Is there a time where forgiving stops?

[12ogue]

My pastor from a WHILE back (as in like 7 years), told us that God will stop forgiving once you hit this certain limit. He went through the passage where Jesus tells to forgive so-and-so times, and then do it again. But he reminded us that at some point, God will stop forgiving. What the heck? If this is true, I certainly went past God's forgiving chances. By like... ALOT, and running.

 

[Emmy]

Dear 12ogue. Jesus told us how very forgiving God is, if we ask sincerely, God will forgive us. I expect your pastor was making sure, that you were sincere, every time you asked God`s forgiveness. Perhaps he imagined you were taking it too lightly, that you thought I can do whatever I like, and just ask God`s forgiveness in a parrot-fashion, just empty promises to do better next time, and keep on doing wrong. Just remember that God can see our hearts, ogue, He will know whether you try doing better, or just repeating empty words. Jesus is our Leader, and we can believe Him. I say this humbly and with love. Greetings from Emmy, your sister in Christ.

 

[chosenpath]

He went through the passage where Jesus tells to forgive so-and-so times, quote]

The scripture I believe you are refering to is from Matthew 18.

Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

This scripture does not represnt how many times God will forgive us, but how many times we should forgive eachother. If we expect God to forgive our sins we must also do the same.
Jesus used this parable to explain.

Matthew 18:23-35
Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. "But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took [him] by the throat, saying, 'Pay me what you owe!' So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?' And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. "So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses."

So what happens if we follow the command to forgive and someone still sins against us? It is answered in both the OT and NT.

Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in [due] time; For the day of their calamity [is] at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.'

Romans 12:19
Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but [rather] give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance [is Mine, I will repay],"* says the Lord.

 

[solarwave]

If you ask for forgiveness you WILL be forgiven by God.

 

[ephraimanesti]

My pastor from a WHILE back (as in like 7 years), told us that God will stop forgiving once you hit this certain limit. He went through the passage where Jesus tells to forgive so-and-so times, and then do it again. But he reminded us that at some point, God will stop forgiving. What the heck? If this is true, I certainly went past God's forgiving chances. By like... ALOT, and running.

God's forgiveness is as infinite as His Love.

i understand the "By like . . . ALOT"

i don't understand the "and running" part. Are you saying that the Holy Spirit is allowing you to continue sinning or are you saying that you are not listening to His voice, or . . . ?

A BROTHER/FRIEND/BOND-SLAVE OF CHRIST,
ephraim

P.S. 7 years of change, yes? i hope your present pastor is a Christian.

 

[BereanTodd]

There is nothing you could do that the Lord could not or would not forgive if you would humbly come to him seeking forgiveness. That being said, a person who continually and habitually sins and ignores God often hardens their heart and sears their own conscience and this may make it more difficult for that person to realize or come to a knowledge of their need for forgiveness. In such cases it often takes great tragedy or difficulty in their lives before they actually search or seek for God.

 

[ephraimanesti]

There is nothing you could do that the Lord could not or would not forgive if you would humbly come to him seeking forgiveness. That being said, a person who continually and habitually sins and ignores God often hardens their heart and sears their own conscience and this may make it more difficult for that person to realize or come to a knowledge of their need for forgiveness. In such cases it often takes great tragedy or difficulty in their lives before they actually search or seek for God.

AMEN!

My experience exactly. Praise God that His mercy endures forever!!!!!!!

ephraim

 

[jellybean99]

My pastor from a WHILE back (as in like 7 years), told us that God will stop forgiving once you hit this certain limit...

The age of forgiveness ends when Christ returns the second time to vanquish the antichrist's forces. According to Daniel 12:11,12 this will happen 1290 - 1335 days after the antichrist abolishes sacrifice in Jerusalem.

My calculations, according the ENP agreement, place that time between Nov. 2013 and May 5, 2014.

 

[drich0150]

Forgiveness, from the popular Christian stand point is always available, but scripturally as stated in a previous post and in Mt.18 Forgiveness is Dependant on our ability to forgive others. Once our forgiveness for others runs out, so does the forgiveness God has for us.

So long as we can forgive, we in turn will be forgiven, no matter how many times we have sinned. If anyone says otherwise ask for scripture to back up these thoughts. Do not accept a pop Christianity philosophy just because it sounds right, or because people agree on a teaching.

 

[NewToLife]

Forgiveness, from the popular Christian stand point is always available, but scripturally as stated in a previous post and in Mt.18 Forgiveness is Dependant on our ability to forgive others. Once our forgiveness for others runs out, so does the forgiveness God has for us.

So long as we can forgive, we in turn will be forgiven, no matter how many times we have sinned. If anyone says otherwise ask for scripture to back up these thoughts. Do not accept a pop Christianity philosophy just because it sounds right, or because people agree on a teaching.

I'd like to agree with this, it's perfectly clear that if we wish to receive forgiveness we do in fact need to forgive others. That said, there is of course no reason why a person struggling with forgiveness should not pray that God give Him the grace to achieve this task. Just as in everything else there is a demand that we change but God does not expect us to achieve this alone, in reality He merely demands that we allow Him to change us.

 

[PastorJim]

My pastor from a WHILE back (as in like 7 years), told us that God will stop forgiving once you hit this certain limit. He went through the passage where Jesus tells to forgive so-and-so times, and then do it again. But he reminded us that at some point, God will stop forgiving. What the heck? If this is true, I certainly went past God's forgiving chances. By like... ALOT, and running.

Not in this life. You just can't outsin God's mercy. Trust me, you may have sinned a lot but compared to some of the men in the Bible who God forgave, you're an amatuer.

However, there is a point will give you what you want. If you want to serve sin and you just keep on and keep on and keep on refusing to repent and turn from your sin and rejecting God's offer of reconciliation, then God won't turn away from you, but He will let go of the restraints He has on you and let your sin run wild. A good example of this would be the homosexuals in Romans 1. They refused to repent and so God let them have all the sin they wanted.

The Bible doesn't say whether or not they eventually repented, but I do know people God has done similar things to and their sin absolutely destroyed their lives until they had no choice but to call out to God to save them.

That doesn't seem to be the case with you. You're here and you're asking and you're concerned, so obviously, your heart isn't hardened.

1 John 1:9 says "If we confess our sins, [Christ] is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness". There is no time limit or sin limit on that.

Let me ask you this: if you were to die today, do you believe that you'd go to Heaven or to Hell? Why?