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When I look at the statement "forgiveness without repentance", I ask myself, why do some teach such? What is the basis such is being taught?

You may have heard some say, 'well you can't repent of all you have done', 'like how many can you even remember', 'God doesn't wait for you to say sorry before he forgives you that's how much he loves you', 'like what kind of father wants his child to keep apologizing for what he has forgiven them for'.
Which are all a lot of well sounding logic to make people accept that forgiveness can be gotten without repentance.

Infact at times if you don't forgive a person who hasn't repented or asked for forgiveness you are seen as the bad guy.

Yet it is written

Jer.36.3 - Perhaps the people of Judah will repent if they see in writing all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings."

Luke.17.3-4 - I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Luke.24.47 - With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.'

Luke.3.3 - He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Acts.2.38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts.8.22 - Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.


There is no forgiveness without repentance.

Just forgive and leave the rest for God to handle....

Very true as the act of forgiveness alone must be preceded by an act of repentance for the forgiveness to be complete otherwise it's just for show.

Forgive but be cautious and set boundaries for those who dont repent.

Exactly. That is why we should always research our bible to know this Basic truths.

gohf:
When I look at the statement "forgiveness without repentance", I ask myself, why do some teach such? What is the basis such is being taught?

You may have heard some say, 'well you can't repent of all you have done', 'like how many can you even remember', 'God doesn't wait for you to say sorry before he forgives you that's how much he loves you', 'like what kind of father wants his child to keep apologizing for what he has forgiven them for'.
Which are all a lot of well sounding logic to make people accept that forgiveness can be gotten without repentance.

Infact at times if you don't forgive a person who hasn't repented or asked for forgiveness you are seen as the bad guy.

Yet it is written

Jer.36.3 - Perhaps the people of Judah will repent if they see in writing all the terrible things I have planned for them. Then I will be able to forgive their sins and wrongdoings."

Luke.17.3-4 - I am warning you! If another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says, 'I repent,' forgive him."

Luke.24.47 - With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: 'There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.'

Luke.3.3 - He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Acts.2.38 - Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts.8.22 - Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.


There is no forgiveness without repentance.

Forgiveness was accomplished once-for-all at the Cross, but it becomes yours in experience only when you believe — and that believing heart is what Scripture calls repentance.

On the Cross, Jesus bore the sin of the world.

“He forgave us all our sins” (Colossians 2:13).

“By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14).


At that moment, God was no longer holding the world’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19). Forgiveness is not something God is still deciding about — it is a finished reality.

“Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).

Repentance is not “listing every sin” — it is a change of heart and mind produced by believing.


God’s forgiveness is not earned by repentance; it was purchased by Christ’s blood. But forgiveness is not enjoyed apart from repentance, because repentance is what genuine faith looks like.

Thankgod89:
Forgiveness was accomplished once-for-all at the Cross, but it becomes yours in experience only when you believe — and that believing heart is what Scripture calls repentance.

On the Cross, Jesus bore the sin of the world.

“He forgave us all our sins” (Colossians 2:13).

“By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14).


At that moment, God was no longer holding the world’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19). Forgiveness is not something God is still deciding about — it is a finished reality.

“Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).

Repentance is not “listing every sin” — it is a change of heart and mind produced by believing.


God’s forgiveness is not earned by repentance; it was purchased by Christ’s blood. But forgiveness is not enjoyed apart from repentance, because repentance is what genuine faith looks like.

You and op seem to be saying same thing.
The op is emphasising when there's an offender and the offended, the offender will only be forgiven if the offender comes to the offended in repentance.
It can't be done in isolation between the Offender and God.

My take is, you are correct if/when the offence is between offender and God, then request for forgiveness is from offender to God and no-one else(human) is required.
Then Forgiveness is assured if God's sees the true intention to change( repentance) which goes paripasu with strengthened believe and faith for old converts during repentance via prayer to God or other means.


Thirdly, If one is a new Christian convert for the very first time, his/her new found believe and faith in the Death and Resurrection of our Lord is enough to wipe out all his previous sins. This is God's way of reconciling man back to himself (2 Corinth 5:19) rather than sacrifices for sin and other forms of penance as found in the Old Testament

Without acceptance, there is no repentance that leads to forgiveness

You cannot access forgiveness without those two

I was having a discussion with someone on another social media platform. Was surprised to see the person tell me this same forgiveness without repentance thing

Thankgod89:
Forgiveness was accomplished once-for-all at the Cross, but it becomes yours in experience only when you believe — and that believing heart is what Scripture calls repentance.

On the Cross, Jesus bore the sin of the world.

“He forgave us all our sins” (Colossians 2:13).

