“Take heed to yourselves: if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”  (Luke 17)

Reader, We will share a truth about forgivenes with you that many understand not.  One cannot frogive another, lest the other seek one’s forgiveness.  To forgive with out repentance is to condone the trespass of the other and it is to be “holier” than God. For God does not forgive lest forgiveness is sought and the sin is confessed freely. This is not to say one is free to be bitter against someone that has trespassed against them.

One (1) may not be able to forgive another without the other desiring forgiveness through repentance and confession but one (1) is not allowed to hold a grudge and be bitter against said offender. The bitterness and grudge will negatively effect the hardened heart long before it ever effects the offender.

What should one do if the offender does not come seeking forgiveness? This goes against the world’s view, but the offendEd must go to the OffedER and point out the offendErs trespass, as often times the offeding party is ignorant to their trespass.  If the offendER repents, the offedED is obligated to God to forgive for God has forgiven far more and far greater offenses against Him. One (1) who withholds forgiveness from an offendER, God will withhold forgiveness from the one (1) withholding forgiveness. This means exactly what it says.

Some have struggled with forgiving another, but the question should be asked, has this person sought your forgiveness?  If not this is why you are struggling, you cannot forgive one (1) who is not repentant.  Howeveer, if someone has sought your forgiveness and you are withholding this forgiveness, you are in a bad place and you need to seek God’s grace and His forgiveness for this.

Forgiveness frees both parties.

Godspeed.