LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2010, Page 78

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78

CONVENTION BIBLE STUDIES

3 . If we are to forgive others as God has forgiven us, then
when should we forgive those who sin against us?
If we truly forgive as God has forgiven us, then we need
not wait until we see some act of repentance before we forgive . “Why, that’s impossible!” you might think . “That would
take a miracle of God!”
Yes, that’s precisely the point . Forgiveness is a miracle
of God . While psychologists may promote forgiveness as a
human behavior that can be learned and exercised,4 to forgive
as God does is not human but divine . Too often we treat forgiveness like a personal possession that we can choose to do
with as we please . On our own, we have no authority to forgive or withhold forgiveness as defined by Scripture . Only
those who have received God’s gift of forgiveness can forgive as God through Christ has forgiven them . And when we
do have opportunity to forgive, we have responsibility to exercise that privilege as the original donor directs .

Repentance and Forgiveness
Okay, we understand that we need to forgive as Christ forgives . But what is the relationship between repentance and
forgiveness? Doesn’t the Bible say that someone needs to
repent in order to be forgiven? Shouldn’t we withhold forgiveness until someone is repentant enough?
Note that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us
and won forgiveness for us on the cross . Before the foundation of the world, God worked out our plan for salvation . On
the cross Jesus declares, “It is finished!” God’s forgiveness
is for everyone .
Not everyone benefits from God’s grace because not everyone believes in the Son that God gave the world . “Whoever
believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not
believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in
the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:18) .
The granting of forgiveness is not dependent upon repentance, but the receiving of the benefits of forgiveness is
dependent upon repentance and faith . “Repent and believe in
the gospel” (Mark 1:15) . Christ’s forgiveness was won on the
cross . That reality is not dependent upon man’s response . But
if a person does not believe that he needs God’s forgiveness
or that Christ died for him, he does not benefit from the gift .
Now we have a fuller picture of what to do when restoring
others as Paul directs in Galatians 6:1: “Brothers, if anyone
is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should
restore him in a spirit of gentleness . Keep watch on yourself,
lest you too be tempted .”
We don’t go to confront someone so that they can repent
enough to deserve God’s forgiveness or ours . That would
make forgiveness conditional upon man’s work . Instead, we
confront someone about his sin in order to prepare him to
receive the gift that has already been given .
The church is given the responsibility to retain the sins of
one who demonstrates manifest unrepentance (see Matthew
18; John 20:19–23) . Such declaration only comes after many
attempts to restore (futile admonition) . The purpose is not to
2010 Convention Proceedings

punish or get rid of the person, but rather to help the individual
understand that unless he repents and believes in the Gospel,
he is in danger of hell . He is treated like an unbeliever because
he acts like he does not need Christ’s forgiveness . He becomes
the object of our evangelism . But upon any movement of
repentance, the sinner is restored and assured of forgiveness .

Overcoming Unforgiveness
We may be able to muster enough fortitude to forgive in a
human way . However, biblical truth indicates that we cannot
on our own inner strength or personal determination forgive
as God through Christ has forgiven us . But God promises to
give us what we need .
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to
life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called
us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to
us His precious and very great promises, so that through them
you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped
from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire
(2 Peter 1:3–4) .

Can we accomplish divine assignments? Yes, because God
promises us His divine power so that we may become partakers of the divine nature .
Following these verses, St . Peter continues:
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement
your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self–control, and self–control with steadfastness,
and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love . For if these
qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from
being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ . For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted
that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his
former sins (v . 5–9) .

How can we keep from being ineffective or unfruitful in
the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ? By remembering our
own forgiveness from God . Peter says that those who lack
the qualities that bear fruit are those who are nearsighted and
blind and have forgotten that they have been cleansed from
their past sins .
Note that the Bible connects our forgiveness of others to
our forgiveness from Christ . “Forgive as God through Christ
has forgiven you .” Focusing on our forgiveness in Christ, we
are empowered to forgive as Christ forgives us .
One day a friend from church ran into Gene at the store
where he worked . “Gene, we haven’t seen you for a while at
church .”
“I know, but I’m busy . I work on a lot of Sundays,” he
answered .
“Are you working this Sunday?”
“No, but I’d feel funny going back to church after being
gone for so long .”
“How about if I pick you up?” the friend asked .
“I guess that would be okay .”
So, Gene returned to worship because of a friend’s gentle restoration . After some time, his pastor approached him .