On the right hand of God

[Adino]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Technically, I think you do. IOW, before they ask you can only be ready to forgive them whenever they ask, but you cannot actually forgive them before they ask. I think we are missing the true definition of the term "forgive" when we say we can forgive before someone asks. Otherwise they do not need to ask us for it.

I may be mistaken, but I think that when we say we forgive them before they ask, we should more correctly say we made up our minds that we are ready to forgive them whenever they ask.

Doesn't Christ's request "Father forgive them for they know not what they do" contradict your conclusion here, Mfblume? If they are to be forgiven by God 'not knowing what they did' they certainly can be forgiven by God without first acknowledging the infraction.

It is certainly possible to forgive someone prior to them asking for forgiveness. The forgiving party is the party violated. A person violated must come to terms with how he chooses to view someone who has transgressed against him. He not only determines, like you said, that he 'would' forgive the transgressor if asked to do so, but he also determines whether or not he will continue to hold it against the transgressor even if not asked for forgiveness.

As I've said several times, there is an issue of two consciences being dealt with in regard to forgiveness. The conscience of the one violated and the conscience of the one who committed the violation. There are times the one who is violated has a conscience of a transgression long before the one who committed the transgression comes to acknowledge the sin. My previous analogy clearly points out this very scenario.

I hold that the 'victim' can have a purged conscience whether the conscience of the one who transgressed against him is 'healed' or not. The healings of the two consciences are separate and distinct and not contingent upon each other.

I believe GOD'S 'conscience of our sin' was purged/satisfied/mended on the Cross. It is only much later when we come to acknowledge our transgressions and believe the Gospel that OUR 'conscience of sin' is made whole. Again, I point to my previous analogy.

We are 'made whole' when we place our trust in the historic forgiveness of God.