Why does God tell us to forgive those who sin against us regardless if they’ve asked for forgiveness or not when He doesn’t use the same method?
Have you ever wondered why God tells us to always forgive, yet the Bible says He won’t forgive us unless we forgive others? It may sound like a double standard…but it’s not.
I’ve pondered this question in my mind for some time now. “Why does God tell us to forgive everyone, always, while He doesn’t always forgive?” Well, last night, the Lord answered the inquiry of my heart.
Just before bedtime yesterday evening, the Lord told me to read Revelation 18. I fell asleep only after getting halfway through it. It’s somewhat a bold chapter; therefore, I didn’t doze off because I was bored, I slumbered because it was past midnight.
So, this morning when I awoke, I continued reading Revelation 18. Then suddenly, without even asking a question, the Lord answered me. He answered the question that had taken residence in my mind and heart for months: “Why does God tell us to forgive 70 times seven (Matt. 18:21-22), yet the Bible says the Lord won’t forgive us unless we forgive others?” (Matt. 6:15).
As usual, His answer was simple and precise, “I do not forgive unless one asks for forgiveness for judgment reasons. I am the Judge, man is not.”
From then on, I understood! It became clear as day for me. That’s something only God Himself could have revealed because I don’t think I would have ever gotten that on my own.
Sins are crimes against God and heaven. When we all stand before God, the Judge, on Judgement Day, being a fair and righteous Judge, the Lord cannot let those off the hook for the things they have not apologized for or repentant of. There has to be something to be judged on Judgment Day, or else it wouldn’t be called just that (Rev. 20:11-12). That day must occur because God’s Word does not return to Him void nor hits the ground.
Anyone who knows even a tad bit about judication knows that a judge would be no judge at all if all crime [or sin] was forgiven, as there would be no vindication. Remember, God says, “Vengeance is Mine!” (Duet. 32:35).
So prophecy is fulfilled, there has to be something to judge. Again, there would be no such thing as Judgement Day if this was the case. The Lord knows there will be many who will not repent nor ask forgiveness for their wrongdoing, and that must be accounted for.
Don’t forget, God promises to vindicate the souls of the saints under the altar in Heaven who will be martyred for their faith, not giving in to the antichrist, and for not taking the Mark of the Beast during the Great Tribulation. (Rev. 6:9; Rev. 14:9-10).
We, as human beings, must forgive those who have caused offense to us because unforgiveness literally grips and poisons our very soul and spirit. God is a forgiving God and will hastily forgive when asked; therefore, so should we. But take note, because we don’t have that authority of the Judge, we must forgive even if one does not offer an apology.
We are not the Judge; therefore, we are not obligated nor permitted to hold on to records of wrong as it serves no functional purpose for us. For God, it does.
Did you know that the judicial system originated in Heaven? Have you ever wondered why when a person is read their Miranda Rights, the arresting officer always says, “You have a right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law”? That originated from Heaven and it’s 100% biblical. Except in Heaven, it’s more like, what you say, do, and think will be held against you in the court of law [Court of Heaven].
Remember, if God were to forgive everyone without their asking for forgiveness, the Lord would not be the fair and righteous God that He is. He wouldn’t be able to vindicate wrong for wrongdoing and no one would be held accountable for the evil they do to others, themself, and or to God.