Can God not forgive us of our sins even when we ask to be forgiven?

[Moriah_Conquering_Wind]

The prodigal son did not actually intend repentance by his little speech, either. He cooked it up as a scheme operating upon the same selfishness with which he had wheedled the old man into giving him his inheritance prematurely. Now that his inheritance had been squandered and he had nothing, home started to look far more appealing than the pig sty he slept in and the trough he ate from. He reasoned that his rebellion had cost him any right to "sonship" in his Father's house, but reasoned also that Dad's hired hands had it far better than this, and did he not know the family business sufficient enough to work as one of those hired hands and receive as due compensation exactly as they did? Thus he proposed to return to his father with that pretty little speech designed to mimick humility so as to butter up Dad to the idea of taking him on as a hired hand.

You see, he did not KNOW his Father. He imagined his father to be altogether like unto himself (hello, how often do WE do likewise!) -- selfish, stingy-hearted, grasping after what bes "rightfully his". Machination, not repentance, fueled the words he purposed in his heart. But the Father bes NOT altogether like unto the son. He sees his lost child from FAR OFF and picks up running to embrace him. Dad doesn't care why Junior has come home, NOR DOES DAD PARTICULARLY CARE WHETHER JUNIOR BES REPENTANT OR NOT. Junior SHOWING UP bes all Dad bes concerned with!! As far as Dad bes concerned, simply turning up bes enough to excite His love and have Him to open His arms once more to the prodigal. The stammering kid never even gets to finish his flowery speech before he bes inundated with all the choicest prizes and position of his household: a fresh robe, a signet ring, a fatted calf for making merry.

Just for coming home, REPENTANT OR NOT.


Ahhh but do you think AFTER his father ran to embrace him, wept for joy over him, thrown this amazing feast party for his return -- do you think THEN he might have been repentant? Heck yes, I do!! What made the difference then? Love. Love given with no thought for return. Love free open & unashamed. Real Love. Love WITHOUT STRINGS.

 

[annie1speed]

You made my point. The father forgave his son without him asking for forgiveness.

 

[annie1speed]

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’

'He came to himself'. Interesting that the Bible leaves the motives of the son open to interpretation here. You view them as a young man hatching up another con job on his father so he could live in relative comfort again. I have viewed it as the turning point in his life and the beginning of repentance.

One of the important lessons of this parable is the father gave his son a way to get back to him like our Heavenly Father has a way for us to return to Him when we stray.

Five hundredth post!

 

[reddogs]

Is is possible that there is something we could do or not do, that would prevent God from forgiving us of our sins even when we repent of them and ask for forgiveness?

As long as we do not reject the Holy Ghost, any sin can be forgiven....

 

[reddogs]

We are to ask in faith ... but if we ask half-heartedly maybe.... not truly believing that our prayer will be answered. Is this where you were going here?

True, but also if we choose to continue in the sin..

 

[ricker]

True, but also if we choose to continue in the sin..

Any sin is by definition a "chosen" one.

Just curious. Have you decided (chosen) to quit sinning and accomplished that goal? Is there salvation for us who haven't been quite as good at overcoming sin as you have?

 

[JDMiowa]

The word,"Forgive" don't give justice to the weigh of the word. In braking this word down we see it's two words. (For) which means,(Pre) and (give) which means,(Pay). Now we see a Payment made before we can pay it. Jesus prepaid a price we could not pay are selves. That price cost him all he had and his life. Now when we ask God to forgive us, I hope we understand the price he has to pay.

 

[Adventtruth]

The word,"Forgive" don't give justice to the weigh of the word. In braking this word down we see it's two words. (For) which means,(Pre) and (give) which means,(Pay). Now we see a Payment made before we can pay it. Jesus prepaid a price we could not pay are selves. That price cost him all he had and his life. Now when we ask God to forgive us, I hope we understand the price he has to pay.

You mean the price He Has Already Paid.

 

[JDMiowa]

The price he already prepaid includes what God forsaw he would owe for you.