Can You Still Forgive If The One Who Wronged You Refuses To Repent?

People-Centered Prayer
(c) Our Need To Forgive (continued)

“And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.” – Matt. 6:12

Before we leave the subject of forgiveness, perhaps we should ask the question: what happens if the one who has wronged us does not repent or admit the error of his/her way? Can we still forgive them?

The Lord forgave us at Calvary, but that forgiveness only becomes a reality in our lives and experience the moment we confess and forsake our sin.

In the same way, we are free to forgive those who wrong us. Does that mean we ignore their attitude and try to patch up our friendship with a “Christian Band-Aid”? Absolutely not! They do not receive the benefit of our forgiveness, nor reconciliation and restoration of fellowship until the matter is cleared. Reconciliation is a two-way street.

But we can go on our way, praising the Lord with peace in our hearts, after having done all we could to put the matter to rest. Their attitude becomes a problem between them and God. We do not need to walk around in bitterness and pain.

We are free to forgive because we have been forgiven! (Luke 6:28).

Val Waldeck

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