How many times have you said you are sorry and not really meant it? Sorry I'm late, sorry that happened, sorry you feel that way, etc...
Definition of apology:
a�pol�o�gy - a written or spoken expression of one's regret, remorse, or sorrow for having insulted, failed, injured, or wronged another:
So if someone says they are sorry about the effects that what they did had on you, but does not regret or feel remorseful for the act it self, is that a real apology? Examples:
I'm sorry that my lying & cheating on you ruined your life. But the cheating was a good thing for me and I do not regret it.
Is that an apology?
You are wrong, and I am sorry that my truth offends you.
Is that an apology?
Sorry that it offends you that I think you are stupid for doing that thing. (Not sorry for thinking you are stupid, but sorry that me thinking you are stupid offends you, cause I still think you are stupid.)
Is that an apology?
I am sorry God for these sins in my life, but I'm not going to stop doing the sins.
Is that repentance?
Repentance has been defined on this site as; a changing of the mind. (I changed my mind about what I once thought was ok, and now I do not think is ok anymore, but I still do it anyway) Is that biblical repentance?
True Christians should always be quick to forgive when they are trespassed. I also believe that (true) Christians should forgive even when the offending party does not offer an apology. And even more so when two believers (Christians) trespass each other.
My questions:
Does a fake or an offensive apology need to be accepted from someone that is not sincere?
Does God accept our fake or offensive apology if we keep on sinning after confessing the sin?
All christians are commanded to forgive unconditionally (so with or without a sincere apology).
One can be forgiven, but that does not mean that he/she therefore should not be punished. Also being punished does not mean that you are thus forgiven and therefore do not have to ask for forgiveness.
It is strange to me that one can come to G_d and say what he does not really mean. G_d sees in the heart so how could anyone possibly deceive G_d?
People can however truly repent and ask for forgiveness and yet at the same time not being able to step out of that sin all of a sudden. Many serious christians struggle tremendously with their inability to change certain sinful habits.(Lying for instance or lusty thoughts) Nothing in the bible indicates that such a person is not forgiven when truly coming to G_d in repentance and ask for forgiveness.
There is however a form of forgiving that is cheaply thrown from the pulpit. I wonder how people do that. Run to church, collectively throwing their sins at the cross often while singing a joyful Jesus-loves-you song, consider themselves forgiven, and just happily ever sin after.....until the next Sunday...
I have serious problems with that kind of practised forgiveness-preaching
I miss named this thread. Should have been "APOLOGY". I understand and agree that forgiveness is always the duty of a Christian no matter if an apology is offered. And even though forgiveness is granted if the offender comes and offers an apology that is offensive and not really an apology, does the apology have to be accepted and if you refuse to accept the apology forgiveness will need to be extended for the offensive apology.
So basically you have forgiven the person, and they come around and say, they are sorry for how you feel, but not at all sorry for the offense they committed to need the forgiveness in the first place. Do you say, or think in your heart, I have forgiven you, and now I will extend more forgiveness to you for the apology you have insulted me with.
I'm leaning towards what GodsHandiwork said, even though in your heart forgiveness has been achieved I wouldn't want to be in the presence of someone who had done some real hurt, and now I am driven by fear or anxiety being around the offender.
Row & GHW, God teaches us that we are to forgive our enemies in the true spirit of love, and if your enemy is hungry feed him/her, if your enemy is thirsty. give him/her a drink, if your enemy has need of clothes, clothe him/her. No where are we exhorted to slepp with the enymy.. lol
Therfore, if you have truly forgiven in your heart with the love of Christ, no matter the offense, you will be able to do as God has commanded toward our enemy.
Otherwise, how do you expect God to forgive you of your sins, and be around you in the time of trouble? Whatsoever you desire God to do for you and be toward you, in scripture, aren't we taught we are suppose to be the same toward others. If you can't find it in your heart to fototally forgive and be in the presnec of your offender, without anger, how do you expect God to be in your presence without anger towad you for your sins?
Again, God doesn't teach that we are to sleep with the enemy, but He does teach and command that we are to forgive just as we would want God to forgive us and do good toward us. if you're still in fear, then you have totally forgiven and trusting in God.
We are always be be aware of our enemies and still do good, this doesn't mean you be toward them as if they are your budds, and all uppin thier faces or allow them to be uppin your face, but we are to treat them kindly knowing that God has all things in control.
Een God told David to remember Amichlac how he was treated during the time of war and wasn't given help. Because God will repay the enemy this is why we are to do good toward our enemies.
