Mortal forgiveness is required?

[Janette]

I recently read a very odd article by someone who seemed to be arguing that *mortal* forgiveness of sins (I guess by the person wronged?) was *required* for someone to receive forgiveness for his or her sin.

By that he meant that if (for example) a wife lied to her husband, and her husband forgave her, then she was forgiven. But if he did NOT forgive her, then she was NOT forgiven...apparently in his eyes or God's.

Now last I checked, that kind of forgiveness was *way* above the pay grade of any mortal man on earth.

The passage this person is quoting is from John:

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am
sending you." And with hat he breathed on them and said, "Receive the
Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 10: 21-23

I'm not at all sure what kind of context one has to take this verse in to come up to the idea that *I* have to forgive everyone of everything they've ever done to me before *God* forgives them (sounds like two separate issues to me)...

But since this person is *supposed* to be an educated theologian, I wanted to hear the takes of others on this.

Personally, I always figured failing to have a forgiving heart brought *me* further away from the ideal of being like Jesus...but had no bearing on the forgiveness received by whomever wronged me.


Just curious what people's thoughts are.....

 

[Coconut]

The following article reflects my limited understanding of this passage. As the author states, I think the preceding words, "Receive the Holy Spirit" is of key importance in the context of what is being said here.

"Some believe that the apostles were given power to forgive sins in a direct and absolute sense. This view is inconsistent with Luke 5:21 which states that only God can forgive sin"

John 20:4 - whoever's sins you forgive are forgiven

(disclaimer: not endorsing the author, his name is unfamiliar to me)

 

[Boanerges]

Jesus though God walked as a man to be our perfect example for us. Just as He forgave in the Father's Name so can a member of the body of Christ extend His forgiveness to others.

 

[rlowe]

Eph 4:32
Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

Col 1:13-14
13 He (Christ Jesus) rescued us from the power of darkness and brought us safe into the kingdom of his dear Son,
14 by whom we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven.

Col 3:13
Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.

1Jo 2:2
And Christ himself is the means by which our sins are forgiven, and not our sins only, but also the sins of everyone.

NOTE: The Good News Translation, said elsewhere in chapter

 

[Paul83]

I recently read a very odd article by someone who seemed to be arguing that *mortal* forgiveness of sins (I guess by the person wronged?) was *required* for someone to receive forgiveness for his or her sin.

By that he meant that if (for example) a wife lied to her husband, and her husband forgave her, then she was forgiven. But if he did NOT forgive her, then she was NOT forgiven...apparently in his eyes or God's.

Now last I checked, that kind of forgiveness was *way* above the pay grade of any mortal man on earth.

The passage this person is quoting is from John:

Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am
sending you." And with hat he breathed on them and said, "Receive the
Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 10: 21-23

I'm not at all sure what kind of context one has to take this verse in to come up to the idea that *I* have to forgive everyone of everything they've ever done to me before *God* forgives them (sounds like two separate issues to me)...

But since this person is *supposed* to be an educated theologian, I wanted to hear the takes of others on this.

Personally, I always figured failing to have a forgiving heart brought *me* further away from the ideal of being like Jesus...but had no bearing on the forgiveness received by whomever wronged me.


Just curious what people's thoughts are.....

I really think John 20:21-23 is referring to church discipline. Which if you want to get a complete view of this teaching you need to read Matthew 18:15-22. Hear Jesus gives an example to the disciples of proper Church function in which if the trepassing brother/sister does not repent they shall be "as an heathen man and a publican." (Matthew 18:17) Peter asked Jesus how many times do we forgive a brother who trepass against us in Matthew 18:21-22. See also James 5:19-20.


If we as believers in Christ want to hold a grudge we are free to but the one who askes forgiveness is forgiven by God but not the one who won't forgive.
Matthew 6:14-15
14) For if ye forgive men their trepasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15) But if ye forgive not men their trepasses, neither will your Father forgive your trepasses."
Notice if we forgive not only does God forgive us but He is our "Heavenly Father!" But if we don't forgive, God won't forgive us and He is our Father which means Chastisement (Hebrews 12:5-11, verse 9 especially).