Relationship Between God's Forgiveness and Human Forgiveness

The relationship between God's forgiveness and human forgiveness is presented in the New Testament as both a divine prerogative and a human responsibility, often linked to the experience of receiving divine mercy. God's forgiveness is a central aspect of salvation, freely offered through Christ's work ^{[1, 2]}. Human forgiveness, while distinct, is portrayed as a reflection of and a prerequisite for experiencing God's forgiveness ^[15].

God's forgiveness is described as an act of grace where God absolves sinners from condemnation, removing the guilt of sin and the liability to eternal wrath ^[1]. This act is solely God's prerogative ^{[1, 11]}. It is a component of justification, which is God's judicial act of pardoning sins and accounting believers as righteous ^{[1, 8]}. This forgiveness is granted freely ^{[1, 6]} and abundantly ^[6], originating from God's mercy and flowing through the atoning sacrifice of Christ ^{[9, 14]}. The concept of "atonement" itself signifies "at-one-ment" or reconciliation, denoting the state of being reconciled and the means by which this reconciliation is achieved through Christ's death ^[9].

While God's forgiveness is a divine act, human beings are called to forgive one another. Jesus commands his followers to "bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13) ^[4]. This command is reinforced in various teachings, such as the instruction to forgive "seventy times seven" (Matthew 18:22) and the example of Christ forgiving those who crucified him (Luke 23:34) ^[7]. The act of human forgiveness is to be unlimited ^[7] and accompanied by forbearance and kindness ^[7].

A significant aspect of the relationship is the conditional nature of receiving God's forgiveness, as it is often tied to one's willingness to forgive others. Jesus states, "If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld" (John 20:23) ^[3]. Similarly, in the Lord's Prayer, believers ask for forgiveness "as we have forgiven" (Matthew 6:12) ^[15]. This connection is further emphasized in Matthew 6:14-15: "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." John Gill, a Baptist/Reformed commentator, interprets this to mean that those who are not of a forgiving temper cannot expect forgiveness from God, and that a lack of human forgiveness indicates an absence of true understanding or impression of God's pardoning grace ^{[10, 13]}.

The willingness to forgive others is seen as a reflection of a repentant heart that has experienced God's mercy ^[15]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist/Wesleyan commentator, notes that mercy inclines believers not to condemn others unmercifully, but to excuse and conceal their faults without prejudice to truth and justice ^[12]. The divine example serves as the ultimate motivation: "God in Christ... forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32) ^[16]. This implies that the experience of being forgiven by God should naturally lead to a forgiving attitude towards others ^[16].