“By one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14).


At that moment, God was no longer holding the world’s sins against them (2 Corinthians 5:19). Forgiveness is not something God is still deciding about — it is a finished reality.

“Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name” (Acts 10:43).

Repentance is not “listing every sin” — it is a change of heart and mind produced by believing.


God’s forgiveness is not earned by repentance; it was purchased by Christ’s blood. But forgiveness is not enjoyed apart from repentance, because repentance is what genuine faith looks like.

Col 2:13 you quoted was Paul referring to those who repented and came to Christ Jesus, and not to everyone

If you are willing read from Col.2.10...
and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.

Acts.3.19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

You quoted Heb.10.14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

So the death, the blood was for our perfecting, do you really understand and know what that means? So the blood is still working and at work for those who ARE BEING MADE holy.

Believing in your heart is not repentance, that's doctrine from hell.

You claimed,"Forgiveness is not something God is still deciding about — it is a finished reality." Are you saying God has already forgiven the whole world?

Anyway irrespective of whatever you mean, you quoted 2corin.5.19 is a finished reality yet it using the term "reconciling" and not "reconciled" like you claimed

Infact you read 2Cor.5.18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.

So those who have repented and turned back to God are the "US", the those who are given the task and message of reconciling people to God.

With what? The gospel, the same one Jesus preached. And what's the gospel? REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND. REPENT.

Believe in Jesus, believe what he said and what did Jesus say, REPENT. REPENTANCE IS TURNING AWAY FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS AND TURN TO GOD.

You have a way of mixing error into the truth, REPENT like Jesus told the churches in revelation so that you will be forgiven.

gohf:
Col 2:13 you quoted was Paul referring to those who repented and came to Christ Jesus, and not to everyone

If you are willing read from Col.2.10...
and you are complete through your union with Christ. He is the Lord over every ruler and authority in the universe. When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure--the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to a new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.
You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.

Acts.3.19 Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

You quoted Heb.10.14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

So the death, the blood was for our perfecting, do you really understand and know what that means? So the blood is still working and at work for those who ARE BEING MADE holy.

Believing in your heart is not repentance, that's doctrine from hell.

You claimed,"Forgiveness is not something God is still deciding about — it is a finished reality." Are you saying God has already forgiven the whole world?

Anyway irrespective of whatever you mean, you quoted 2corin.5.19 is a finished reality yet it using the term "reconciling" and not "reconciled" like you claimed

Infact you read 2Cor.5.18 All this newness of life is from God, who brought us back to himself through what Christ did. And God has given us the task of reconciling people to him.

So those who have repented and turned back to God are the "US", the those who are given the task and message of reconciling people to God.

With what? The gospel, the same one Jesus preached. And what's the gospel? REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND. REPENT.

Believe in Jesus, believe what he said and what did Jesus say, REPENT. REPENTANCE IS TURNING AWAY FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS AND TURN TO GOD.

You have a way of mixing error into the truth, REPENT like Jesus told the churches in revelation so that you will be forgiven.

I hear your points, but I believe there is some confusion about the order of forgiveness, faith, and repentance. Let me explain what I mean from Scripture.

Colossians 2:13 does not say God forgave us after we repented — it says, “He forgave us all our sins” when He made us alive with Christ. That forgiveness was accomplished at the Cross, once for all. Paul is reminding believers of what Christ already did, not of what God is still deciding to do.

Yes, Acts 3:19 says, “Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” But repentance here (Greek metanoia) means a change of mind and heart toward God. It’s not first about cleaning yourself up, but about believing the gospel. Notice how Peter later says in Acts 10:43: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Believing is the doorway to forgiveness, and that believing heart is what true repentance looks like.

You also mentioned Hebrews 10:14. That verse shows the difference between what Christ already finished and what the Spirit is still working out in us. By one sacrifice He perfected forever those who believe — that is forgiveness and righteousness given once-for-all. At the same time, we are being made holy in our daily walk. That’s sanctification, not forgiveness.

As for 2 Corinthians 5:19, it says “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them.” That was done at the Cross. Our ministry now is not to tell people “repent enough so that God may forgive you,” but to announce the good news that forgiveness has already been purchased, and call them to believe it. That believing is what turns the heart to God — and that is repentance.

So no, I’m not saying “everyone is automatically forgiven.” I’m saying forgiveness is a finished work in Christ, but it only becomes ours when we believe. And when we truly believe, transformation and repentance naturally follow.

Repentance without transformation is just religion. But faith in Christ brings the new birth, which produces real repentance from the inside out. That’s why Paul could say in Romans 2:4, “the goodness of God leads you to repentance.”