So should God feel comfortable or uncomfortable in your presence, after you have done wrong and sinned in His presence, and prayed for forgiveness? Well, as the prayer says, "forgive me of my debts/transpasses (sins), as I forgive those who have sinned against ( debt/transpasses against me) Where does this come into play as it pretains to forgiveness and/or making an apology?
This is why it is important when you pray to forgive a person, that you also pray for your own sins or offenses against God, and others, and against the person you FEEL or THINK has offended you. It is a known that when a person cannot totally forgive, they have not totally repented of their own sins, and the heart is not humble to forgiven as it should be...
If God forgives us of our sins when we repent, and cast them(our sins) into the sea of forgetfulness as far as the east is to the west... what's our problem of being able to do the same?... I think its unrepentance of our own sins, and pride, when we are offended by someone. Yet when we are the offender, we expect others to bow to us and forgive us and accept our not so sincere apology. and then we have the nerves to get mad when the person doesn't:nahnah: lol.. But when others offend us, we doubt that they are truly sorry for what they've done or said, and no matter how or what they do or say to apologize/make up to us, it still isn't good even, because our pride and the pain of being offended, and our own unrepentance of our own sins stand in our way to receiving their apology and truly forgiving.
Wwe feel a need to punish them for hurting us. But we are only hurting ourselves spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically, when we don't totally forgive. think about this...
Ok I do not have this problem being a man that can fend for himself, but a woman that was abused and beaten up by a man much stronger than her??? I think wisdom always supersedes foolishness. If there is even a slight chance harm will come, even if she has total forgiveness in her heart, she should still fear for her life and use that fear and wisdom to avoid a conflict.
I am sure there are other scenarios that would justify avoiding being in the presence of the offender. I do hear what you are saying Ella and do not disagree. But God gave us a brain to use and decisions, it is just exercising the wisdom God gave us when protecting self against aggression.
Now if someone is out witnessing or open air preaching and they get attacked, the wounds will heal and crowns will be waiting in glory. But that is a different subject all together.
Forgiveness or apology,Which is the Word of God,Which is word of the World.
Luk 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Mat 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
Mat 18:22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Here is the Greek word with the definition for the English word 'Forgive'.
G863
ἀφίημι
aphiēmi
af-ee'-ay-mee
From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up.
Now tell me,is any other than ABBA, Yeshua/Jesus,able to truly be forgiving...
Forgiveness,entails not bringing the matter back up.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
For most of us,yes including me,I believe we want to forgive yet we go through the motions.
If I forgive someone why then would I not want to be with the person that has been forgiven.
Does not Yeshua do this.
Mr Row,is there ann Scripture that says that we are to ask ABBA to forgive us for sinning against Him;
Or are we supposed to confess our sin(s)letting him clean us up,and recieving the forgiveness of GOD in Yehsua...
Are we not already forgiven ,seeing the Lamb of God which takes away the sin(s) of the world has been sacrificed.
The sacrifice has been accepted as Yeshua ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
The proof of this is that the Holy Spirit has been poured out upon all flesh.
Remember we are to be proclaiming the radical Gospel of Yeshua-Ha-Meshiach...
From G575 and ἵημι hiēmi (to send; an intensive form of εἶμι eimi (to go)); to send forth, in various applications: - cry, forgive, forsake, lay aside, leave, let (alone, be, go, have), omit, put (send) away, remit, suffer, yield up
I do not read number codes. Is this like speaking in a babbling tongue that I need an interpreter for? I see it in a lot of your post and have no clue what you are saying. I once tried posting word studies off a site and it came out like this to, so I stopped right away, but you continue to use it when it is not understandable by a simple man as I.
Who is ABBA? They were band from the 70's, right? Does it give a person spiritual superiority to speak this way? This is probably not an accurate assumption but when I see people trying to talk above their audience and use words like Yeshua, ABBA, etc... it comes across as being puffed up. Paul spoke with simple words to the Corinthians. I pray to the Father, Jesus, Christ, Messiah because these are the words I was taught and read in my English Bible. (I know ABBA is in there to)
I made the mistake in my title, I understand we are to ALWAYS be ready and willing to forgive no matter who or what is done. My purpose was to find out what is a real apology and even if forgiveness has been achieved are we required to accept an offensive apology. I have forgiven my offender even though the apology was equally offensive. I do not accept their apology, but I do forgive the offensive apology as well...and if they apologize 70 X 7 and all 490 times it is an offense, I'll forgive 490 times but will not accept their apology if it continues to be offensive. Did that make sense???
