But does forgiveness mean that the wrongdoer is exempted from all consequences of his wrong course? Consider some examples of Jehovah’s forgiveness. What, though, if the adulterer is repentant? When there is repentance, there is a basis for forgiveness. This also shows, however, that if an adulterous mate is unrepentant, refusing to accept responsibility for his sin, it is understandable that the innocent spouse may choose not to forgive.-Compare 1 John 1:8, 9.įorgiveness-What About the Consequences?
Jehovah himself views matters this way to receive divine forgiveness, we must be sincerely repentant.- Luke 3:3 Acts 2:38 8:22. Even if he sins seven times a day against you and he comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.” Certainly in cases of serious sin, the offended one is encouraged to try to forgive if there is sincere repentance. “FORGIVE whatever you have against anyone in order that your Father who is in the heavens may also forgive you your trespasses.” ( Mark 11:25) Those words of Jesus raise some challenging questions in the case of a marriage shaken by adultery: Must the innocent Christian forgive her mate and keep the marriage intact? a If she decides to divorce, is she jeopardizing her own standing with God? Let us see how the Bible helps to answer these questions.ĭo Jesus’ words, “forgive whatever you have against anyone,” mean that in all cases-including when a mate commits adultery-a Christian is obligated to forgive? Jesus’ statement must be understood in the light of other comments he made about forgiveness.įor example, we learn an important principle about forgiveness from Jesus’ words recorded at Luke 17:3, 4: “If your brother commits a sin give him a rebuke, and if he repents forgive him.
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