Conflict? Ask Ken: If Repentance is to Precede Forgiveness, What About...

Two issues almost automatically arise when one suggests that the Bible teaches that, following the divine pattern for salvation, forgiveness is conditional upon repentance. 

The Thief on the Cross

First, what about the thief on the cross?  The text is found in Luke 23:33-34:

• 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

The point is clearly made that Jesus forgave these men who never asked for forgiveness.  Before we make any statements about the meaning of this passage, let’s ask a few questions.  What did Jesus mean when he said the they didn’t know what they were doing?  When they placed Jesus on the cross, had the soldiers never crucified anyone before?  Unlikely.  The description of Jesus’ crucifixion is in accordance with common practices of what is known about crucifixion from that time.  When they placed Jesus on the cross and put spikes through his hands and feet, did they not know what they were doing?  They knew exactly what they were doing.  They followed protocol.  When they crucified the two criminals on each side of Jesus, did they not know what they were doing in those instances as well?  They knew.  So what is it that these men were ignorant of?

My best understanding is that they were ignorant of the fact that Jesus was the divine Son of God.  Who among them could have imagined that they were killing the incarnation of God on earth?  Can you imagine the conversation if any of these soldiers went home to their wives that night?  If the wife asked, “Honey, how was your day?” how many of these men would have said, “Sweetheart, today we killed God”?  I can’t imagine that, can you?  And yet, that is exactly what they did when they crucified Jesus. 

On the cross, Jesus was well-aware of his mission and identity.  To the one criminal who requested, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” Jesus replied, “today you will be with me in Paradise.”  Before he breathed his last, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  I don’t think that Jesus was talking merely about his life, but about the work that his father had given him to complete on earth –  to die for the sins of the world so that those who look to him in faith, would live in God’s presence forever.

Therefore, does it make any sense that, while Jesus is dying for the world so that mankind may repent of sin and be forgiven by God, he is now saying that repentance is not needed for forgiveness?  Scarcely.

I would rather go with what seems to me to be the most obvious and least problematic interpretation of the text:  Jesus is asking is his father not to hold this particular sin of crucifying the son of God against these soldiers because they had no idea who they were really crucifying.  To develop a pattern for forgiveness that then undercuts the purpose of the cross and the Biblical requirement for repentance to receive divine forgiveness of one’s sins (see last weeks posting), in my view, is unwarranted.  I concur with John Earp’s comment (March 31, 2005 11:36 am.  Article: “Is Biblical Forgiveness Conditional? Yes!”).  He stated, “At the very most, this statement could mean they were forgiven for this particular act on account of their ignorance, but that would not mean that all their other (and our other) sins are forgiven in this way.”

The Alternative to “Unconditional Forgiveness” and “Bitterness”

The second and bigger concern has to do with what “unforgiveness” does to the victim.  Over the last weeks, a number of people have appropriately raised this issue.  Let me cite Tye (March 21, 2005 10:23 am:  Article: “Are Some Offenses Unforgivable?”).

• “I agree with Pastor Al. Forgiveness releases the victim and allows them to move on.
  Unforgiveness only binds the victim and prevents them from experiencing God's blessings, primarily because they often become consumed with the person at fault and lose sight of God and the mercy and grace he has freely given us….  Unforgiveness is a killer. It raises stress and can even cause physical and psychological issues, it robs our homes of peace and security, and ultimately it takes away our joy that can only be found in Jesus.”

I wholeheartedly agree with these remarks and others like them.  But there is an alterative between “unconditional forgiveness” and “bitterness.”  Again, looking to the divine pattern that alternative is, “willing to forgive.”  Consider the following passages.

• Matthew 23:37-39
  37“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
• 2 Peter 3:9
  9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Such a willingness to forgive is found in Acts 2:22-23, 36-38 and Acts 3:13-15, 19 where Peter is preaching to those who were responsible for Jesus’ death and invites them to “repent” in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38) and refreshing from the Lord (Acts 3:19).

What is God’s attitude toward those who are unrepentant?  His loves still shines through in that he remains willing to forgive.  Yet, our disobedience and wrongdoing is not ignored.  His holiness and righteous cannot overlook unrepentant sin.   

This, I believe, is what our mindset should be.  Moreover, I would argue that the emotional attitude of those who are willing to forgive is very much the same as those who have forgiven the unrepentant offender.

Discussion

More will be said about this next week.  In the meantime, what are your thoughts to the above presentation.  Then in advance of next week’s discussion, consider this question:  “Does forgiving an unrepentant sinner promote sin?”

 

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© 2005 Kenneth C. Newberger
Ken Newberger, an experienced church conflict resolution specialist, earned his Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, has ten years senior pastoral experience, and is in the dissertation phase for his Ph.D. in Conflict Analysis and Resolution at Nova Southeastern University, one of only two accredited doctoral programs of its kind in the United States. If your church needs help resolving conflict, if you need individual coaching, or if you would like to introduce a proactive conflict management system into your church, please visit Ken's website at www.ResolveChurchConflict.com  or call 301-253-8877.

 

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