Forgiveness with No Regret

Over the years, I have had several people tell me that they cannot forgive themselves. They probablymean that they will not forgivethemselves. They make it sound like they are incapable of forgiving themselves.

In either case, this problem is not found in the Bible.There is no teaching or example of people forgiving themselves or not forgivingthemselves.

My question is, “Who do they think they are—God?” In theBible, we find that God is faithful and willforgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If that is true,we should thank God for this forgiveness and cleansing. If a person feelsunforgiven, it may be that his sorrow for his sin is not godly sorrow. Godlysorrow leads to repentance, which leaves noregret.

“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads tosalvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death” (2Corinthians 7:10).

If he still has regret, it proves that his sorrow is notgodly. It is worldly sorrow. That kind of sorrow is remorse. It is not godly.It leads to death. Here are words I hear: “If I were God, I would not forgiveme.” Thank God that you are not God! There is no sin too great for the graceof God. Grace is always greater than our sin.

“The law was brought in so that the trespass mightincrease. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more” (Romans5:20).

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How To Be Free From Bitterness and other essays on Christian relationships