How do you interpret Jesus command to forgive? I know the Bible says we are to forgive seventy times seven if need be. I also know it says that we should not judge others because by that same standard we will be judged. It also says we are to love our enemies. However, the Bible also says that to receive God's forgiveness for our sins we need to repent of them. Does this mean that if someone has hurt us and continues to hurt us (emotionally) that even when the person is not sorry for what they are doing that we as Christians must still forgive them? On one hand I wish I could just do it but on the other, my own heart holds on to the hurt for as long as this other person seeks no forgiveness. And, is this person actually sinning agaist me or can someone sin only against God?
2007-02-22 08:28:15 · 12 answers · asked by Poohcat1 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You are to forgive, but that doesn't mean you have to keep letting the person hurt you. For example, if a man is beating his wife, she should forgive him (not hold on to her anger) but leave as well.
2007-02-22 08:37:34 · answer #1 · answered by 1,1,2,3,3,4, 5,5,6,6,6, 8,8,8,10 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it means that you should forgive them even if they do not repent.
You must forgive whenever it is applicable, there is no limit.
HOW to forgive?
It is EXTREMELY HARD to always truly forgive and it takes a very long time to even get close. Something things are just easier to forgive than others.
Nothing is wrong with holding on to hurt, that is not forgetting, although you still need to let go eventually. Forgiving doesn't mean you stop hurting, it just means to stop feeling angry or resentful about the actions.
When Jesus forgive the men who nailed him to the cross, he was still hurting both physically and emotionally but he no longer resented their actions.
2007-02-22 08:36:01 · answer #2 · answered by David M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forgive myself
2016-05-23 23:49:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's not an easy one. I've been in situations where people have hurt me repeatedly and I kept forgiving them and this went on for months and then I realised that forgiving them isn't enough. If they can't see what their actions are doing to you then you need to distance yourself from them for a while.
There is another way through this, although it is probably the tougher solution and that is to confront them about their behaviour and ask them to do something about it. You don't have to get in their face necessarily, maybe just a quiet chat over coffee, that's for you to decide.
As for sin, I can't answer whether they are sinning against anyone, their actions have a purpose in the grand scheme of things, even if you are unable to perceive it at this time.
2007-02-22 08:38:46 · answer #4 · answered by Taliesin Pen Beirdd 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, even if that other person continues to sin against you, you are to keep forgiving, no matter what. Just as God forgives you. If you allow the hurt to remain in you, you are denying God the chance to forgive you. One must let go of all past hurts and wrong doings done to them and forgive those who have done it even tho they do not seek forgiveness, you have forgiven them
2007-02-22 08:33:46 · answer #5 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, if someone has hurt you and continues to hurt you...and they are not sorry for it...you should forgive them.
Don't you see...you do recognize you are holding onto the hurt for as long as they do not repent...but why? You are only hurting yourself more...and therefore holding it against them more. We need to let it go. You are expending a great deal of energy to hold onto the emotional baggage. Make light your burden.
Forgiveness does not necessarily mean reconciliation...so you may decide to have nothing more to do with the one hurting you.
Jesus said forgive seventy times seven if need be...basically forgive continually. He did not say...wait till they repent.
Sin is only against God.
How...try reading an article of mine that was published a few years ago:
http://www.awaken2life.org/art1.html
~ Eric Putkonen
2007-02-22 08:48:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
God would never want you to be to continually hurt. Get out of that relationship. Then you can begin the process of forgivness to heal the hurt. Forgiveness is never just once and move on.. It is a continual process. You can forgive that person without them asking you. Forgivness is for your heart too
2007-02-22 08:38:29 · answer #7 · answered by bcooper_au 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Oh my friend, that is the question of life. If you are serious about finding an answer to this question, please read the book "The Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball. It will change your life. I'm serious, if you will promise to read it, I WILL SEND YOU MY COPY. blakehallock@gmail.com, don't be afraid to ask if you really are interested in reading it, email me and I would be happy to pass it along.
Make sure that along with forgiving this person, take steps to defend yourself. Be wise. Being a doormat is in no way part of forgiveness. Just act with wisdom and kindness.
Also, pray and ask for help from God in forgiving this person. He's pretty good at it you know.
2007-02-22 08:45:11 · answer #8 · answered by Blake H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many questions. There are three levels of forgiveness. 1) not to wish the other harm. (That level you should give to everyone, even those who are unrepentant. YHVH has no pleasure in the death of the wicked) 2) being willing to be friends again -- contingent on the other party being repentant. And 3) Where YHVH takes our sins and GIVES us His righteousness FOR them. (Obviously you cannot do that, so it isn't a real possibility). David, after committing adultery and murder, said against YHVH alone he had sinned (I still think he did Uriah wrong too) I think the point is that our transgressions against the Savior who died for us, (and never did us wrong) are more serious than our transgressions against each other.,
2007-02-22 08:37:45 · answer #9 · answered by hasse_john 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We need to learn the lesson of selfless love in order that we can always forgive and forget, because all of us need forgiveness due to our limited knowledge.
Usually, we only see the wrongs that other people do for us, and we don't see the wrongs we do for them. So, the lesson of selfless love requires us to examine ourselves everyday to correct our own faults and understand the same wrongs from other people. Without learning and training in this divine education, it seems impossible for any man to force himself to forgive.
This lesson of selfless love is continuously taught in the Holy Books of the successive Messengers of the One True God. These Books are now easily accessible for all humanity on the Internet.
2007-02-22 08:41:50 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