Forgiveness is to and will flow out of repentance. When one repents, I must forgive - I can no other - this is the nature of life in the Church. Just as if I breath in, I must breath out, so when I hear repentance, I must forgive.
However, telling someone, "You need to forgive me" is not repentance. Saying, "We need to get along" is not repentance. Repentance is, "I have sinned against you, my brother, but more importantly against God."
We think of forgiveness as a right we can demand -- it's not. It's that which flows from repentance on account of Christ.
3 comments:
Nice post. Dietrich Bonhoeffer would be proud.
I didn't say, "Hey everybody, let's go blow up our crazy leader."
I was referencing similar themes in his book: "The Cost of Discipleship", but... yes... you did not advocate joining the anti-Nazi resistence.
...so... he would be kind of proud I guess... :P
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