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Unforgiveness

I know that unforgiveness and hatred are closely related. But...can someone decide not to forgive and at the same time not hate someone??? :dunno :shrug :confused
 
There's healing and peace in forgiveness. I wonder why some find it hard to really forgive.


Alot of people think if they forgive someone or apologize, then it is saying what the person did was ok. That is not true. They may have done something very wrong. But holding unforgiveness hurts you spiritually more than it hurts them and it can even make a person sick, according to doctors.


Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15But if you don't forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.''

How many times have you heard someone ask why their prayers are not answered? This is one of the hindrances to answered prayer.

Mark 11:25And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.â€


A person who wrongs you may not even care what you think or feel, but forgiving them releases you from any bondage and wrong attitudes. Jesus said in Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."

Its good to make the decision ahead of time that if and when someone does something to us we will immediately forgive them. Its a choice
 
We must take Jesus' example when it comes to forgiveness. If you look through scripture you will not find any case where He forgave someone without them first repenting and asking for forgiveness. Even when He was on the cross and pleaded with the Father to forgive those who do not know what they do He was merely petitioning on their behalf, yet God will not forgive unless repentance happens first, then a request for forgiveness submitted.

Now, this does not mean we are to hold a grudge, but we are to have a heart of forgiveness at all times should anyone who may have trespassed against us repents and requests forgiveness.

If we forgive without the other party first repenting then we cheapen the act of forgiveness.
 
I know that unforgiveness and hatred are closely related. But...can someone decide not to forgive and at the same time not hate someone??? :dunno :shrug :confused

Alot of times people can get upset about something and hold a grudge but that doesn't always mean they hate the person. However, until they forgive them that unforgiveness will fester and turn to bitterness, and cause other problems , since you cant be right with God if you aren't right with others. The Lord looks at the heart issues of a person. Much of the epistles deal with our attitudes.

Hebrews 12:15See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled

Ephesians 4:32Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice


Many times they can not forigve because all they are thinking of is ME; what they did to ME, instead of thinking of how much trouble they will be in if they don't repent and have to stand before God. I'm afraid for people like that and pray they will get right with God.
 
If we forgive without the other party first repenting then we cheapen the act of forgiveness.

I dont think it cheapens it. We are responsible for our heart and we cant make another person do anything. Thats up to them. We can't say if you forgive me I will forgive you. Thats not real forgiveness IMO. If everyone did that most people would still have unforgiveness in their heart because many don't want to humble themselves, they just want to prove they were in the right.
 
I dont think it cheapens it. We are responsible for our heart and we cant make another person do anything. Thats up to them. We can't say if you forgive me I will forgive you. Thats not real forgiveness IMO. If everyone did that most people would still have unforgiveness in their heart because many don't want to humble themselves, they just want to prove they were in the right.

That is not what I am saying at all. I am saying that we should be prepared at any time to forgive should anyone who trespassed against us repent and ask forgiveness. It is not based on reciprocity, it is based on how we should condition our hearts.
 
The biggest reason people don't forgive is hard hearted pride. Stubborn pride and self will. "Today if you hear His Voice, do not harden your hearts" Heb 7:12 NKJV
 
Jesus said in Luke 23:34 "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing."

Similar to Stephen in Acts 7:60: "And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.†And when he had said this, he fell asleep." (ESV)
 
That is not what I am saying at all. I am saying that we should be prepared at any time to forgive should anyone who trespassed against us repent and ask forgiveness. It is not based on reciprocity, it is based on how we should condition our hearts.
yes :)
 
Thank you all for your responces.:wave :)

I think men find it easier to forgive than most women. I don't know why. That's just by the way.


Some say: How can I forgive....after all he did to me. It is ridiculous to forgive in such a case (they would say).
some did horrible things to others. Some murdered members of another man's family, some raped a woman, some lives were rendered useless. How can this people really forgive after they have been abused. And the bible tells us if you don't forgive God won't forgive you.


(Another verse encourages us to go make peace with the person that offended us. Astonishing and shocking. We must obey God:))



Only the Holy Spirit can really heal the pain and help people forgive.
 
The church I attend...that's the topic we are treating. People kept sighing during the class. I thank God for the kind of heart I have. I don't have enemies. I don't offend people.



One funny and strange thing is: a villain can make peace with God today. The person he abused is still suffering from the pains of the abuse. The abused keep wondering why God forgave such a cruel soul. This is one of the reasons people find it hard or difficult to forgive.


(The only enemies I may have are antiFC-Barelona fans ;)) :lol
 
The biggest reason people don't forgive is hard hearted pride. Stubborn pride and self will. "Today if you hear His Voice, do not harden your hearts" Heb 7:12 NKJV

Pride is probably the cause of most problems.
 
How is it pride...really? :dunno :confused :shrug

Pride is the root of many sins. Arogance, Entitlement, Anger, etc...

Pride is the basis of the belief that we somehow have a right to be treated a certain way, or that we are owed something other than what we know as Christians what we deserve.
 
Forgiveness requires Repentance and without repentance its very hard for us to forgive someone.It also depends on how serious the matter is.Petty things are easily forgiven (for most people i believe) But serious matters are really hard to forget and forgive and also requires honest repentance.Considering all this,we can say that forgiveness comes from heart and without that its not possible to forgive anyone.When we genuinely forgive someone,we feel the joy and thats the sign of true forgiveness.So healing,happiness,joy all this is connected with true forgiveness.You cant have them,if you fake it.
 
Forgiveness requires Repentance and without repentance its very hard for us to forgive someone.It also depends on how serious the matter is.Petty things are easily forgiven (for most people i believe) But serious matters are really hard to forget and forgive and also requires honest repentance.Considering all this,we can say that forgiveness comes from heart and without that its not possible to forgive anyone.When we genuinely forgive someone,we feel the joy and thats the sign of true forgiveness.So healing,happiness,joy all this is connected with true forgiveness.You cant have them,if you fake it.

Thank you for that, but did you have to shout? ;)
 
i am not shouting buddy,thats the normal way for me to post....sorry didnt want to offend anyone....MODs,ADMIN's please let me know if this is wrong to post like this,i ll stop immediately...
 
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