It is not like there is conflict with this person, all is well and I do not harbor ill feelings just don't want to be where they are and that is not hard to do. But since the time of the offenders actions and my forgiving the person, I heard a sermon on what is and is not an apology. I learned that how and what they apologized for can not be considered a real apology, it is more self gratification for that person for keeping the upper hand and not offering a humbled apology. So since hearing the sermon it has been swirling in my head that they never actually apologized. And probably never will. And I am not demanding or asking for one now either.
So what does a broken heart and contrite spirit lead to? Humility? Apology? Repentance?
In response to Tucker about the scripture and his thought that we don't have to ask God to forgive us of our sins. Yes, Tucker, there are many scriptures that says we are to repent and ask for forgiveness. This is what repentance is all about, Asking for forgivenss, and turning from our wicked ways. Daivid does this in Psalm 51.
I'll give just a few, The very first sermon that Jesus preached when He began His ministry was "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." That means to confess your sins, turn from them and receive forgiveness.
Mathew chapter 5, teaches us that we must be reconciled to our brother & sister, can't be reconciled without repentance and seeking forgiveness.
Matthew chapter 6, also teaches us in the disciples prayer that Jesus taught the disciples to pray saying Our Father..., Give us this day our daily bread, AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS (SINS,TRANSPRESSES), AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS (THOSE WHO HAVE SINNED OR TRANSPASSED AGAINST US). Jesus also say that if we don't forgive, God will not forgive us, so this lets us know that there must be an action of repentence (confession of the wrong) to take place in order for anyone to be forgiven even by God or anyone.
There is no way we can expect God to forgive us of our sins, without repentance, which mean confessing our evil ways and asking Him to forgive us. Asking God to forgive us of our sins is throughout the Old and New Testament wherein it speaks of repentance then asking God for forgiveness.
Now to you Row, if a woman has been beaten up and threaten by her husband or any man for that matter, the princple of forgiveness remain the same as Paul writes in Romans 12, and Jesus speaks throughout the gospels. Dear beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath, for it is written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. Therefore, if your enemy hungers, feed him/her. If he/she thirsts, give him/her a drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his/her head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Yeah, it is a very difficult task and request to ask, but then again as I said, pride hinders us from being humble, and unless you have turly repented of your sins before God, no one can expect to be forgiven or to forgive. This is why many people can't find it in their hearts to totally forgive and move on, or be in the presence of the offender, they are UNREPENTANT of their own sins and worng doings.
When you think about the grace and goodness of God toward you, and all your sins against Him and He forgives, this should make everybody to be qucik to forgive another person and be in his/her presence wihtou anger or resentment..
Ive counselled with several women who have been beaten and raped, and treated like dogs by their husbands or boyfriends, and were able to truly forgive the man, and divorced him and moved on. And when the guy took ill , the women found no problems being there to see him or care for him on his sick bed. Even though the women no longer were friends with the man or hung out with him, or felt a need to be there. They had forgiven, and the women felt no resentment or anger, because they all said they had placed the man in God's hands.
I can't find it right now, but there is a scripture in the bible where God even say if you hold anger and resentment against your enemy, He will not punish your enemy on your behalf, because your anger against the enemy is in disobedience to what God has said, and your anger is the punishment, instead of God's punish for the offense.
Maybe Tucker or someone knows the scripture I'm speaking about. I'll see if I can find it.
HUMILITY, not pride is the key to forgiveness. ItS not about our hurt feelings, its about being obedient to God's word. If Jesus had to forgive those who killed HiM, oh what about us forgiving those who crush our egos and emotions and cause us pain?
THE THOUGHT OF NOT BEING FORGIVEN BY GOD FOR YOUR SINS, JUST BECAUSE YOU FAIL TO FORGIVE SOMEONE WHO CAUSED YOU HURT OR PAIN AND SINNED AGAINST YOU, SHOULD AS I SAID, MAKE YOU GET IN A HURRY TO TOTALLY FORGIVE. I wouldn't want God to hold my sins against me, just becasue I fail to forgive another person. If you dont forgive, God says He will not forgive you of your sins. That has serious meaning to me...
Mr. Row thank you for this post. I have an aunt who every time she is around she plots against certain family members. I have come to the conclusion the only way to stop her is to force her to withdraw. She plots to steal and remove other family members out of the familly. She comes against me every chance she gets. When somebody forgives her she puts a knife in their back with a smile on her face,
I just stay away from her so I have no contact.If I do not have to deal with her I am ok.
