What is your definition of forgiveness?

Question

To me, this is one of the most difficult concepts for a person to understand. What is forgiveness and how do you forgive another person?

Answer 1

forgiveness is releasing a person from the debt they owe you, saying, i acknowledge what you've done to me, but i choose to release you from that debt to me, you owe me nothing, and it's as if it never were, i no longer hold that against you.



it does not take two people, i can forgive someone without them knowing it. what does it matter to me if they acknowledge my forgiveness or not? just like people can forgive a deceased parent for the way they treated them as a kid, it's not like they can't forgive them because they didn't get that person's permission. [in response to polko or whoever said that]

Answer 2

Forgiveness is definitely a misunderstood concept. To forgive is to work through and let go of the anger, hate, and malice that you hold against another person who has wronged you. However, a person who has wronged you still has to be held accountable. Forgive and forget doesn't work terribly well in most cases, because the perpetrator will never learn to modify their behavior. Holding someone accountable is a loving act also, I would contend. Since holding someone accountable for their actions gives them the opportunity to atone for what they have done as well as learn what their character flaws are so that they can change.

Answer 3

When a person says, " I'll forgive you, but I can't forget ", what he's actually saying is, " I'm big enough to overlook the injury, but I'll never forgive it ". He's not forgiving at all.

So what is forgetful forgiveness? Well, it's not erasing the past; it's not a psychological shock treatment that blots out memory. It's actually a healing action on the wound that cures the infection and takes out the pain. When the incident comes to mind, we don't live it over again. We don't let memory reopen the wound and reinfect us. What's past is past; it can't be undone. But it's effect on us can be fantastically changed by forgiveness. Then and only then are we freed to learn huge lessons we would never have learned without the injury.

Forgiveness has wonderful healing powers. It restores eyesight; we suddenly see ourselves much more clearly. A person who cannot forgive must be blind to his own faults, like he's never done anything that needed to be forgiven.

When we really see ourselves, we notice things like people have been forgiving us, overlooking our faults and we've hardly noticed.

Unforgiveness distorts our vision, everything goes out of focus. Faults are magnified out of proportion, while our good points are blurred. But once we forgive our vision returns, our perspective returns.

Forgiveness is total acceptance. This includes acceptance of the injury and of the suffering and also, acceptance of the one who caused the suffering. To forgive is to give oneself, asking nothing in return. It is to love where to hate would be the natural response. It pardons the one who deserves punishment. It frees him from the burden of guilt.

This is the way God forgives. Anyone who comes to Him honestly will receive complete unreserved forgiveness and acceptance. Here is His promise " I will remember their sins no more " ( Hebrews 8:12). When God forgives, He forgets!

Answer 4

If you believe that we all make mistakes and bad choices then you can forgive people for what they do to you. Forgiving someone for what they did means that you understand the reasons why they may have done it and hold no hard feelings and do not wish revenge.



Forgiveness doesn't mean that you don't feel pain or that it is ok for them to hurt you again. It simply means understanding.



Sometimes it takes a while to get to a point where you can forgive because you have to work through the pain and the emotions that cloud your ability to understand.



I do my best to forgive because it is more fulfilling to love and help than to hate and hurt.

Answer 5

Everyone forgives differently some can totally forgive hug and love the one who have hurt them



But I feel what you forgiving makes a difference.

It is easy to forgive a friend who lied to you, a mate who cheats, one who steals from you.



But there are things I can not forgive...the shooting of a loved one in cold blood, the horrible things a child molester does to an Innocent child, a rapist, terrorist (911)

these things I cant forgive and if God is the loving God I have been brought up knowing he will understand my feelings and why I feel them

If not then to hell I am dammed but then I ask what kind of loving God would is this I have believed in

Answer 6

Oh.. why didn't you pick an easier word.. It is so simple and yet so difficult.. In general... Forgiveness is the mental process of ceasing to feel resentment or anger against another person for a perceived offence, difference or mistake, or ceasing to demand punishment or restitution. Forgiveness may be considered simply in terms of the feelings of the person who forgives, or in terms of the relationship between the forgiver and the person forgiven. In some contexts, it may be granted without any expectation of compensation, and without any response on the part of the offender (for example, one may forgive a person who is dead). In practical terms, it may be necessary for the offender to offer some form of apology or restitution, or even just ask for forgiveness, in order for the wronged person to believe they are able to forgive.

