What Does The Bible Say About Forgive And Not Forget?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The Bible teaches us much about forgiveness, and all of it is the opposite of “forgive and forget.” … In Matthew 6:14-15, “

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

What is forgiving but not forgetting?

Forgiveness without forgetting means

you let go of your emotions of anger and bitterness

, yet you remember that your friend was untrustworthy. You may or may not decide to reconcile with that person. You may also be cautious when letting new friends into your life to prevent the same thing from happening again.

Does forgiveness require forgetting?

“True forgiveness doesn’t erase the wrongdoing but rather frees the person who was hurt.” So,

forgetting has nothing to do with real forgiveness

. Forgetting actually impedes it. “Pretending the wrongdoing never happened doesn’t make the effects of it go away,” Hogan continued.

What the Bible says about forgiveness and letting go?

Forgiveness is about letting go of the anger and your desire for revenge. Realize that you are powerless to forgive unless you have God’s strength. God does not ask you to do something without giving you His strength and power to do it (

Psalm 29:11

).

What did Jesus say about forgiveness?

Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. ‘ ” “You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.” “And

when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

What are the four stages of forgiveness?

  • Uncover your anger.
  • Decide to forgive.
  • Work on forgiveness.
  • Release from emotional prison.

Can you forgive someone and still be hurt?

It’s so hard to forgive when you can’t forget.” When you forgive someone you’re not saying that you weren’t hurt or that you will forget that hurt. It did happen, but you can forgive, even if you still remember. But with forgiveness and time, that hurt will fade.

Why forgiveness is so hard?

This doesn’t make you a bad person—it just makes you human. Forgiveness is difficult in

part because evolution has endowed us with the psychological motivation to avoid being exploited by others

, and one of the easiest ways to prevent exploitation is to hit back or simply avoid the exploiter.

Why is it difficult to forgive and forget?

4) You are scared that if you forgive someone you’ll

be made vulnerable

. Feeling angry can make us feel ‘tough’, and can be like an armour keeping away more hurt. But not forgiving someone leaves us replaying a painful situation in our mind until it erodes our sense of worth.

How do I let go without forgetting?

  1. Talk to a friend, a person you trust.
  2. Do some exercise.
  3. Pray.
  4. Scream to let the anger out.
  5. binge-watch a whole Netflix series in one day.

How do you truly forgive and let go?

  1. Commit to letting go. You aren’t going to do it in a second or maybe not even in a day. …
  2. Think about the pros and cons. …
  3. Realize you have a choice. …
  4. Empathize. …
  5. Understand your responsibility. …
  6. Focus on the present. …
  7. Allow peace to enter your life. …
  8. Feel compassion.

How do you truly let go?

  1. Create a positive mantra to counter the painful thoughts. …
  2. Create physical distance. …
  3. Do your own work. …
  4. Practice mindfulness. …
  5. Be gentle with yourself. …
  6. Allow the negative emotions to flow. …
  7. Accept that the other person may not apologize. …
  8. Engage in self-care.

Can you forgive someone and not talk to them?

You can forgive someone for abandoning you in a time of need, for walking away, for not putting you first, for letting you go. But that doesn’t mean you trust that person again. … Forgiveness doesn’t mean you keep a close friendship with the person who betrayed you.

What is the best prayer for forgiveness?


Jesus

, I believe you love me. Please forgive me for my sins. Help me to be a better person. Amen.

What is true forgiveness?

Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a

conscious

, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness. … Forgiveness does not mean forgetting, nor does it mean condoning or excusing offenses.

What is biblical forgiveness?

Forgiveness, according to the Bible, is correctly understood as

God’s promise not to count our sins against us

. Biblical forgiveness requires repentance on our part (turning away from our old life of sin) and faith in Jesus Christ.

Amira Khan
Author
Amira Khan
Amira Khan is a philosopher and scholar of religion with a Ph.D. in philosophy and theology. Amira's expertise includes the history of philosophy and religion, ethics, and the philosophy of science. She is passionate about helping readers navigate complex philosophical and religious concepts in a clear and accessible way.