However, there are limits to forgiveness, particularly concerning blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which Jesus states "will not have forgiveness in this life or in that which is to come" (Matthew 12:32) ^[5]. This specific sin is distinguished from speaking against the Son of Man, which can be forgiven ^[5].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Forgiveness of sin — One of the constituent parts of justification. In pardoning sin, God absolves the sinner from the condemnation of the law, and that on account of the work of Christ, i.e., he removes the guilt of sin, or the sinner's actual liability to eternal wrath on account of it. All sins are forgiven freely (Acts 5:31; 13:38; 1 John 1:6-9). The sinner is by this act of grace for ever freed from the guilt and penalty of his sins. This is the peculiar prerogative of God (Ps. 130:4; Mark 2:5). It is offered to all in the gospel. (See [219]JUSTIFICATION.)”
Romans “Romans 5:15 (BBE) — But the free giving of God is not like the wrongdoing of man. For if, by the wrongdoing of one man death came to numbers of men, much more did the grace of God, and the free giving by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, come to men.”
John “John 20:23 (BSB) — If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.””
Colossians “Colossians 3:13 (BSB) — Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Matthew “Matthew 12:32 (BBE) — And whoever says a word against the Son of man, will have forgiveness; but whoever says a word against the Holy Spirit, will not have forgiveness in this life or in that which is to come.”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pardon — The forgiveness of sins granted freely (Isa. 43:25), readily (Neh. 9:17; Ps. 86:5), abundantly (Isa. 55:7; Rom. 5:20). Pardon is an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin, but securing neither honour nor reward to the pardoned. Justification (q.v.), on the other hand, is the act of a judge, and not of a sovereign, and includes pardon and, at the same time, a title to all the rewards and blessings promised in the covenant of life.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Forgiveness of Injuries — Christ set an example of -- Lu 23:34. Commanded -- Mr 11:25; Ro 12:19. To be unlimited -- Mt 18:22; Lu 17:4. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 7:4. Motives to The mercy of God. -- Lu 6:36. Our need of forgiveness. -- Mr 11:25. God's forgiveness of us. -- Eph 4:32. Christ's forgiveness of us. -- Col 3:13. A glory to saints -- Pr 19:11. Should be accompanied by Forbearance. -- Col 3:13. Kindness. -- Ge 45:5-11; Ro 12:20. Blessing and prayer. -- Mt 5:44. Promises to -- Mt 6:14; Lu 6:37. No forgiveness without -- Mt 6:15; Jas 2:13. Illustrated --”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justification — A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; an”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Atonement — This word does not occur in the Authorized Version of the New Testament except in Rom. 5:11, where in the Revised Version the word "reconciliation" is used. In the Old Testament it is of frequent occurrence. The meaning of the word is simply at-one-ment, i.e., the state of being at one or being reconciled, so that atonement is reconciliation. Thus it is used to denote the effect which flows from the death of Christ. But the word is also used to denote that by which this reconciliation is brought about, viz., the death of Christ itself; and when so used it”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 6:15: But if you forgive not men their trespasses,.... On the other hand, where men are not of a forgiving temper to their fellow creatures and fellow Christians, how can they expect forgiveness at the hands of God? or what sense of pardoning grace can there be upon their minds? Had they any right apprehensions of the grace and goodness of God, in the forgiveness of their sins, this would influence their minds, and engage their hearts to forgive such who have offended them: wherefore, where this is wanting, it may be concluded of, and said to such persons, neither will y”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 130:3: But there is forgiveness with thee,.... And with God only; not with angels, nor any of the sons of men; and which flows from his grace and mercy, through the blood of his Son. It appears to be with him by his promise of it in covenant; by appointing his Son to shed his blood for it, and exalting him as a Saviour to give it; by proclaiming it in the Gospel; and by the numerous instances of it, both under the Old and under the New Testament. Or, there is "a propitiation with thee"; as the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions render it: God had found out Christ to be t”
Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 6:37: Judge not - See on Mat 7:1 (note). "How great is the goodness of God, in being so willing to put our judgment into our own hands as to engage himself not to enter into judgment with us, provided we do not usurp the right which belongs solely to him in reference to others!" Condemn not - "Mercy will ever incline us not to condemn those unmercifully whose faults are certain and visible; to lessen, conceal, and excuse them as much as we can without prejudice to truth and justice; and to be far from aggravating, divulging, or even desiring them to be punished." Forgive - ”
Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 11:25: But if ye do not forgive,.... Freely and fully, such as have trespassed against you, remit the debts they owe, and pass by the offences and injuries done you, and put up with every affront and indignity: neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses; that is, such persons do not appear to have any true, or right notions of forgiveness; nor is there any evidence that their hearts are duly affected, or truly impressed with a sense of it; nor can they, upon their own principles and conduct, expect it: not but that to whomsoever God stands in the relation of ”
Hebrews (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Hebrews 8:12: For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,.... That is, sin; for all unrighteousness is sin, being contrary to the justice of God, and his righteous law: and the phrase is expressive of God's forgiveness of it, which is a very considerable article of the covenant of grace; mercy is the spring and original of pardon; it is what God delights in, and therefore he pardons freely; it is large and abundant, and hence he pardons fully; and this lays a foundation for hope in sensible sinners: and the way and means, in and by which God pardons, is the propitiatory sacri”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:12: 6:12 as we have forgiven (see also 6:14-15; 18:21-35): Forgiving others is a reflection of a repentant, regenerate heart, which makes our own forgiveness possible. Those who have experienced God’s forgiveness will forgive. Jesus implies that those who are unwilling to forgive have not perceived God’s mercy, and perhaps have never truly repented.”
Ephesians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Ephesians 4:32: (Luk 7:42; Col 3:12). even as--God hath shown Himself "kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving to you"; it is but just that you in turn shall be so to your fellow men, who have not erred against you in the degree that you have erred against God (Mat 18:33). God for Christ's sake--rather as Greek, "God in Christ" (Co2 5:19). It is in Christ that God vouchsafes forgiveness to us. It cost God the death of His Son, as man, to forgive us. It costs us nothing to forgive our fellow man. hath forgiven--rather as Greek, "forgave you." God has, once for all”

Ask Your Own Question