Confession and Forgiveness, Not What You Have Been Taught

Confession and forgiveness are for the reconciliation of the relationship. If one is absent then the relationship cannot be reconciled.

However, even if the relationship is not what it should be we can still "bless those who curse us", "do to them what we would like done to us", and "if they slap us we can turn and walk away or hug them." In other words, we must always act Christ-like no matter what others do, even if the relationship is not healed.

Luke 6:27-29 "27 But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well."

Matthew 5:44

"But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"

Luke 6:35

"But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."

1 Peter 3:9

"Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."

Treating people respectfully even if they treat us disrespectfully is not forgiveness, but it is obedience toward God and compassion toward people. They may do harm to us but we are not allowed to do harm to them. This is not forgiveness for reconciliation but it is accountability toward God.

Romans 12:19

"19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

So many people think they are forgiving someone who is not repentant making themselves feel better, but this is not Biblical, it is psychology.

The idea that we forgive for our own sake is a sentence taken out of context.

Matthew 6:14

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

Where in the Bible does it say that God forgives?

1 John 1:9

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Romans 12:19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

When we forgive the way God forgives we will forgive when someone confesses their offense to us. IF they do not then we are required to follow the other scriptures mentioned above, bless them, do not do revenge and if they persist in their sin God tells us to remove ourselves.

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 among you.”"