance is its necessary consequence." Miroslav Volf, Free of Charge, p. 183 Rod