For a few sessions, we have been attempting to show that the Bible’s view on forgiveness is that it never applies to unrepentant people, and always applies to repentant people. This is supported by Scriptures that never once suggest forgiveness in relation to someone who is unrepentant, and specifically show God’s forgiveness extended to repentant people.[1]
We have also shown that when God tells his children how to deal with their bitterness, he never once tells them to forgive, but to transfer their faith from their sark (flesh) to the Spirit. The fruit of the Spirit does not include bitterness, so keeping in step with the Spirit will free us from that sarky trap no matter whether or not forgiveness is required.[2]
In this next consideration, we look at things that God clearly does tell us to do in relation to unrepentant people, including those we would consider our enemies, those who seek our harm, those who wish curses upon us, and those who perpetrate abuse against us. Never once is forgiveness the response.
However, the love, blessing, doing good and praying that is the will of God, comes from the life of Jesus Christ flowing into us and through us as a vine sending its life through the branches.
The point is simply that our freedom comes from expressing what Jesus is doing through us rather than responding to what people are doing to us. To whatever degree we struggle to put God’s will into practice, it will be a matter of abiding in our Lord Jesus Christ so that his life in us will enable us to bear much fruit to our Father’s glory.
© 2018 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
[1] Study 8 addresses the fact that God’s word never tells us to forgive unrepentant people. The reason for this focus is simply to direct us to what God’s word really does teach for our freedom in relation to unrepentant people. https://in2freedom.blogspot.ca/2018/03/staking-our-claim-on-freedom-in-christ.html
Study 9 focuses on the fact that any specific teachings about who to forgive only speak of repentant people. While we will have far fewer scenarios where someone comes to us in repentance than those who don’t, it is still a necessary quality of our freedom in Christ. https://in2freedom.blogspot.ca/2018/03/home-church-video-staking-our-claim-on_21.html
[2] Study 7 deals with freedom from bitterness and shows that the solution is not forgiveness, but dependence on the Holy Spirit: https://in2freedom.blogspot.ca/2018/03/home-church-video-staking-our-claim-on.html
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