Scripture For Today, 7-11-19: Not All Forgiven

​​NO FORGIVENESS FOR THE UNREPENTANT
Jesus said told His Apostles, “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” Repentance is required for forgiveness.

John 20: 21-22; Ezekiel 33:10-20; Isaiah 55:6-7; Jeremiah 6:16-30, 26:3; Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 3:19
 
7-11-19, * -- Have you ever had it happen when you rebuked an abuser, not only did they refuse to apologize, repent, or change their hurtful behavior, but smugly inform you that “God forgives everything,” and that the Bible says that you have to forgive them too. And all I can say to that is, “Nice try;” because it’s just not true. God’s forgiveness doesn’t work that way; not even close; His kids aren't whipping posts for the wicked.
 
God forgives everybody who REPENTS, not everybody who doesn’t repent continuing repeatedly with no remorse to sin.  Repentance means turning from one’s sinful ways and changing one’s LIFE. It does not mean continuing on as before, and it also does not mean stopping just one or two obnoxious behaviors while continuing all the rest, or even finding some new ones.  [Romans 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9-10]
 
It might surprise such self-righteous offenders to learn that God does NOT forgive “everybody” and that He does NOT tell us to either.  In fact, there is NOT ONE INSTANCE in Scripture of the Lord forgiving anyone who remains “stiff-necked” (stubborn) and unrepentant. [Luke 13:3]

When ungodly people state that God’s Word says something that justifies or facilitates their wickedness, I  hand them a Bible and ask them to show me where it says that.  Usually, they get all flustered, angry, or embarrassed and quickly change the subject or storm off in a huff.  If, by some remote chance, they can actually find the Scripture they’re referring to (and conveniently misinterpreting), then we can read it in context and explore it together- but that hasn’t happened to me yet.

Clearly, only a change in a sinner’s ways and turning to God does a person receive forgiveness. God lists additional requirement for meriting forgiveness - accepting Jesus as one’s Lord and Savior. They are born again in a ‘newness of life.’ [John 3:3, 7]  (No one who has genuinely turned their life to Jesus can continue to deliberately sin and abuse others).  Abusers would just love an excuse to obligate us to forgive them without the slightest effort to make amends, commitment to change, or anything expected of them at all.   It’s the Abuser’s Dream Gig to be able to commit one evil deed after another with impunity, and then pervert the Word of God by claiming that others have to repeatedly and unconditionally forgive them; this is utter nonsense.
 
Born again believers in the Lord Jesus study His Word and know that He has such a heart of love for the downtrodden and the broken-hearted, He desires us to be free of every kind of bondage.  God doesn’t play mean little tricks on abuse victims.  He NEVER says anything that would make it easier for a sinner to keep on sinning or an abuser to keep on abusing.  To even suggest otherwise is to reveal a profound ignorance of God’s divine nature.
  
Some abusers like to call themselves Christians, because it enables them to get away with sinful behaviors without being challenged or confronted. The Bible is not an excuse for abusive people to have a field day without ever suffering any consequences. These people might actually be familiar with Scripture so they twist it and take it out of context in an attempt to deceive us into forgiving them when no forgiveness is warranted. 

 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked – for whatsoever a person sows, that shall they also reap.” Galatians 6:7

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The Lord’s higher purpose is to change people’s hearts and make them turn from evil, give up their wicked ways and choose to follow HIM instead of Satan.  He does that by requiring repentance before forgiveness, not by giving evildoers a free ride. [Colossians 3:13; Ephesians 4:32]
 
The Lord Jesus distinctly tells us that we are to forgive someone who sins against us IF they repent. [Luke 17:3] He does NOT tell us to forgive everyone, including those who have  absolutely no remorse and fully intend to continue abusing others and behaving badly.  That would be preposterous and contradictory. 
 
We need to pray for discernment and wisdom to distinguish between  REAL Christians and PRETEND Christians.  One big clue is that REAL Christians ACT LIKE real Christians; they obey God's commands and show kindness to others. 
 
*Excerpted and adapted full original message from Renee Pittelli here http://www.luke173ministries.org/466809

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