Answer 7

Forgiveness is the act of letting go of all anger, hatred, rage, sorrow, grief, guilt and any other negative emotion that was caused by the person or action that you need to forgive. Sometimes we have to forgive ourselves first for getting involved with a person or in a situatin that caused us so much harm before we can forgive the other person.



The act of forgiveness gets easier when we forgive ourselves and learn to love ourselves and others unconditionally. When you love yourself and others unconditionally, you accept yourself and them completely, understanding that we all make mistakes, we all hurt and we all need to be forgiven.

Answer 8

To release someone of whatever we perceive to be their role or responsibility in some negative happening, incident, situation, chain of events, negative emotions, etc. Along with that, to let the matter go...to let it unfold as it may without regard to who caused what and, especially, without thinking in terms of someone being at fault. I've known this is my definition of forgiveness for a while now. I've recently added an important detail to it: When possible, it's good if that forgiveness can be expressed directly to the people we have felt are involved, BUT whenever that's not possible or not advisable then we can do it individually via our thoughts and feelings of good will and release. Either way works wonders. If having direct communication or contact with those involved is a thought we can't bear for any reason, then it's perfectly reasonable to release them and the situation within our own mind, silently and unbeknownst to others. Once the release is in place, we need to remind ourselves of it periodically. This doesn't go without saying, as the mind will have become habituated over long periods of time to blaming those we've felt are the "guilty" parties. It's ok to have to remind oneself mutliple times over long periods of time and even to have to struggle with the decision of whether to forgive and afterwards of having forgiven. In fact, very often, if not most times, that struggle and multiple reminders are the only way to achieve forgiveness. Last but by no means least, let's not forget to forgive ourselves for our own roles in any situations and also for having placed blame on others and ourselves, to no one's benefit.

Answer 9

Well, islamically, there are kinda of like two parts to it:

The Divine forgiveness/ Forgiveness from God and then there is the Pre-Divine Forgiveness that comes before the other.



When you are forgiven by god, the wrong-doing is completely erase, okay? But before that can happen,



(if you hurt animals, they are totally at your mercy and they can't forgive you unless you plead to God with utter sincerity)



The person to whom you did the wrong to better be alive so that you can go tell them you are sorry with all your heart and soul, you ask their forgiveness first, because only then will God forgive you. Why should God forgive someone if it is He who was wronged but his creation and your fellow human being

Answer 10

the act of excusing a mistake or offense; to release (a person) from liability for an offense.



To forgive another person you have to decide every time you think of their actions that they are excused, not hold it against them. If you think they should suffer or pay then they are not really being forgiven. I also believe you can't forgive something that the "offender" hasn't asked forgiveness for- because they aren't repentant of their behavior and there is still the possibility of it being repeated.

Answer 11

A person says something to you that is rude. It hurts or offends you deeply. They regret it, come to you and say, I'm sorry, please forgive me.



This is the bible speaking about God's forgiveness of our sins when we repent: He puts our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west, and remembers them no more.



A Godly example of how we forgive: we instantly forgive, never bring it up again. Maybe it will come up again in our minds, how much it hurt. We then turn to God and say, help me forget this...and not get upset about it all over again. Not only do we never use it against the person we forgave, we never hold it against them covertly either (on the surface forgiving, but simmering over it and letting our anger come out at them in another way).



In other words, to forgive means to forget it, for all of time. Just as God does for us.

Answer 12

First, you can only forgive when the person asks for forgiveness. There is then a repair of the damage done by that person to you. Then, after the satisfaction of the action: Forget.



There is no forgiveness if: There was no one asking for it; There was no repair, that is, reparation of the thing damaged.

Answer 13

Letting out all aggression an hatred towards that person. That's it. When i was in Iraq one of my men were killed, when he was shot lying on the ground unconscious, an insurgent dropped a rock on his head a few times till it crushed his skull.



