Forgiveness is true love

arunangelo · Post by **arunangelo** » Sat Jan 09, 2010 10:53 pm

Forgiveness is true love because in forgiving we not only give up the claims we have over our offenders but also sacrifice our own interest in the process of bringing healing to our offenders. In God we see the fullness of forgiving love. Although God is the king of Universe and infinite in power, He humbled Himself to become a mere human being in the person of Jesus. In doing this He surrendered His will by subjecting Himself to human conditions of a sinful world. Furthermore, although we offered Him no love, betrayed Him, were unfaithful to Him and hurt Him by our sins, He sacrificed His life while suffering the most brutal torture, in order to free us from sin. In other words, He the victim compensated for the hurt we caused Him by sacrificing His own life. In doing this He stayed faithful to His covenant and showed us what true love is. If we want to follow Him we must love one another the way He loved us (John 15:12).

Miles · Post by **Miles** » Sun Jan 10, 2010 12:40 am

Not always. Sometimes forgiveness is done to garner the respect of others, even one's god. Other times it's done to increase one's own self regard, sort of an "Ain't I a good person!!" ratification.

arunangelo · Post by **arunangelo** » Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:41 pm

Miles wrote:Not always. Sometimes forgiveness is done to garner the respect of others, even one's god. Other times it's done to increase one's own self regard, sort of an "Ain't I a good person!!" ratification.

Then it is not true forgiveness.

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Sun Jan 17, 2010 8:54 am

So has God forgiven me for my unbelief?

arunangelo · Post by **arunangelo** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 1:48 pm

McCulloch wrote:So has God forgiven me for my unbelief?

God has forgiven all your sins. It is now upto you to accept that forgiveness by being sorry for your sins.

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Tue Jan 19, 2010 3:00 pm

McCulloch wrote: So has God forgiven me for my unbelief?

arunangelo wrote: God has forgiven all your sins. It is now up to you to accept that forgiveness by being sorry for your sins.

arunangelo wrote: Forgiveness is true love because in forgiving we not only give up the claims we have over our offenders but also sacrifice our own interest in the process of bringing healing to our offenders.

So if God has forgiven my unbelief, he has given up the claim that he has over me, he has sacrificed his own interest in the process of bringing healing to me. Right? I still don't believe, but if you are correct, I have nothing to fear from this forgiving loving God. He will not withhold his blessing from me merely because I have not been convinced of his existence by the weak and rather unconvincing arguments and evidence put forward by his followers.

arunangelo · Post by **arunangelo** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:01 pm

McCulloch wrote:
McCulloch wrote: So has God forgiven me for my unbelief?

arunangelo wrote: God has forgiven all your sins. It is now up to you to accept that forgiveness by being sorry for your sins.

arunangelo wrote: Forgiveness is true love because in forgiving we not only give up the claims we have over our offenders but also sacrifice our own interest in the process of bringing healing to our offenders.

So if God has forgiven my unbelief, he has given up the claim that he has over me, he has sacrificed his own interest in the process of bringing healing to me. Right? I still don't believe, but if you are correct, I have nothing to fear from this forgiving loving God. He will not withhold his blessing from me merely because I have not been convinced of his existence by the weak and rather unconvincing arguments and evidence put forward by his followers.

God is your Father who loves you infinitely. You do not have to fear HIm. He does not withhold His blessings from anyone and will do everything possible to help you. All you have to do is to accept His blessings by using them. Love and forgiveness are the greatests of all blessings because they are the source of all blessings.

McCulloch · Post by **McCulloch** » Thu Jan 21, 2010 3:54 pm

arunangelo wrote: God is your Father who loves you infinitely. You do not have to fear HIm.

I don't fear him. I don't even believe that he exists. Don't Christians teach that fearing God is a good thing?

arunangelo wrote: He does not withhold His blessings from anyone and will do everything possible to help you.

Since he is omnipotent, I should be expecting to see some evidence soon to dispel my unbelief.

arunangelo wrote: All you have to do is to accept His blessings by using them.

Why do I have to do anything?

arunangelo wrote: Love and forgiveness are the greatest of all blessings because they are the source of all blessings.

So, if I love and forgive others, I will be loved and forgiven by God. No belief required.

Compassionist · Post by **Compassionist** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:40 pm

arunangelo wrote:
McCulloch wrote:So has God forgiven me for my unbelief?
God has forgiven all your sins. It is now upto you to accept that forgiveness by being sorry for your sins.

Given all the suffering in the world, I think that God is / Gods are either imaginary or evil. How can you reconcile the existence of an omnibenevolent, omniscient and omnipotent God with the presence of suffering? I didn't ask to be alive. I don't even like being alive. If I could have prevented my existence, I would have. Life is mostly suffering. What right does God(s) have to create life when life is so full of suffering?

Besides, the claims in the Bible and the Quran are not supported by evidence. What evidence do you have to support the contradictory creation stories in the Genesis? What evidence do you have to support the alleged virgin birth, miracles, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus?

Compassionist · Post by **Compassionist** » Fri Jan 22, 2010 10:46 pm

arunangelo wrote: God is your Father who loves you infinitely. You do not have to fear HIm. He does not withhold His blessings from anyone and will do everything possible to help you. All you have to do is to accept His blessings by using them. Love and forgiveness are the greatests of all blessings because they are the source of all blessings.

Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge" - it would appear that the Bible advocates fearing God. In fact, I have heard many Christians describe themselves and others as God-fearing Christian. One does not need religion to be forgiving and loving. I am both forgiving and loving even though I am a Compassionist Agnostic Atheist Humanist.