Thank you Mark for your comments. It is wonderful to rejoice in the glory of the Lord.

Rosangela,

By what spirit, means and ways will you forgive unconditionally, while God can only forgive conditionally?

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Rosangela, the above says, that "IF" we confess - he is faithful and just. Doesn't that mean that if we do not confess, he is not faithful and not just? It is truly amazing what we can make the Lord be; how we can change God, and what he is; just by us confessing, repenting, and changing our mind. If you apply the one like that why not the other?

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Exo 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD

Exo 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Exo 34:7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty;

Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Amen

Tom,

The text means that applying the efficacy of Christ's blood to our lives will ensure that we aren't negatively affected when His wrath against sin is manifested.

Rosangela, for God as for men, there is both unilateral and bilateral forgiveness. A reconciliation can only take place if there is bilateral forgiveness. If someone wrongs us, we forgive them *before* they ask us for it. At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. If we are to forgive our enemies, it's not likely they are asking us for forgiveness.

However, although we have forgiven them in our hearts, we cannot be reconciled to them unless there is repentance on their part (assuming they have wronged us) and an acceptance of our forgiveness. This isn't because we are making a requirement of them, but that's just the way things are.

Similarly, God forgave us before we asked. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" exhibits this aspect of God's graciousness. It's obvious that God forgave unconditionally because if He hadn't, we'd all be dead. Sin results in death, yet we are alive. Why? Because God has forgiven us.

Statements to the effect that forgiveness is not unconditional are dealing with bilateral forgiveness. The relationship cannot be healed if we do not repent. Not because God is unwilling, but our hatred, anger and misunderstanding of Him will continue until we repent. "Repent" means to change one's mind, and until we change our mind from hating God, being angry at Him, and misunderstanding Him we will remain "de mal" (at odds) with Him.

So with both God and men we have:
1) Forgiveness takes place in the heart of the one offended.
2) Forgiveness is received on the part of the offending party on the condition of repentance.

1) takes place *before* 2). 1) is not conditional upon 2), but 2) has it's conditions, which are not arbitrary, but just reflect reality. You can't receive someone else's forgiveness if you persist in being angry at them.

This is what Ps. 18 says:

quote:

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With the kind You show Yourself kind;
With the blameless You show Yourself blameless;
With the pure You show Yourself pure,
And with the crooked You show Yourself crooked. (Ps. 18:25, 26; I changed the last word from "astute" to "crooked")

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This is bringing out the idea that we perceive God according to our own character, which brings out the importance of seeing God as He really is, since that has such a profound impact on our own character.

Thanks Tom: I always was vague on the last sentence of that verse; now it clicks!