Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Tuesday, September 01, 2009 7:05:20 PM
Many Christians are told that we should always forgive for our own sake; that is, unconditional forgiveness is the route to freedom. But the Bible teaches that forgiveness is conditional. Here is the argument for conditional forgiveness taken from the teaching on how God forgives…
Christians are called to forgive others as God forgave them [Matthew 6:12, Ephesians 4:32]. God forgives conditionally. He only forgives those who repent of their sins and turn to Him in saving faith [1 John 1:9, John 3:36]. In the same way we should offer forgiveness to all. We forgive those who repent. Indeed, we are obliged to forgive no matter how many times they repent [Luke 17:3-4], knowing that whatever someone has done to offend us pales in comparison to what we have done to offend God [Matthew 18:32-33].
Christians are not called to forgive over and above what God does. Rather, we should offer forgiveness to all, maintaining an attitude of forgiveness; as those who know mercy we should be ready to offer mercy. Biblical forgiveness is more than a feeling. It is something that happens between two parties, and it takes place in the fullest sense only when the offending party repents and the relationship is restored.
But we hear the objection, "Didn't Jesus forgive those who crucified Him, even as He was on the Cross?” [Luke 23:33-34] By praying for them, He demonstrated an attitude of forgiveness. He prayed that those who crucified him would experience forgiveness through the gospel means of personal repentance and faith.
Evil doers will turn in repentance and faith to Christ, in which case Jesus' work on the Cross is sufficient to atone. Or, they will face the unmitigated fury of God forever. Borrowing from the language of Jonathan Edwards, the unrepentant sinners in hell will wear out the sun in their agony and be no closer to the end.
Some might object that considering the judgment of those who have hurt us is wrong or unbiblical. But Christians in the Bible take comfort knowing that justice belongs to God and that He will repay [Romans 12:19, 2 Timothy 4:14-15, Revelation 6:10]. Indeed, it is when we realize what awaits unrepentant sinners that our hearts will begin to break for them. As Bonhoeffer said about the Nazis, "It is only when God's wrath and vengeance are hanging as grim realities over the heads of one's enemies that something of what it means to love and forgive them can touch our hearts."
What's the difference between offering forgiveness and giving forgiveness?
If we say that everyone is forgiven, then we redefine forgiveness as something less than its biblical meaning. Instead of being between two parties, as it is when God forgives us, forgiveness becomes something that we decide to do on our own, independent of the one who has brought offense.
Bitterness and isolation can be associated with this automatic, one-party forgiveness given for every offense, whereas, conditional forgiveness centers on the Cross. It offers the Gospel to all, recognizes that because of Christ any offender can be forgiven, believes that all relationships can be redeemed, and rests knowing that justice will be served.
[credits: Chris Brauns]
http://www.reformation21.org/articles/unpacking-forgiveness.php