Are we called on to forgive people who don't repent? After all, God does not forgive those who do not repent.
I think this is where the idea of forgiveness on our behalf is actually better understood as a willingness to forgive on our behalf. For the Christian the willingness to forgive is not dependent on repentance. When repentance does come, forgiveness is immediate because we are already willing to forgive.
On a personal level the difference between being willing to forgive and forgiving someone are so close because our willingness to forgive is not dependent on repentance.
Additional:
This does not mean that forgiveness will be easy. In fact the reverse. It can mean that being willing to forgive can be extremely difficult, particularly when the injustice done is great.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
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