How Does God Forgive?

Many of my fellow Christians believe that God forgives -- but only when one is sincerely sorry for his or her transgressions and subsequently asks for forgiveness. Now, that kind of thinking sounds biblical and I know this doctrine is continually preached from pulpits all across the U.S. and the world. But is it accurate?

I used to believe it was, but now I'm not so sure. I began to question this belief after I started to seriously analyze something else the Bible teaches about forgiveness. Jesus said that we (humans) are to forgive each other, period. When someone wrongs us, we are to forgive them -- no questions asked. Jesus said nothing about waiting for them to express any kind of sorrow for what they did or to ask us for our forgiveness. 

Now, if we, as humans, are expected to forgive each other in this kind of unconditional fashion, should we expect any less from God? Is God a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do kind of Being? Are we expected to be more forgiving than Him? If anyone or anything could out-forgive Him, how could He remain God?  We should think carefully before trying to place limits on God's forgiveness.

Comments

[Randy T]

I never thought of it that way, but that makes sense. Either way, we are in luck because God does forgive.

[Nicole]

I suppose, I was always "taught" that you asked for forgiveness once, and from there on forth, all was forgiven. But as I grew older, a wise woman told me something I will never forget.

She believes that everything is always forgiven, and the key to heaven is not in asking for forgiveness, and being forgiven, but in asking to be allowed in. In her belief, when one dies, they are brought before God, and asked if they would choose, Heaven, or Hell. The idea is, God is so powerful, and so good, that those who are truly sorry will opt for being punished for their sins.

Now, I do fully subscribe to this belief. But I do believe that all sins are always forgiven. Even if we are not truly sorry. I believe that God is more forgiving than we can even imagine. And, in the end, I am unsure of if there is even a Hell or if that is just another story the Catholics of times past added in, to get people to believe.

I guess I will find out when my time comes.

[Randy T]

^^ The Bible is very straight-forward on how to get to heaven. Do you not believe that the Bible is the word of God? Did the Catholics write the Bible? I'm just curious on what you believe.

As someone who was never hoodwinked with that new-testament stuff I can tell you that God forgives the truly sorry. He does not forgive sins against man because those must be forgiven by the one sinned against first