The Question of Forgiveness

If we make a mistake and sincerely repent we expect to be forgiven. But there are some who seem to expect to be forgiven an unlimited number of times and to have all manner of errors corrected and canceled, simply say they are sorry. There are some who repent while the fear of consequences is upon them, who promptly repeat their errors when fear has past. But repentance is more than saying “I’m sorry”; it is more than fear of consequences; it is more than the embarrassment of being caught; it is more than behaving well while others are watching. Repentance involves a change within⎯a change which actually abandons old errors. And only under such circumstances may we reasonably expect the law of forgiveness to function for us. The farmer who expects the earth and climate to forgive him and yield abundantly when he plants carelessly and cultivates poorly is due for disappointment. Nature does not forgive except upon demonstration of repentance. The businessman who persists in his errors cannot count on repeated forgiveness. His creditors soon weary of forgiveness, and a persistently unrepentant businessman may expect to become bankrupt. He who desires forgiveness from friends, before the law, in business, or in dealing with nature, or in standing before God, must offer genuine repentance⎯such as the Savior suggested when He said: “Go, and sin no more.”¹ “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.”² Seemingly then, there is virtually no limit to the number of times we are expected to forgive others. But this fact does not justify the frequent offender. The persistent repetition of error suggests that repentance is not sincere. And while we may be expected to forgive others seventy times seven, it is a wise man who doesn’t count on being forgiven seventy times seven.