Forgiveness

[Tellyontellyon]

If you don't forgive others then you won't be saved?

 

[dzheremi]

Bearing enmity against a brother or sister is one of the reasons why a person may be denied communion, which is the life-giving body and blood of our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ, so looked at in this way, I don't think that's incorrect.

 

[UnpopularOpinion]

If you don't forgive others then you won't be saved?

no.

 

[Sketcher]

You have to forgive, or at least seek to forgive.

 

[Tolworth John]

If you don't forgive others then you won't be saved?

This is a common misunderstanding, but without repentance there is no forgiveness.
Luke 17:3 shows Jesus telling us there has to be repentance before forgiveness.
But,
The whole old testament teaches that there has to be repentance before there is forgiveness.
To offer an animal as a sacrifice for sin, one had to know that one was a sinner and that one was sorry for those sins.

Inthe new testament Christian have to be prepared to forgive others for there offences.

 

[St_Worm2]

Hello @Tellyontellyon, you may find this passage from the Sermon on the Mount useful. It is known as "The Lord's Prayer" (it is the Lord Jesus teaching us how to pray)

Matthew 6
9 Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
14 For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.​

--David
p.s. - while we are at it, there is this to consider too (again, from the Lord Jesus).

Luke 17
3 If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.
.​

.

 

[Anthony2019]

I think we can learn a lot by reading the words of the prayer Jesus taught his disciples.

It wasn't just a one off prayer, but a foundation for all their prayers. By his words "Your will be done on earth as in heaven" and "lead us not into temptation" he was teaching them the basis on how they should live their lives every day as Christians.

It is the same with forgiveness. "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us". Forgiveness works in two ways. We are forgiven a debt by God, so it is imperative for us to forgive others their debts. If we choose not to forgive others, then God's grace towards us is insulted.

Dzheremi makes a very good point. When we take part in the Holy Eucharist whilst having enmity towards our brothers and sisters, then we profane the sacrament and come under judgement.

Forgiveness is very hard, especially for those of us who have been hurt by others, but it is nonetheless something we have to do and God will give us his help and grace to do it.

 

[jacks]

Forgiveness is very hard, especially for those of us who have been hurt by others, but it is nonetheless something we have to do.

This is very true. I think it helps to remember that forgiveness doesn't mean you condone the actions or forget that they happened. Rather it is to not harbor resentment, which is damaging both to you and the person you won't forgive.

 

[Anthony2019]

This is very true. I think it helps to remember that forgiveness doesn't mean you condone the actions or forget that they happened. Rather it is to not harbor resentment, which is damaging both to you and the person you won't forgive.

Absolutely. In the long run, unforgiveness damages us far more, physically, mentally and spiritually, than the person we refuse to forgive.

 

[Sunshinee777]

Some things are almost impossible to forgive. I didn't have ability to forgive some specific things until I asked God for help, to give me his love and understanding to forgive. God helped me to forgive. I think bible is quite straight when it comes to forgiveness, it's not an option it's necessary.

 

[Pavel Mosko]

If you don't forgive others then you won't be saved?

I would think this type of verse would probably jive the most from a Buddhist perspective, or at least from some kind of Taoist or eastern perspective.

Unlike popular sayings that equate forgiveness with "forgetting", this is just about consciously putting aside any bitterness and desire for revenge or to those who we believe have wronged us, but instead releasing the person from that kind of literal or metaphorical debt.

It's kind of like the notion of paying things forward. We are not passive recipients of things like grace and mercy but those gifts should transform the heart so we likewise bear witness to and transform our little corner of the World through the Holy Spirit and the words and actions of our testimony.

 

[ViaCrucis]

If you don't forgive others then you won't be saved?

Not quite. But if we are actively refusing to forgive others, it's a good idea to do some self inspection as to why. Because we should be.

And like any sin, harboring it and refusing to let faith shape us, refusing the Spirit's work in our lives ("quenching the Holy Spirit" to use biblical language), can lead to the shipwrecking of our faith.

But it's not transactional, it's relational. It's not about doing things to gain something; it's about God working in our lives through faith, which then is lived out in our relationships with others.

-CryptoLutheran