I Want to be Forgiven! (Jesus, ritual, grace, hell)

[Starfish]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

"Holding a grudge is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

I had forgotten that quote! I heard it once on a radio talk show. LOVE IT.

[ἀλήθεια]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

I see what you mean, but it's so hard for me to separate forgiveness and trust. God says that when He forgives us of our sins, He'll also forget them. (At least that's what the LDS teach. Is that your belief, too?) So shouldn't our goal be to put the hurt behind us entirely? Obviously, there are some things we can't forget, and as you implied, if we continue to trust people who continue to hurt us, we're really just opening ourselves up to more hurt. There are a few people in my life who have really hurt me. Knowing they'd do the same thing again in a minute if they had the chance makes it really hard for me to forgive them. Maybe understanding why they would do some of the things they do would be a good first step.

Well, we can't go around being angry and we can't just forget the way God does. So I ask God to help me forgive and forget. The sooner I forgive, the easier it is to forget. I don't think we're supposed to keep spending time with people who want us to behave in an ungodly way. Just see them occasionally or almost not at all.

Ephesians 4
26Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

God forgave me when I didn't deserve His forgiveness; why should I withhold my forgiveness from another until that person behaves in a way I approve of?

Ephesians 4
31Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

1 Corinthians 15
34Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

[ἀλήθεια]

Originally Posted by Katzpur

According to LDS doctrine, God will not tolerate sin "with the least degree of allowance." In other words, it's not a matter of whether your good deeds outweigh your sins. God won't tolerate sin. Period.

Admittedly, that makes God sound unnecessarily harsh, since it's a no-brainer to think we can live a life completely free from sin. In actuality, LDS doctrine (and I'm assuming Christian doctrine in general) teaches that every last one of our sins can be erased completely from God's memory if we do three things (1) make every effort to change our behavior, (2) trust in Jesus Christ's Atonement, and (3) forgive those who have wronged us. See, I have no problem with numbers 1 and 2. It's number 3 I struggle with.

I know I'm probably being harder on myself than God is. At least He knows I'm trying. There are just a few people in my life I'm having a hard time forgiving, and in every instance I can think of, they are people who would hurt me again at the drop of a hat if they had the chance. That's why I'm struggling.

If I am aware of sins in my own life, I go to God for forgiveness and help.

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



His mercies are new every morning!



Lamentations 3

22It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

I pray this prayer and I'm so overwhelmed by God's love because I know He wants to sanctify those who have come to Christ (those who are trusting that He truly and completely paid for the sins of His followers on the cross of Calvary):
Psalm 139
23Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

God restores my soul! He leads me in paths of righteousness!

I can be kind and compassionate to others, forgiving them, just as in Christ God forgave me.

[Jeremy Mason]

This is some good advice.

Luke 17:1-4 (NIV)

1Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. 2It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 3So watch yourselves.
"If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Notice the person has said he is trying to repent, however

Matthew 10:23

23When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.



It depends on whether or not the person is actually trying to repent. If they aren't willing to repent then change your circumstances.