2 days later my unit caught up to him and some of his boys. Well we killed his men, and when i raided the room he was resting in my eyes met his, and i could see how badly he wanted to grab the rifle right in front of him. I new i could kill him or capture him.



So i killed him. Not because i hated him, not because i wanted revenge, but b/c i new i couldn't take him with use, and i wanted to make sure he didn't do what he did to my fellow marines again.



Point is forgiveness is not for there benefit, but for yours, and forgiveness isn't forgetting.

Answer 14

My 6 year old grand-daughter named Aliah.



She was put on earth to test my patience and ability to forgive.



I never met a more coniving person under the age of 20.



If you tell this girl no to anything it consumes her entire mind and body until she does it. She will be on dope by age 10 and in prison by 15.



And I am begging God to forgive whatever I did and make me able to find a way to change this girl before it is too late..



Not sure though, but trying.

Answer 15

Forgiveness is to harbor no ill will toward someone who has wronged you.



Forgiveness should not be confused with reconciliation.



You can forgive without being reconciled to someone who is a cheat for example.



Christ said turn the other cheek (singular, not plural).

Answer 16

IF FORGIVING SOMEONE IS SO HARD FOR YOU THEN MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK INSIDE YOURSELF IT IS NOT DIFFICULT TO HAVE FORGIVENESS AND COMPASSION TRUE SOME HAVE TO WORK AT IT AND TO OTHERS IT COMES EASY IF IT IS HARD FOR YOU THEN THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU MUST WORK AT IT IS EASY TO FORGIVE HATE THE SIN LOVE THE SINNER AND REMEMBER ONE DAY YOU MAY NEED FORGIVENESS HAVE YOU LOOKED IN A DICTIONARY HONEY OR THE BIBLE SOME PEOPLE ARE SELFISH SO THEY WORK ON BEING UNSELFISH SOMETIMES IT IS A CONSCIENCE EFFORT

Answer 17

Forgiveness is letting go of all the fear, hate, disgust, and anything else you might feel about a person who wronged or harmed you that interferes with unconditionally loving that person. You must also remember to forgive God for what you perceived as a wrongdoing by Him, and ALSO remember to FORGIVE YOURSELF.



Love, Hope, & Peace,



Cal-el & Swissy

Answer 18

Think of something that you did in the past. Something that was really stupid, or bad or just plain mean. Was it a lie? God hates liars. Was it just something sexual?

Find something no one is perfect. Then think do I want God to forget that? Or do I want him to say I forgive you child and then bring it up on judgement day? Remember the slave that owed a little bit and the one who owed a whole bunch.

Forgive them, forget it and never bring it up. The bible says in a bunch of places. Forget the past and leave it there.

Answer 19

If you forgive someone for something they have done--then you acknowledge the fact that what they did was wrong but it is OK and you will not speak of it again.....as long as they do not do the same thing again

Answer 20

You forgive with Christ-like love. Unless you are a born-again Christian, this is very difficult to do. But for those who are born again, the spiritual transformation makes forgiveness and love possible... and easy.

Answer 21

forgiveness is when you absolve a person of guilt, even when they are wrong. you know you have accomplished this when you have emotionally "let go" of the situation. you don't have to be right. it's just better for you emotionally, spiritually, and physically to let go of it.



you don't have to be their friend or anything. you just have to harbor no ill-feeling towards them. and don't worry! they will get what they deserve in time, be it good or bad.

Answer 22

Jesus died for our sins, and in the bible Jesus says no one can go to the Father but through me. So to receive forgiveness it is confessing that Jesus is the son of God and with your heart asking God to forgive you of all your sins in Jesus name. And yes it is hard to forgive others but we pray for Jesus to help us to do it as he has forgiven us. I feel Jesus has made it clear how important that is, even in the Lord's pray......forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us....

Answer 23

When you reach a point that you can forgive others as Christ forgave us.

Answer 24

A personal resolve with whatever is responsibile for the issue that has upset you. You no longer look at that which is responsibile with contempt, anger, etc.

Answer 25

I don't know, but I have to change.



