Blue you have to get out of God's way.
We are commanded to forgive those who are against us.
Paul taught overcome evil with good.
It is the Gospel Truth when you respond in like manner you hold God's will back.
If you respond to a fool like a fool,who can tell the difference.
Not saying your a fool,because I got in a bind of flesh myself last week.
I was absolutely right had all good reason to respond except God's will.
They pinned the whole circumstances on my son and me!!!
I looked foolish,if I would have put it under the blood it would have never happened.
I think you have two ideas here brother. Do not repay evil with evil, but do good to those who do evil and forgiveness.
God has shown me and this was freeing that we are not required to forgive those who do not repent or seek our forgiveness, God does not blindly forgive, we must do what first, repent.
If we look what God tells us to do with our brother Math 18:15 NLT I will also post the KJV for you after the NLT.
15 “If another believer[d] sins against you,[e] go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.
KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
This is how we are to forgive our brothers and sister. Notice how the need of the guilty party to repent is highlighted. If he hears you if not go gather one or two to witness, then the church but if still he will not repent then treat him as an unbeliever.
If we are to treat our brother and sisters this way and they need to repent then so does a unbeliever. I know my heart has trouble forgiving people who blame me for the offense and admit no wrong doing. God tells us repent, will God forgive us if we tell him, I did not need your forgiveness? No. God would never ask us to do something He is not willing to do or doing HimSelf.
So that is our right, also at the end the blood of the saints cry out for justice.
Now Stephen prayed for those who murder him. He ask they not be charged and pleased God. No doubt he gave God something to say to satan that day. That is the Gold standard. but it is not wrong we wait for repentance. We should never punish any one, we are not the Judge, but we can bring it before God like the saints do at the end they cry out for justice.
God showed me this because my mom always use the bible for me to stick around and take her abuse. God said wait a min She says she does not need forgiveness, and you are not required to give it if she does not seek it. Jesus said give to all those who ask. This is what Jesus did, but he did not say give to every one you see, because we would die. we would not even be able to eat, but How did His disciples give, every one that was healed asked, They asked Jesus to be healed. He gave to everyone who asked. so if they don't ask to be forgiven are we required to forgive? Yes Jesus said forgive 7 times 70 but I think he was saying if they repent I think it even says that but not sure. We are to forgive as many times as they repent. Each and every time even if it is thousands of times a day, as long as they are trying by repenting we forgive.
doing Good to those who do evil to me is if some one yells at me I can speak softly, and bless them. If they hit me and are in need of money i could pull some money out and give it to them. and for me if they condemn me in their church i could pray for them. I would stop at donating to that church because I think the church needs to be stopped, but if i did no doubt they would welcome me into there church and God would be able to work in their hearts through me. This is the essences of doing good to those who do evil.
My mom blames me for everything that went wrong in her life, she has said I have always been a burden to her not a blessing, she tell me this every time we talk, it is abuse, but you know what every single time she called me and ask for help I have helped her. I can not say no because she asked and I have Jesus living in side me and I Love Him. Now she is my my worse enemy too, tied with my brother. They have tried a number of times to destroy my life, and I was homeless for 6 months because of them to which they took every thing I owned and sold it and split the money between them. They would destroy my life right now if they could, my brother has done major damage to my and my dad's relationship and soon i will not be able to speak with my dad any more, my brother does this because he wants his money. and Yet I help them when ever they ask. That is doing good to evil, but i don't forgive them because they admit no wrong doing, and I cry out to God for justice.
Do you see the truth in that?
Hope I did not offend brother, sometimes people think me in my writing i am angry or this or that but I am not, I am simple trying to show what God showed me that freed me.
edit to add: when I say if they do not ask for forgiveness I do not mean they have to say those words, but have to be in repentance. in other words sorry for it. This is the process of a changing heart.