Is A Christian Required To Grant Forgiveness Even Though It Is Not Requested?

One of the most controversial questions that I have been asked is, “Am I supposed to forgive a brother even though they are not sorry for their offense”.

In reflecting on this question, one must answer basic questions first, so that their response is not emotional, which often happens with this topic.

• Does God forgive us our sins and trespasses before we are ‘born again’ without us asking?
• If we are to forgive a brother without him being repentant, does God do this for us?
• Does God give the world a ‘blanket forgiveness’ and if so, would that allow all to enter eternal life without a relationship?
• Did Jesus forgive everyone who offended him? Did Paul?
• When did Jesus forgive some without their requesting forgiveness?
• Are their examples of forgiveness in the Word, where no one has asked?
• On the cross, to whom was Jesus referring when He said, “father, forgive them, for they know not what they are doing”?
• Why didn’t He forgive them, rather than asking God to do so?
• In the “Lord’s Prayer”, does it imply that we are to forgive all, without their asking? If so, why in the same verse, does it say “Father, forgive us our trespasses”? Isn’t the one praying asking God for forgiveness?

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Anger

Someone finding a personal right that I have not yet yielded to God.

…Because of the angels.

 

In 1 Cor. 11, Paul talks about a woman having a “symbol” of authority on her head “because of the angels”.

In discussing this verse, about women wearing a covering, many denounce the practice and are quick to excuse it stating, “that was only a custom”, “a woman’s hair is her covering” or, “does anyone do that today”?

The point is not to brush off a verse because it may be offensive or untimely but rather to go beyond excusing our current belief and ask, “why did God instruct Paul to pen those words”?

There appears to be something going on in the heavens that are beyond our scope of understanding.

In the book of Job, we see that the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves to God. Satan was among them. Now, Satan is aware of his destiny, which God, pronounced on him in the book of Genesis, yet we see that God has a dialog with him nonetheless. It is as though God is making a point and the point is that God is just and righteous and Lord and that He must continue to demonstrate this to the sons of God, both God’s messengers and the fallen ones.

God asks Satan, “have you considered my servant Job”? This, in my opinion, is a very strange question. Why would God even consider a dialog with Satan? After all, God has won and Satan has lost. We know the final chapters of Revelations.

Our conclusion must then be: there is something going on in the heavens, of which we are unaware. Angels are an audience, we are actors in a play, and God sponsors it.

With that in mind, look again at Paul’s statement “a woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels”. It is as though God wants to show the created beings, that there is an authority structure, which God is demonstrating through His people.

In 1 Cor. 4:9, again Paul points out that the apostles are men “condemned to death, ‘because we have become a spectacle to …angels’”.

Next, in Heb. 13, we are instructed to show hospitality to strangers as we have “entertained angels” without knowing it. Why would it matter that we have entertained angels? What is God trying to prove, through us?

Would this knowledge cause a change in your behavior and your reaction to circumstances, knowing that you are actor, in a heavenly play, sponsored by the Almighty, to make a point, to His glory?