Christian Cowboy Blog

Forgiveness & Freedom

by Marauder on 10/04/25

October 2, 2025

Forgiveness & Freedom

Interestingly, there is a lot of confusion about this topic. 

We are continually told to forgive our enemies. 

In our churches & in the World

The WORLD loves to tell us this again and again.  They try to say it is biblical.  But, in truth, what does the world know of scripture?

What do so many in Church truly know of scripture?

This is a hot topic now in light of Erica Kirk’s saying she forgives the murderer of her husband, Charlie Kirk.

The world loved it!  The majority of Christians love it.

It was a seemingly amazing response from a believer to the horrendous injury to Charlie, herself, her family and all who loved Charlie and his work.

But was it truly biblical?  Good theology?  Practical in life? 

We will see that it is not completely biblical and can mislead many.

Still, God has used her reaction to reach many. He uses it to show a person with a forgiving heart!

So here are the verses in the New Testament concerning “forgive.”

Mt 6:12  ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Mt 6:14  "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Mt 6:15  "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Mt 9:6  "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" — then He *said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home."

Mt 18:21  Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

Mt 18:35  "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart."

Mr 2:7  "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?"

Mr 2:10  "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" — He *said to the paralytic,

Mr 11:25  "Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your transgressions.

Lu 5:21  The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"

Lu 5:24  "But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," — He said to the paralytic — "I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home."

Lu 11:4  ‘And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.’"

Lu 17:3  "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Lu 17:4  "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him."

Lu 23:34  But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.

Joh 20:23  "If you forgive the sins of any, [their sins] have been forgiven them; if you retain the [sins] of any, they have been retained."

2Co 2:7  so that on the contrary you should rather forgive and comfort [him,] otherwise such a one might be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.

2Co 2:10  But one whom you forgive anything, I [forgive] also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, [I did it] for your sakes in the presence of Christ,

2Co 12:13  For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
(There is sarcasm in the Bible!)

1Jo 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Some Initial Conclusions:

·         Only God can truly forgive us of our sins.

·         With that truth, any forgiveness is based on God’s forgiveness.

·         We are commanded to forgive.

A Question.  Is there any condition for forgiveness?

A critical question is, does God always forgive?

If so, would anyone end up in Hell?

We know from the entire bible, that since God is holy, righteous, just and loving, there must be some condition.  Is it loving to allow (or encourage) injury to others?

What are the conditions?

1.      Justice.  Did you know that God only forgives after justice is restored?

2.      Responsibility of the guilty.  Yes, that is required.

Heb 9:22  without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Justice is only possible because someone must pay the price of the sin/transgression, etc.  That person is Christ Jesus.  That (propitiation) satisfies God’s righteous requirement.

Number 2, responsibility, is a little trickier for us.  But look at the verses:

·         Lu 5:32  "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance."

·         Lu 17:4  "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent

·         1Jo 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us . .

The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, literally means "change of mind." This isn't just regret; it's a complete transformation of thinking and acting.

Acts 3:19 emphasizes this transformation: "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord”

A very key, clear statement is made in 1 John.

1Jo 1:9  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Basic logic is helpful here, (but logic isn’t always basic.) 

Logic uses “If. . . then” statements.  So IF you confess, THEN forgiveness.

For example, IF I live in New York City, THEN I live in New York state.

The converse (mere reversal) may not be true, If I live in New York state, do I live in the city?  Not necessarily

But the contra positive IS always true.  That is switching the two statements but putting a “no” in front of each.

So IF I do NOT live in New York state, THEN I do NOT live in New York City.

 

So, going back to 1 John,  No forgiveness NO repentance.  Or without repentance there is no forgiveness.  You haven’t met the requirement.

So what does this all mean in living our life?!!

God wants (requires?) us to have an attitude of forgiveness!

We should be ready to forgive.

So if our friend, family, enemy truly repents, we are required to forgive.

But since God does not forgive all, neither are we required to. Without their repentance, we are spreading pearls before swine.  (It only confuses the pigs – and others.)

For humans, such false “forgiveness” can further encourage sin rather than change..

How do we LIVE this out?  How do we relate to active sin & sinners?

For this we go back to John the Baptist, the profit of the Lord.

Matt 3:7, 8   But when he (John) saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.

“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.”  Or Repent and show proof! (of that repentance.)

In extreme cases, it is appropriate to ask that the person demonstrate the change of heart by living it out for all to see.

This would be appropriate for those in leadership, in government and in the church. Did the congress person change how they lived and voted?

 

A Follow-up Question or two.

What about “forgive & Forget? 

The bible clearly says that God chooses to forget our paid for sin. 

But in this life, We do not have that same option, so how do we respond?

In our own life, we have seen and experienced some terrible sins and crimes.  Some to ourselves but more to loved ones.  This included such things as rejection, discrimination, minor and very major crimes.  So the Lord has allowed us to see and learn from the great effect of sin.  What have we learned?

In a few cases, the party did ask for forgiveness.  In those cases we forgave. In some cases, even becoming friends.

In some cases they wanted to be accepted again but didn’t fully even apologize. In those cases, we sometimes forgave in hope, trusting the Lord for results.

In worse cases, there no repentance or even remorse, so forgiveness is not appropriate.  We do not carry that.  We turned them over to the Lord.  Vengeance (justice) is His.

The important part for us is our attitude. 

Eph 4:6, 7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

We know that God is loving, righteous, holy and just, so we can throw our burden onto Him and know He will do what is right.

We can do nothing - nothing productive with anger but by giving it to Him He has given us restoration and freedom.  We don’t have to think of it anymore. Wonderful.

God’s promise of eternal heaven and eternal hell are so comforting.  It may take an eternity in heaven for some to be consoled.  (Think of holocaust victims, etc.) The knowledge that their offender is receiving just punishment (without repentance) is part of that consolation.

Truly evil people who have caused the torture and death to millions will then receive justice that only the Lord can give.  Realizing that even those, the Lord sought to repent and made repentance and salvation possible with His dying on the cross.  How great is the punishment of all who reject such love and sacrifice.

So be comforted.  Continue to seek the Lord’s forgiveness and grace.  And trust Him to help us share that love, forgiveness and grace to others.