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Posted this note on YouVersion regarding Ephesians 4:32 –
“I am all about apologies! My many mistakes provide numerous opportunities to practice and get really good at apologizing. I don't want to diminish the importance of saying I'm sorry, but I think some people don't feel like they can forgive unless they receive an apology from the person who wronged them. I want to challenge that notion and shed the light of Scripture on it.
Does God wait till we say we're sorry before He forgives us? After all, 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So it would seem that the confessing is required, and if confession is made, I guess the apology is assumed, right? But looking at Romans 5:8, we see that “While we were still sinners Christ died for us…" so forgiveness was offered before the confession was made. God didn't wait till we said we were sorry. And if He didn't wait, and if He is our example, then why do we wait for a “good enough" apology before we forgive? Just something to think about if you run into people who are hard to forgive – like me…
True forgiveness isn't dependent on a good apology; true forgiveness is offered before an apology is made."
So I went kind of long on that note, and now I'm adding to it, but I feel strongly about this topic because I see many unforgiving Christians out there
This also came out of a text message I sent to a friend who I've been hammering over the head with the Gospel for over a year – probably not the preferred method of presenting GRACE (God's Riches At Christ's Expense) but I'm working on it. I think I shut him down though, because I pointed out he's worshiping a different god than I am. My motive is to help him understand Christ, (Who he rejects as God) but I often fail to communicate my intentions effectively (still need to do a week of blogs on my faults.) Anyway, I don't think I've apologized adequately enough for him to feel like re-engaging me in dialogue…
Well we shall see what happens with my friend, and I hope this too will help me develop the fine art of apologizing. But if there's someone in your life your waiting to get an apology from, stop waiting, forgive them now – maybe forgiveness is what they need to feel so eventually they'll say “I'm sorry."
Peace,
Adam