must we as christians forgive those who do not seek it or want it?? i would forgive anyone for anything if they asked for it. but what about those who are not sorry?? God cannot forgive someone who does not ask and is not repentant.
135256
Every circumstance is different. Sometimes you can forgive but other times it is too hard.
218881
This concept comes from the idea that if you don't repent from a sin, that you will go to hell, and that there is no opportunity to repent from commiting suicide. However, most people view repent here as "ask forgiveness." Repent does not mean that. It means change the way you think and act. If we had to ask forgiveness for every sin we ever commit NONE of us would ever go to heaven. Grace is not such a fine line that if you sin, you are lost, if you ask for forgiveness your saved again, sin again and you're lost again, etc. There is another problem with this... There are many ways to commit suicide in which you have time to ask for forgiveness. Jumping off a bridge, for example. While I certainly believe it would be a sin to take your own life, I don't think that one sin would necessarily negate the grace that comes from accepting Jesus as your savior.
493397
Dear Bill, I would Like to explain why a person goes to hell and Howwe can escape the consequences of hell. I would like to ask you a few questions.............\n\nHave you ever lied (even once--fibs, white lies, etc.)? Ever stolen (anything--the value is irrelevant)? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If you have said "Yes" to these three questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart; and we’ve only looked at three of the Ten Commandments. Nothing you’ve ever done is hid from His holy eyes. Will you be innocent or guilty on the Day of Judgment? Listen to your conscience. You know that you will be guilty, and therefore end up in Hell. That’s not God’s will. He provided a way for you and I to be forgiven. \nHe sent His Son to take our punishment: "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." He was bruised for our iniquities. Jesus then rose from the dead and defeated death. \nYour own so-called “goodness” can’t get you into heaven any more than mine could.  Jesus is the only way to Heaven. He is the "Door," the only "mediator." There is salvation in no other name, and if you will repent (turn from sin) and place your faith and trust in jesus, God will forgive you of your sins and grant you eternal life. A person dosent go to Hell because they are foolish, but raher because they have trasgressed the Law. Please, turn from sin and trust in the savior today.\nGod Bless\nWDJD
426044
If a person is married and in love with their spouse, do they not ask their spouse to "forgive" them when they wrong them? It's about relationship, for a relatioship to be a healthy one, there must be communication, empathy, and forgiveness when you have wronged them. This is ESPECIALLY true with God. I mean, HE'S GOD! Would you not be sorry for hurting Him after all He has done for you. I mean we live and breathe because He chooses to sustain our health another day, we are able to work, choose, and make our own decisions (right or wrong) because he chooses to have grace and allow us to. Why would someone not ask for forgiveness for sinning against such a gracious Father? As a father myself, it means much more to me when my daughter comes to me and asks for forgiveness for doing something wrong instead of not asking at all like she doesn't care about me. And if your kids refuse to ask forgiveness for disobeying you, you will eventually punish them. God does us the same way, we suffer the consequences for disobeying Him here on earth if we refuse to turn from our ways, we still go to Heaven because He is our Father and nothing can change that, but nevertheless, He has to punish us and does so before we die. \n\nAs far as the old testament goes, the high priest atoned for the sins of the people once a year with a sacrificial lamb because that was the covenant God made with them. The problem was that this only "put off" the sins and didn't cover them for good. It took a perfect, sinless, person to actually live that life for us, then to be sacrificed in our place to completely cover those sins once for all, and that is exactly what Jesus done. I hope this answers your question, Peace.
223230
was abused by my father, but was able to forgive him. but if you are unwilling to try the best forgiveness ever given. then you will carry this pain for ever in you and it will suffacate you. please think about finding true forgiveness before this destroys your life. God helped me and my father threw axes, hoes, and tried to run me over. yet hold no grudge.
583421
Being good is not enough and not even for a christian. We can't continue in sin and expect God to reward us Heaven. God is not willing to turn his back on us if we do the right thing and that's serve him wholeheartedly. God is merciful and forgiven but we must repent and turn away from that lifestyle or sin.
