What Is Forgiveness? - What forgiveness does not mean - Conclusion

 * Pardoning with no valid basis. God does not forgive people who are guilty of willful, malicious sin and who refuse to acknowledge their mistakes, change their ways, and apologize to those whom they have hurt.  (Proverbs 28:13; Acrts 26:20; Hebrews 10:26)  Such unrepentant ones  become God's enimies, and he does not require us to forgive those who, he has not forgiven.  - PSALM 139:21, 22.

What if you are the victim of cruel mistreatment by someone who refuses to apologize  or even admit waht he has done? The Bible advises:  "Let go of anger and abandon rage." (Psalm 37:8)   While not excusing the error, you can refuse to be consumed with anger.  Trust that God will bring that person to account.  (Hebrews  10:30, 31)  You can also take comfort in knowing that God will bring a time when we will no longer feel the deep pain or hurt that may burden us now. -  ISAIAH 65:17; REVELATION 21:4. 

* "Forgiving" every perceived slight.  Sometimes, rather than pardoning a so-called offender, we may need to admit that we had no valid cause for being offended in the first place.  The Bible says:  "Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended for the taking of offense is in the bosom of the stupiod ones. ." - ECCLESIASTES 7:9.

Next time: What Is Forgiveness? - How to forgive someone

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