Posted by Doug Showalter on February 27, 1998 at 06:02:14:
In Reply to: Re: Forgiveness and Justice posted by Caleb Hastings on February 21, 1998 at 19:04:59:
Dear Caleb,
Thanks for your kind words. You are the third person to raise the question about whether it is biblical to forgive the unrepentant. I strongly believe that it is biblical. For the points I make in that discussion, please see my messages [no. 15 ] and [no. 87] lower down on this message board, which are entitled: "Is it unbiblical to forgive the unrepentant?"
Here's an additional point to consider. In my view, our forgiving of other human beings on earth is not exactly the same thing as the forgiveness we receive from God or Jesus. I say that for this reason. Divine forgiveness always includes our being reconciled with God. However, human forgiveness does not necessarily include reconciliation [though we might wish it always did].
We can forgive those who hurt us--unilaterally. However, our forgiving them does not in itself also mean that we are reconciled with them. In my view, reconciliation is a two person act. It takes our forgiveness. But it also takes the repentance of the person who hurt us. And whether we forgive or not, we cannot control [as much as we might like to] whether or not that other person repents.
In other words: with humans, forgiving and reconciliation are two different--but not unrelated--things. Thus, it's possible for us to forgive without there being repentance.
However, in our relationship with God, forgiveness and reconciliation are inseparably joined together. Thus, repentance is always required.
I hope this is helpful. Best wishes,
Doug Showalter
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