On January 23, 1999, a father and his two sons were burned to death in a hate crime in India.  The wife and mother annouced at the funeral that she had forgiven those who had murdered her family. This "forgiveness" was very premature, since the criminals had no remorse and did not desire forgiveness.

 

 The prodigal son went away from home and spent all that he had in riotous living.  The father forgave him -WHEN- he repented and returned to his father's house.  It would have been very premature and, in fact, impossible for the father to forgive his son while he was in a state of rebellion (Luke 15:11-24).

Jesus said, "Take heed to yourselves; if thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and IF HE REPENT, forgive him.   And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying I REPENT, THOU SHALT FORGIVE HIM": (Luke 17:3-4).

 

 When Jesus was on the cross, he prayed with regard to those who were in the act of murder: "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).   Is it the case that these were instantly forgiven while they continued in their evil deed?  Surely not!  It was only when they repented and complied with God's conditions of forgiveness that they were forgiven, if forgiven at all.

 

 Preachers of today often offer forgiveness to the lost on fewer terms than are set forth in the gospel (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38).   In such cases, the forgiveness is offered prematurely.

John wrote of children of God, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us" (1 John 1:9-10).   Observe that God does not forgive unconfessed sins.

 

CONCLUSION

 

If God cannot forgive the impenitent and rebellious, neither can we.  It is not taught in the Bible that God or we should forgive before Biblical conditions of forgiveness have been met.