Jesus Christ asked the Father to offer forgiveness to the world through Him. When Christ forgave someone He would say; "your sins are forgiven", however when He was praying to the Father he said; "Father extend forgiveness to the world", meaning they would only receive it if they believed in Christ. Many people are confused about this passage.
Christ prayed that His sacrifice would be counted to those who believe in Him. No one will be forgiven who will not trust in Christ.
Christ did not forgive anyone who was not repentant, every individual in the world must be broken and contrite to be born again.
The Father will not forgive anyone unless they trust in Christ.
John 12:43-45 "…43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in Me does not believe in Me alone, but in the One who sent Me. 45 And whoever sees Me sees the One who sent Me.…"
Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth, one confesses and is saved."
This is the model of confession and forgiveness that we need to understand to have a relationship with Christ. It is also the same model God expects in personal relationships with people.
Acts 2:38-39
"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
Just letting it all go when someone has sinned is not God's way. When we care about others we want to restore a relationship that has been broken. Gods way of restoration is through confession and forgiveness, two sides of the same coin, we cannot have one without the other.
God said forgive seventy times seven when a brother some to you each time and says; "I repent."
Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
Why do so many people leave out the phrase "and seven times returns to say, 'I repent." This is the "out of context" reading of the Bible I see all the time. Leaving out a phrase, a chapter, and even an entire book to justify believing what psychology teaches.
More of the Bible is being denied by Christians than what is being obeyed. These are the times of the apostasy.
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts."
We see where things lead in a culture when sin is not punished, where repentance is not required. We are living in terribly lawless times now, but most do not see it because they are accustomed to the way things are done in our modern day.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 "II Timothy 3:1-5
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times (ragingly insane) will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!"
Those who hold fast to the truths of the Bible will be the crazy ones, while the rest of the world rages in lawlessness. We are there, folks, we are living in the end of the end just as God said would happen.
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