An unrepentant person maintains a sense of control over his life through pride and arrogance, which can lead to destruction, violence, and animosity (Proverbs 8:13; 16:18; 29:23). Turning toward God (repentance) is necessary to break the cycle of destructive behaviors and patterns of relating to God and to others. If as believers we do not require repentance on the part of the offender, we stand in the way of that persons coming to see his need for God and experiencing His forgiveness. To put it simply, forgiveness is a two-way process: repentance on the part of the offender and pardon on the part of the offended. Nevertheless we cannot force repentance on others and at the same time we cannot go around with packets of: you owe me an apology. NO, the Lord has set us truly free, remembering that it in not we that live but our life is in Christ and any offence is ultimately not against our own ego but against the Lord in whom we live and have our being: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal 2:20 AV) Indeed we are not to seek our own revenge for we have been purchased at a high price (the blood of the Lord), we do not belong to ourselves but to Him and He will defend and protect His own. (Rom 12:19-21
Posted on: Thu, 24 Jul 2014 16:57:57 +0000
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