Forgiveness comments

Interesting post, Jon, as always. Jon mentioned in his post;

"This would seem to agree with what Becky's saying, that forgiveness is available but only post-repentance. "

Correct me if i'm wrong, Becky, but I don't think that is what you were saying. I think you and I agreed that forgiveness is always available, repentance or not.. It is only 'obtained' post-repentance. And maybe that's what Jon meant but it was un-clear.

Jon mentioned something about forgiveing 7 times if your brother sins against you and repents. I think to make it clearer we must remember what Jesus said also about forgiving. Matthew 18:21-22 "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times." I believe what Jesus meant by that is "No Peter, not seven times, but unlimited times!! " As my pastor said in church once after reading that verse, "if you stopped to add that up, you missed the point". And the same for God, he will forgive us unlimited times when confess and forsake, as Jon mentioned.

Jon's last question on that post read; "If this man (forgive the gender assumption) doesn't come to me and repent, do I still need to forgive him? If so, for whose benefit, his or mine?"

Now I can't really speak for Jon, but if this were the case for me.. My reponse would be, that I am not directly responsible for that mans salvation,, BUT I do want to say the Lord's prayer each morning with a clear conscious and peace about what I am saying,, "Forgive me my sins as I have forgiven anyone who has sinned against me". I'd say it would be for my benefit. If our salvation depended on being forgiven by everyone we harmed or sinned against.... we'd be screwed. The only forgiveness that is eternally necessary, I believe, is God's.

"*-But that's Just One Man's Opinion-*"

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