Forgiveness Superficially

Perhaps those who believe we should be forgiven without having to confess are proclaiming this because they don't want to have to go through the heartbreak of separation from those whom they wish to have a relationship.

If we forgive to maintain a relationship that relationship is not based on truth or resolution of a problem. It is continually strained not knowing if there will be a next time, and there probably will since the offender didn't think they did anything wrong, or pretends they did nothing wrong.

Pretense is never good, authentic forgiveness after confession resolves things and leads to a deeper relationship. There cannot be a deeper relationship when one party is not wanting to admit their fault and when there can be no discussion to resolve a matter.

James 5:16 "16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail."

God said, "confess your sins one to another."

1 Peter 2:23
"23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;"

We are never to do revenge nor are we to return evil for evil, however this is not forgiveness. This is maintaining our integrity according to God's Word no matter what the offender is doing.

Forgiveness is an entirely different matter. Forgiveness is not for ourselves, it is for the purpose of reconciling a relationship. A relationships cannot be reconciled when there has not been confession.

A born again believer often will confess sinfulness before they are even told they were offensive. Sadly there are many pretenders who refuse to confess, even asserting that they had a good reason for the offense. This person should be put away from us until they are authentically sorry they have harmed someone.

If we see an offender on the street we can be kind but maintain the distance for the relationship until we see movement in their attitude.

We are never to forgive someone for what they did to others. It is not our business to let offenders off the hook when the offense wasn't even against us.

The problem with today's church is that there is no more church discipline as God commanded. With all this superficial forgiving going on the offenders are more empowered than ever, even demanding and expecting to be forgiven without any remorse for their behavior.

God commanded the church to put out those who are sinning, that they might be buffeted by Satan. IF we love offenders we will require confession to be cleansed by God.

Cleansing is the most wonderful things when an offender has confessed as the broken relationship is restored. Let's not be enablers who perpetuate evil behavior by forgiving when there is no brokenness over sin.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 "…12 What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “EXPEL THE WICKED MAN FROM YOU."