Are you supposed to forgive someone who you don't know if they repented or not?

[JohnB445]

And what about those who have not repented. Or have not reached out to you for forgiveness.

Are we supposed to forgive them?

 

[Jay Freeman]

Sure, why not?

 

[johansen]

i suppose that depends on what forgiveness means.

if you mean letting go of the matter and asking God what to do about the transgression, we should do that with just about everything. if you mean letting yourself be abused again by a pedophile,.. well.. whatever floats your boat man...

 

[Unqualified]

Did you see the church in Atlanta I think that had a shooter? They forgave him right away. I don’t know if immediately is necessary, but but it helps the offended ones if they do. Just let go of it and with your faith put it in Gods hands. He says he will forgive you then. God doesn’t have to forgive then until they repent. Sometimes I say I won’t forgive somebody till they repent but I usually do to obey God. Just say it. Anybody can say it and that’ starts things turning for the good.

 

[Fervent]

Forgiveness has nothing to do with the one we forgive, as the famous quote(not sure where it originates) says "holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die." Your anger/bitterness/resentment doesn't harm them, it only lets you continue to be a victim. So forgive, not for them but for yourself.

 

[OldAbramBrown]

Forgive them means you let yourself off the hook, not them. If they are codependent, give them a wide berth. If they are evil, give them a wide berth and warn others if doing so doesn't involve your (or other innocent parties) being put in (much) more danger than those others. And pray especially for all impacted. Both these courses are compatible with your having forgiven them.

 

[Jim Campbell]

And what about those who have not repented. Or have not reached out to you for forgiveness.

Are we supposed to forgive them?

The Bible has so many examples and instructions concerning forgiveness, the matter is of Christian commandment status. Failing to forgive risks not being forgiven by God of one's own sins. An unbeliever is not expected nor required by scripture to return forgiveness nor stop offending, but must be allowed ongoing forgiveness from Christians offended. There are exceptions for a spouse concerning adultery in Mt 19:9, and abandonment in 1 Cor 7:12-15. Even with those it is terribly unhealthy for the offended to not forgive when moving on towards change and healing, else healing is delayed, and egregious sorrows taken in to a new relationship.

Matthew 18 covers issues between Christian brethren especially those of the same congregation. As mentioned already above, the act of one-way forgiveness keeps the forgiver freed from sorrows if we let that work in us. That also makes possible freedom of added sorrow of the offender.

Working with Teen Challenge men I learned the power of this when moving a man to forgive a father, mother, others that abused or neglected them. Forgiving without condition easily gives an abuser release, rest, healing since they likely are inwardly troubled over their own behavior. A father might not want to forgive a wayward son who hugs him forgiving, whether dad remains convinced he handled his son properly, but when forgiven the dads/mothers/siblings, other people involved often change to the better towards son or daughter, maybe very slowly, but with cautious improvement, healing. The ones offended should be the first to forgive so as to move on past it, shedding such burdens.

Do a Bible search for "forgive" to nail this down. There are many free online Bible apps with lots of tools for research.

 

[joymercy]

Jesus:

"Forgive us our trespasses
as
we forgive others"

You will be forgiven
the measure of which
you forgive others

 

[anetazo]

If they don't repent to God and ask your forgiveness. No you don't. Were talking about Christian people. Not heathen.
Documentation, colossians chapter 3:13.
Matthew 18:35
Matthew chapter 6:12
Don't take revenge. Leave vengeance to God, romans chapter 12.

Psalm chapter 26 . Stay away from the wicked and heathen. There going to sheol, if they won't repent and conform to God's standard.

If you work with heathen at job. Keep to yourself. Minimize conversation.

If Christian asks your forgiveness. You must forgive. But warn the person. Your not walking mat. And no one has license to sin, documentation, romans chapter 6 .

That person may have to earn your trust. If the Christian happen to be trouble maker. Avoid them.

Let Jesus do the judging.

Wicked and heathen. If thier troublemakers, avoid them. Christian people are to try to witness to the heathen. Dont associate with them.

If you love your enemies, you will rebuke them. Or avoid them.

Classification between Christian and heathen.

 

[OldAbramBrown]

move on

I call it "moving along" as we may have to continue considering the points made by Jim and the others, in our own timing. I picture us leaving plenty of room on the branch for "Peter and Paul" (those less affected) to fly away in their right timing too.

 

[Danny&Annie&theChristmas]

And what about those who have not repented. Or have not reached out to you for forgiveness.

Are we supposed to forgive them?

Forgiving means wiping their debt to you clean and handing their fate to the will of God rather than your own will and letting God determine their justice rather than your own. Let go and let God.
This does not mean you must reconcile. We are not to be held to endure abuse. We can freely separate ourselves from toxic people whether they be stranger or family.

 

[OldAbramBrown]

We can't even do anything about their debt, other than make God the decision taker, in His timing. That way we may think it "faded" simply in the sense of looking different. It may be that it is now their debt to God as your long-term advocate, and depending how much distance you put between them and you you may not know what is happening in their lives since. Meantime this is a rough world and our growth depends on our handling all circumstances in ways that are proportional in sort as well as scale.

 

[OldAbramBrown]

And what about those who have not repented. Or have not reached out to you for forgiveness.

Forgiving isn't something we do to make them or ourselves feel better. It's plain justice - to ourselves (which doesn't prejuduce earthly compensation issues when appropriate).

 

[linux.poet]

Yes, extend the seventy times seven forgiveness, in peace for your own mind and heart. But if they have not repented to you, do not extend trust to them in the matter in which they have sinned against you. They need to show you repentance for that.

 

[seeking.IAM]

Forgiving has nothing to do with them, but everything to do with you.