341903
I don't know if you're a religious person, but since your question is about forgiveness, I'll answer it from a Christian perspective; but please understand that you don't have to be religious in order to benefit from the wisdom of the Bible.  I do not consider myself to be Christian, but I still use many things I read in the Bible to help me through challenges of the spirit such as the one you have describe.\n\nFirst of all, we should ALWAYS forgive others.  Jesus said to forgive people seventy times seven times, which comes out to be 490 times.  If you have to forgive someone more times than that, they are probably so evil that it's not going to matter whether you forgive them or not; at that point your best best would bwe to just get the hell away from them!  LOL\n\nBut I think what he meant was to forgive as much as you possibly can.  But you sound very young to me- it sounds like there's not a whole lot you can do OTHER than forgive; sadly, we are basically powerless in our youth to change the behavior of others, so you'd better forgive wholeheartedly and do it RIGHT.  The following information is lengthy, but it will help you learn all you need to know about forgiveneness:\n\n- This is not an optional action on our part, but rather it is imperative to our own well being that we forgive others.\n- Most Christians understand that this is not always an easy task.\n- For some, there have been people in their lives which have wronged them severly.\n\n- Though it may be a process, and it may not happen instantaneously, we must be willing to take the first steps toward forgiving others.\n- As long as we continue to harbor bitterness in our hearts toward someone else, we allow that individual to have a controlling factor in our lives.\n- There are a number of occasions where unforgiving Christians lose their relationship with God because of what someone else had done to them in the church.\n\n- There was once a man who lost his relationship not only with God, but also his children and people in the church because of his bitterness toward others. He basically went around feeling sorry for himself all the time.\n- To forgive means to "send away". In other words, to not hang on to the wrong doing.\n\n- When you forgive someone, it means that you are not holding that sin against that person.\n- Therefore, you're not focused on how you can get back at that person.\n- You're not praying that their boat will sink or that their plane will crash.\n- As a matter of fact, you actually begin to pray for their salvation and deliverance.\n\n- Understand that when you forgive someone, it doesn't mean that you have to re-establish a relationship with that person.\n- It may, by God's will, lead to that and that's great if that's what God desires.\n- In the verse, there's no mention that you should stop praying and go find that person to let them know that you forgive them.\n- Release the thought of anger and bitterness and hurt unto God.\n\n- Forgiveness does not mean, by the way, to forget.\n- Trying to forget is merely an attempt to hide something.\n- When you hide something, someone will eventually find it.\n- We're are to deal with he hurt and send it away.\n\n- Jesus didn't just preach this. He lived this.\n\n(Luke 23:33-34 NKJV) And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.\n\nFORGIVING OTHERS HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND AND RECEIVE FORGIVENESS\n\n(Mat 6:14-15 NKJV) "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."\n\n- It seems as if God's ability to forgive us is contingent upon our ability to forgi
187551
I love this question.  Talk about your Hobson's Choice!  The number of "Christians" [I infer that from specific answers they have given on this and other topics] who are suddenly ready, willing, and able to cease loving others based on the consequences of their actions is astounding.  What happened to "love the sinner, hate the sin?"\n\nI'm not saying there is no God, but the fire and brimstone model just doesn't hold up to scrutiny.  The all loving God has no need for Hell.  If we receive His grace at death, then we will recognise and understand our sins, and realise [as in "achieve"] all we are suppose to be.\n\nThen there's the weak argument that God will remove the pain they'd feel.  Sounds like a lack of free will to me.  So then everything must be predestined?  I guess it doesn't really matter what I do, since God already has it decided.  My stealing your car/wife/lunch money isn't a crime, it's an act of God!  And since it's His will, I won't have to suffer for it.\n\nThe biblical version of God did not provide salvation for abject sinners.  Sort of like today's "three strike" rule.  Once you know you're on your way to Hell, why would you care about what you do?  This is why the Church invented purgatory.  By offering a here-to-fore unavailable path to salvation they were able to extend their control over others' lives.  Clever, no?  And it was also a great way to raise money...\n\nBe good to yourself.  Be good to others.  Don't try telling anyone else what this means for them.  If that ain't enough, we're screwed.
61215
SQL,\n\nI think where most folks get confused is the covenant, whereby all sins will be forgiven if one gives his heart and life over to Jesus, repent for his sins, admit that they are imperfect sinners unworthy of his grace, entry into heaven is a given, right?\n\nHaving money to do good works in the name of God does not a true Christian make, especially if this person commits a heinous sin again and again, and asks forgiveness for them with knowlege in his heart that he's going to do the same thing again.\n\nGod's smarter than that.  He can see what's in people's hearts...if He sees someone asking forgiveness with deceit in his heart, do you think that forgiveness will be granted?\n\nI think not.
89579
I don't think that there are any levels of forgiveness.  There is a difference between the kind of forgiveness God gives and human forgiveness.  God forgets all our sins once we ask for forgivness . . . most of us humans forgive, but don't forget (and I personally don't find that to be an awful thing all of the time . . . it saves us from letting others walk all over us).  I don't think that whether a person is a christian or not affects whether we should forgive them . . . the Lord's prayer says "forgive us our tresspasses (sins,debts) as we forgive those who tresspass against us".  An important thing about this is that God forgives us WHEN we forgive others . . . this was something I didn't really understand until a week or two ago, when I was at a retreat and was lead through a process of forgiving a number of people in my life that I had forgotten I was holding grudges against.  It's interesting that this individual in England has recognized their inability to forgive and has decided not to teach any longer.  That is a good example for the rest of us.
267857
Who are we to question the actions of god?\n\nDoes not god forgive sins and transgressions?\n\nDid not Jesus seek out the sinners?
