Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2025 Poal.co

767

I’ve wrestled with this for a while, just want to see what you guys think.

We’re commanded to forgive as God has forgiven. Ok, fair enough. Seems a simple concept at face value.

But when you really dig in, what does that mean?

Most Christians say that forgiveness is something you do, regardless of whether the offending party confesses, apologizes, or repents.

But then look at how God operates. He requires confession and repentance for forgiveness. Neither is optional.

So then, God holds us to a higher standard than even himself in this regard?

That doesn’t seem logical or reasonable to me. But hey, perhaps I’m wrong. I’m just thinking nakedly here.

I’ve also heard a pastor say that forgiving someone - regardless of a confession or apology - allows God to take up your case. The analogy being that in a court of law, it’s better to let the judge take up the case than to take it up yourself. Ok, I can see the logic in that, too.

But I’m still flummoxed by the idea that we are held to a higher standard than God holds for himself. Again, he requires confession and repentance for forgiveness.

I’ve wrestled with this for a while, just want to see what you guys think. We’re commanded to forgive as God has forgiven. Ok, fair enough. Seems a simple concept at face value. But when you really dig in, what does that mean? Most Christians say that forgiveness is something you do, regardless of whether the offending party confesses, apologizes, or repents. But then look at how God operates. He *requires* confession and repentance for forgiveness. Neither is optional. So then, God holds us to a higher standard than even himself in this regard? That doesn’t seem logical or reasonable to me. But hey, perhaps I’m wrong. I’m just thinking nakedly here. I’ve also heard a pastor say that forgiving someone - regardless of a confession or apology - allows God to take up your case. The analogy being that in a court of law, it’s better to let the judge take up the case than to take it up yourself. Ok, I can see the logic in that, too. But I’m still flummoxed by the idea that we are held to a higher standard than God holds for himself. Again, he *requires* confession and repentance for forgiveness.

(post is archived)

You are currently inside a comment thread.
Click here to see all the comments (38).
[–] • 0 pt (edited )

That's part of it. You must also confess your sins and repent of them. Repent doesn't mean saying "I'm sorry", either. The word actually means to turn in the opposite direction.

It clearly says, numerous times, in the bible that God only forgives the sins of those who confess them and repent of them.

Let's say you got saved last week, and then you murder someone this week for whatever reason. God still requires that you confess and repent of that sin. You're being saved is not a license to sin freely.

[–] [deleted] • 0 pt

got saved

What do you mean that God "requires" confession and repentance of post-salvation sin?

[–] • 0 pt

I mean exactly that. You still have to repent when you mess up even after being saved. If you and I disagree on that doctrine, then that's fine, but then it also explains the disconnect here.

Remember the Lord's prayer, for example.

"and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us"...

That's Jesus instructing the 12 most holy men on the planet (apart from himself) in how to pray. Part of that prayer is asking forgiveness for their sins. He didn't tell them "this is how you pray up until I die on the cross and rise again." He told them "this is how you pray".. which presumes that this is how you pray both before and after Jesus makes his sacrifice on your behalf.

Again, being saved isn't a license to sin. Yes, you can be forgiven of sins after salvation, but it is an ongoing process that lasts as long as we still sin.. and we all still sin, and will keep doing so, until the day we are perfected.

The whole process of sanctification is just that: a process... it happens from the moment you are saved until the moment you die. Your spirit is made new upon salvation, true. But your soul (mind, will, emotions) and flesh must be sanctified, which is work. "Take up your cross daily" is a direct reference to that work.