Biblical Forgivenes

 Neil Short, 20211107


Consequences of sin continue beyond the point of forgiveness.

  • Numbers 14:20 Israel not annihilated

  • Numbers 21:9 The bronze serpent


Sympathy can cloud our judgment and cause us to make unwise decisions with respect to the impenitent. Forgiveness comes after repentance.

  • 2 Samuel 14:7 David pardons Absalom out of sympathy—a bad move on David’s part

  • Nahum 1:3; Numbers 14:18 God does not forgive the impenitent

  • Psalm 66:18 God does not listen to the impenitent

  • Proverbs 19:19 DO NOT FORGIVE VIOLENCE! IRRESPECTIVE OF HOW SORRY THE PERPETRATOR IS.

  • Matthew 3:7-10 John would not baptize the impenitent

  • Acts 2:36-38 The Jews were sorry for their sin and were told to repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of their sins.


Do not fellowship with the impenitent

  • 1 Corinthians 5:1ff The man living with his father’s wife


If your injurer offers real repentance, you must forgive.

  • Luke 17:3

  • Ephesians 4:32 Forgive as we have been forgiven

  • 2 Chronicles 15:4 God is quick to receive people back into fellowship even if they turn back as a last resort.


Repeat offenders use up their welcome to receive forgiveness

  • Hebrews 10:26 God quits forgiving

  • Luke 17:4 talks about repeat offenders—seven times a day—but these offenders show authentic repentance. By implication, the parallel passage in Matthew 18:21-22 (seventy-seven times) expects authentic repentance too. The companion parable (Matthew 18:23-35) demonstrates as much.

  • 1 Kings 1:52 Solomon pardoned Adonijah conditionally—so long as Adonijah continued to demonstrate authentic repentance.

  • Ezekiel 33:16 Forgiveness is not amnesia but an official striking from the record.

  • Cheap grace frees people to continue in sin.


Forgiveness is not necessarily a complete cleaning of the slate

  • 2 Chronicles 12:7 partial pardon follows partial repentance


Forgiveness repairs damaged relationships. It takes effort from both sides—repentance and forgiveness

  • Luke 17

  • Jeremiah 31:34 Regarding restoration of covenant


Supplemental points about forgiveness:

Releasing offenders from hatred, revenge, personal condemnation (this is not forgiveness) is different from acting as though nothing happened and/or ignoring serious character flaws that continue to reside in the impenitent. I may show Christian love and kindness to the one who personally damaged me but I need not be an enabler of continuing sin by foolishly inviting them to abuse me more in the future or pretending that I am ignorant of what they are likely to do again.


What is authentic repentance?

Luke 17:3

The word "repentance" is a shortcut for a sincere confession that includes some important features:

  1. Address everyone involved. That includes God (Psalm 51:4), your victim and any witnesses (s.a., 1 John 1:8-9).

  2. Avoid qualifiers like "if," "but," "it was not my intention," and the like. They undo a confession. Consider Senator Bob Packwood's confession when he was making sexual advances on some female members of his staff. "If any of my comments or actions have indeed been unwelcome, or if I have conducted myself in any way that has caused any individual discomfort or embarrassment, for that I am sincerely sorry. My intentions were never to pressure, to offend, nor to make anyone feel uncomfortable, and I truly regret if that has occured with anyone either on or off my staff."

  3. Admit specifically... sufficiently to let the victim know you recognize the gravity of the offense and the pain you caused. How can you be sorry when you don't think you did anything wrong?

  4. Accept the consequences. Do you confess because you expect a clean slate? God justifies (forgives) and God sanctifies (expects fruit of repentance). They go together.

  5. Alter your behavior. Are you going to grow to be more like Christ? or are you good enough that your repentance changes nothing about you? Your victim should hear your plan of action to remedy the offense.

  6. Ask for forgiveness.

  7. Allow time. Do not expect your victim to instantly forgive you. Your victim may not be expected to ever forgive you sufficiently to restore relationship. That is one of the risks you take when you confess. Your confession may not be received. It is not proper for you to stand there expecting forgiveness as if it is your victim's responsibility! While you wait for forgiveness, you can be praying for healing for your victim who is struggling to forgive. You can reflect on the gravity of your actions upon your victim who is now struggling to find joy in the gospel.

(The above list is taken from Alfred Poirier, The Peace Making Pastor, Baker, 2006, 125-131)


Jesus’ example of forgiveness: Luke 23:34.

  • This prayer was fulfilled by providing the people an opportunity to repent (Acts 2:36, 38, 41).

  • Stephen’s similar prayer (Acts 7:60) was at least partly answered with the conversion of Saul (Acts 8:1; 9:18; 22:16).


Hebrews 8:12 is about restoration of covenant relationship.

  • Isaiah 43:25 is about striking an offense from the official record

  • Jeremiah 31:34 is about God’s response to authentic repentance

  • Jeremiah 50:20 permanent destructive effects of Israel’s sin are overridden by God’s pardon. It is the end result of God’s punishment against Babylon by means of another foe.

  • Micah 7:18-19 again, as reference to the official record of grievances

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