Is Unforgiveness Ever Justified? (7 of 21)
Series: The Promise of a Sound Mind
Eddie Snipes
When the topic of forgiveness comes up, people often ask, "What if the other person refuses to apologize? Do I still have to forgive them?" Sometimes people wrong us but are not sorry. The Bible says if someone asks for forgiveness we must forgive, but what if they are not repentant?
This is a good question and is something every person will have to deal with throughout their life. I've touched on this a bit from my life's experience, but since letting go of wrongs can be difficult, we need to look at this question from a biblical perspective as well. When we stop and look at it from a wider perspective, I'm confident you'll see why it's necessary to forgive - period. We can't hold those who wrong us to a higher standard than we want to be held to. Jesus addressed this concept in Matthew 7:1-2
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
This is not saying we shouldn't use good judgment or evaluate right from wrong, but that we must judge based on the standard we are willing to stand upon. How many unconfessed sins have I committed in my life? Wrong thoughts, selfish motives, words of offense to others, or any number of other things. We are all guilty. Do we want to judge ourselves for our unconfessed transgressions? Do we want to live under the burden of the Old Covenant?
If I want to live under the law, I cannot experience the fullness of grace. Not only can I not measure up to God's standard by my own performance, I also cannot demand someone else to measure up to performance based righteousness. Can I expect to walk in the joy of God's grace while demanding others to fulfill the law? Is this not what God is addressing in Romans 2:1-8
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge anothe ...
Series: The Promise of a Sound Mind
Eddie Snipes
When the topic of forgiveness comes up, people often ask, "What if the other person refuses to apologize? Do I still have to forgive them?" Sometimes people wrong us but are not sorry. The Bible says if someone asks for forgiveness we must forgive, but what if they are not repentant?
This is a good question and is something every person will have to deal with throughout their life. I've touched on this a bit from my life's experience, but since letting go of wrongs can be difficult, we need to look at this question from a biblical perspective as well. When we stop and look at it from a wider perspective, I'm confident you'll see why it's necessary to forgive - period. We can't hold those who wrong us to a higher standard than we want to be held to. Jesus addressed this concept in Matthew 7:1-2
1 "Judge not, that you be not judged.
2 "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
This is not saying we shouldn't use good judgment or evaluate right from wrong, but that we must judge based on the standard we are willing to stand upon. How many unconfessed sins have I committed in my life? Wrong thoughts, selfish motives, words of offense to others, or any number of other things. We are all guilty. Do we want to judge ourselves for our unconfessed transgressions? Do we want to live under the burden of the Old Covenant?
If I want to live under the law, I cannot experience the fullness of grace. Not only can I not measure up to God's standard by my own performance, I also cannot demand someone else to measure up to performance based righteousness. Can I expect to walk in the joy of God's grace while demanding others to fulfill the law? Is this not what God is addressing in Romans 2:1-8
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge anothe ...
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