Biblical Answer

The Biblical Concept of Forgiveness

The Bible teaches that forgiveness is a fundamental aspect of God's character and a necessary component of a healthy and holy relationship with Him. Forgiveness is not just a human virtue, but a divine attribute that is essential for salvation. In the New Testament, forgiveness is linked to multiple positive mental and physical health outcomes, and is seen as a means of healing and restoration. However, forgiveness is not automatic, but rather requires repentance and confession. As Jesus instructs, "If he sins against you seven times a day, and seven times a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him" (Luke 17:3-4). This implies that forgiveness is conditional upon the offender's repentance.

The Bible also teaches that forgiveness is a two-way street. On the one hand, God requires us to forgive others as He forgives us (Matthew 6:12-15, Colossians 3:13). On the other hand, God's forgiveness of our sins is conditional upon our repentance and confession (Acts 2:37-38, 11:18). This is evident in the parable of the unmerciful servant, where the servant is forgiven a massive debt, but then refuses to forgive his fellow servant a much smaller debt (Matthew 18:21-35). Jesus teaches that if we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven by God. This is not a works-based salvation, but rather a demonstration of our trust in God's character and our commitment to live out His teachings.

The Bible also emphasizes the importance of forgiving others in the context of relationships. Forgiveness is not just about God forgiving us, but also about us forgiving others. In Matthew 18:15-17, Jesus teaches that if a brother sins against us, we should first go to him and try to reconcile the situation. If that fails, we should take it to the church, and if that still fails, we should treat him as a Gentile or tax collector. This emphasizes the importance of forgiveness in relationships and the need to work towards reconciliation and healing. In Luke 17:34, Jesus teaches that if we do not forgive others, we will not be forgiven by God, and that we should forgive others as we have been forgiven by God. This emphasizes the importance of forgiveness in our relationships with others and with God. 54 An Introduction to Biblical Ethics.