276759
If you don't believe in God and try to convince others to see it your way, you are doing the devils work.  There is only one sin that God cannot forgive and that is denying Him and teaching others to do the same.  He can and will and does forgive all other sins if you repent and seek His forgiveness with honesty in your heart, you can break all the ten commandments and He will forgive you.  But, what you are talking about, is unpardonable.  But, if you don't believe in God, why do you care?
665156
HOW MISIMFORMED ARE YOU HONEY... GOD SON JESUS CAN FORGIVE HES THE ONE THAT GAVE OF HIMSELF ON THE CROSS ON CALVARY FOR YOUR SINS AND FOR MINE AND FOR EVERYONES SINS... AND THERE IS ALWAYS A NEED TO HAVE FORGIVENESS BUT YOU MUST MEAN IT AND STICK WITH IT AND NOT DO THE SAME THING AND JUST EXPECT THAT YOU CAN BE FORGIVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE SAME MISTAKE...
455156
Well of course, you are only forgiven if you are truly sorry and repent.  If you are not truly sorry for your sin (s) then you are not forgiven for them.
270044
Everyone does things that God tells us are wrong. This is known as sin. God doesn't expect you to be perfect. He just wants you to accept His forgiveness, so He can be your friend. This is called salvation. \nThe way God forgives us is through Jesus. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." Jesus died on a cross and was buried for three days. \n\nBut then something awesome happened. He rose from the grave and came back to life! He is now in heaven and wants you to accept Him. \n\nTelling Jesus You Need Him \n\nYou can accept Jesus by telling Him you need salvation. Have you ever done or said or even thought something that you knew was wrong? Maybe you lied to your parents, said something mean to your brother or sister, or thought something that wasn’t very nice about someone. This is all sin, and every person in the world has sinned. Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." \n\nWhat It Means To Repent \n\nJesus not only wants us to accept Him, but He also wants us to be sorry for our sins. He wants us to repent. To repent means to change or to turn from our old ways. Jesus wants you to act in new ways that are good and pleasing to God. (Luke 13:3) \n\nUnless we repent, we will always live away from God–not allowed to go to heaven and not able to live life to its fullest here on earth. (Romans 6:23) \n\nIn order to turn from our ways, we must believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is the only way we can truly change. He wants us to ask Him into our lives. Just like you might ask a classmate if he or she will be your friend, Jesus wants us to ask Him to be our friend too. \n\nInviting Jesus into Your Life \n\nIf you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your life, all you have to do is ask Him through prayer. He wants to be your best friend. Here’s a good way to ask Him:\n\nDear Jesus, \n\nI know that I have sinned, because I have done and said wrong things. I do not want to be apart from God because of my sin. I need You to take away my sin and forgive me. I believe that You died and rose from the grave for me because You love me so much. Thank You, Jesus, for forgiving my sin and coming into my life. Please help me to know You more every day. Help me live like You want me to live.\n\nAmen.\n\nCongratulations!\n\nYou are now a child of God! \n\n(2 Corinthians 5:17-18) God has made you brand new, and He has great things planned for you.\nNow you have a new birthday. This day is your new birthday. You have now been born again. You have a birthday, when you were born of the flesh, this is your day you were born of the spirit! Happy Birthday.
324352
God loves us and has given us second chances a ton of times, hey, He even sent his son to die for us. I truly believe that people will be given a second chance after Christ's second coming and will be able to go to Heaven. I'm sure your friend was a good person, and in the end I believe that's what matters most. God loves us and doesn't want us to suffer, so why wouldn't he help those who were good, but a little misguided?
41076
Once you repent and ask God to forgive you of something, you are forgiven. Not only does he forgive you, he also remembers it no more. So you need not worry about that. However when you sin there are still consequences. For example if you drink and use drugs for a long time, you may damage your body, or if you mess up financially, you may find yourself stuck in debt. Or if you offend someone, there's still a damaged relationship to be dealt with. You will still have to deal with the consequences even though you are forgiven. But take heart, God doesn't leave you to deal with them on your own. He stays with you and heals you, weather it takes a long time or a little, he does take care of us.\n\nAs for the desires of your heart, God knows better than you do what you want, what you need, and what will benefit you. Of course he wants you to pray and make your requests known, but that doesn't mena he'll always give you what you want when you want it. Again, He knows best. He may not give you what you want because he knows it's not the best thing for you. Or perhaps the timing is not right, and he will give you what you want at the best time (later). It may also be that he wants to teach you to wait on him and trust him.\n\nIn any case, just trust him. He is your father and he loves you more than you will ever imagine. He also sees all things. He knows everything that will happen to you in your life and he truly knows what's best. Also rest assurred he has forgiven you of everything you've repented for. You need only repent once for a sin and it is completely forgotten by Him. So forgive yourself. God has forgiven you, and those past sins will never count against you.