My problem is they won't apoligize to me. No Way Jose. As far as they are concerned, I can just kiss their grits.



I know it's a test on me, and I have to learn to just let go. Let go, Let God. . . .

Answer 26

is is weird how its hard to understand it. but i think it is just foget and forgive, like god does

Answer 27

Exact neither punishment nor redress for or from.

Answer 28

reads these passages and you will understand



Matthew 6:12

'And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Matthew 6:11-13 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 6:14

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

Matthew 6:13-15 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 6:15

"But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

Matthew 6:14-16 (in Context) Matthew 6 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 9:2

And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, " Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."

Matthew 9:1-3 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 9:5

"Which is easier, to say, ' Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'?

Matthew 9:4-6 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 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."

Matthew 9:5-7 (in Context) Matthew 9 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 12:31

" Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

Matthew 12:30-32 (in Context) Matthew 12 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 12:32

" Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Matthew 12:31-33 (in Context) Matthew 12 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 18:21

[ Forgiveness ] Then Peter came and said to Him, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"

Matthew 18:20-22 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 18:35

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

Matthew 18:34-35 (in Context) Matthew 18 (Whole Chapter)

Matthew 26:28

for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 26:27-29 (in Context) Matthew 26 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 1:4

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:3-5 (in Context) Mark 1 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 2:5

And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, " Son, your sins are forgiven."

Mark 2:4-6 (in Context) Mark 2 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 2:7

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

Mark 2:6-8 (in Context) Mark 2 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 2:9

"Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?

Mark 2:8-10 (in Context) Mark 2 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 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,

Mark 2:9-11 (in Context) Mark 2 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 3:28

" Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter;

Mark 3:29

but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin"--

Mark 3:28-30 (in Context) Mark 3 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 4:12

so that WHILE SEEING, THEY MAY SEE AND NOT PERCEIVE, AND WHILE HEARING, THEY MAY HEAR AND NOT UNDERSTAND, OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT RETURN AND BE FORGIVEN."

Mark 4:11-13 (in Context) Mark 4 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 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.

Mark 11:24-26 (in Context) Mark 11 (Whole Chapter)

Mark 11:26

[" But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions."]

Mark 11:25-27 (in Context) Mark 11 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 1:77

To give to His people the knowledge of salvationBy the forgiveness of their sins,

Luke 1:76-78 (in Context) Luke 1 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 3:3

And he came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;

Luke 3:2-4 (in Context) Luke 3 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 5:20

Seeing their faith, He said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven you."

Luke 5:19-21 (in Context) Luke 5 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 5:21

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

Luke 5:20-22 (in Context) Luke 5 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 5:23

"Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'?

Luke 5:22-24 (in Context) Luke 5 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 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."

Luke 5:23-25 (in Context) Luke 5 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 7:47

"For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little."

Luke 7:46-48 (in Context) Luke 7 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 7:48

Then He said to her, " Your sins have been forgiven."

Luke 7:47-49 (in Context) Luke 7 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 7:49

Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, " Who is this man who even forgives sins?"

Luke 7:48-50 (in Context) Luke 7 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 11:4

'And forgive us our sins,For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.And lead us not into temptation.'"

Luke 11:3-5 (in Context) Luke 11 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 12:10

" And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.

Luke 12:9-11 (in Context) Luke 12 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 17:3

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

Luke 17:2-4 (in Context) Luke 17 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 17:4

"And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Luke 17:3-5 (in Context) Luke 17 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 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.

Luke 23:33-35 (in Context) Luke 23 (Whole Chapter)

Luke 24:47

and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Luke 24:46-48 (in Context) Luke 24 (Whole Chapter)

John 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."

John 20:22-24 (in Context) John 20 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 2:38

Peter said to them, " Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:37-39 (in Context) Acts 2 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 5:31

" He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Acts 5:30-32 (in Context) Acts 5 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 8:22

"Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

Acts 8:21-23 (in Context) Acts 8 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 10:43

"Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

Acts 10:42-44 (in Context) Acts 10 (Whole Chapter)

Acts 13:38

"Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,



i think this is enough

GOD BLESS