Brother, I don’t want to mix error with truth. I simply want to hold to the simple gospel: forgiveness is by grace through faith in Christ, not by our works of repentance. Repentance is the fruit of faith, not the price for forgiveness.

Thankgod89:
I hear your points, but I believe there is some confusion about the order of forgiveness, faith, and repentance. Let me explain what I mean from Scripture.

Colossians 2:13 does not say God forgave us after we repented — it says, “He forgave us all our sins” when He made us alive with Christ. That forgiveness was accomplished at the Cross, once for all. Paul is reminding believers of what Christ already did, not of what God is still deciding to do.

Yes, Acts 3:19 says, “Repent and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.” But repentance here (Greek metanoia) means a change of mind and heart toward God. It’s not first about cleaning yourself up, but about believing the gospel. Notice how Peter later says in Acts 10:43: “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Believing is the doorway to forgiveness, and that believing heart is what true repentance looks like.

You also mentioned Hebrews 10:14. That verse shows the difference between what Christ already finished and what the Spirit is still working out in us. By one sacrifice He perfected forever those who believe — that is forgiveness and righteousness given once-for-all. At the same time, we are being made holy in our daily walk. That’s sanctification, not forgiveness.

As for 2 Corinthians 5:19, it says “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them.” That was done at the Cross. Our ministry now is not to tell people “repent enough so that God may forgive you,” but to announce the good news that forgiveness has already been purchased, and call them to believe it. That believing is what turns the heart to God — and that is repentance.

So no, I’m not saying “everyone is automatically forgiven.” I’m saying forgiveness is a finished work in Christ, but it only becomes ours when we believe. And when we truly believe, transformation and repentance naturally follow.

Repentance without transformation is just religion. But faith in Christ brings the new birth, which produces real repentance from the inside out. That’s why Paul could say in Romans 2:4, “the goodness of God leads you to repentance.”

Brother, I don’t want to mix error with truth. I simply want to hold to the simple gospel: forgiveness is by grace through faith in Christ, not by our works of repentance. Repentance is the fruit of faith, not the price for forgiveness.

If we leave out the confusion that isn't from God nor His word, it's pretty straightforward if one is willing to believe and accept it instead of changing it. Repentance being the prerequisite for forgiveness has been consistent through the scriptures even to the gospel and revelation. Jesus literally told some of the churches to repent and be forgiven before it was too late. Are you suggesting they were not part of those whom he shed his blood for, for whom forgiveness were purchased once and for all.

Your usage of the term, once and for all and that Christ died once so that negates the need for repentance which isn't even in agreement with the author of Hebrew who also taught/wrote in repentance. You are still quoting col 2:13 out of context even after I literally quoted verses from the same chapter to show that we needed to be separated from sins before forgiveness...

Paul wrote Col.2.13 - You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ. He forgave all our sins.

But does it say what you wrote, you said "it says, “He forgave us all our sins” when He made us alive with Christ. Infact you ignore the cutting away of our sins so that you can claim, it doesn't say God forgave us after we repeated.

Is it that you don't know that repentance is turning away from the world and sins and turning to God. Just for your agenda you reverse the arrangement of words. Still your words doesn't deny repentance and separation from sin which made us dead.

Bro and your acts 3:19, are you doing that for the sake of arguing because you trying to twist changing ones heart and mind to mean, believing is an error. It's the blood of Jesus that cleanses those who turn away from their sinful ways and turn to God. A repentant person acknowledges that they are sinners, sinful and in need for forgiveness, they are making decisions inside to change and take the necessary steps to do so.

Like if a person changes and becomes perfect would they need to apologize seven times for a mistake. Oh Father forgive us as we forgive those who wrong us. John said if anyone sins, know that God is faithful to forgive, was it James or even John, confess your sins to one another. Like how do you skip a major part, Hebrews calls it foundations of repentance, and begin to type and teach what you are typing?
Mark.1.15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

Matt.21.32 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

REPENT AND BELIEVE, like how do you believe in Jesus without repentance? That's a false doctrine.

Now you brought up Hebrew 10:14 you should realize that what Jesus perfected is our hearts and not making us sinless or incapable of making mistakes, I used that chapter to show you that the blood of Jesus works in our life unlike your constant use of once and for all forgiveness, which can be misused to be mean forgiven for future sins as well or misused to mean only past sins. It is surprising that you know it is sanctification and not forgiveness yet you kept stating previously that we are already forgiven because of Christ death and have don't need to repent before being forgiven. As if repenting negates the blood of Jesus already made available for those who turn to God in repentance.

You see agents of darkness do not want people to repent and turn to God, so they say well sounding stuffs like "Our ministry now is not to tell people “repent enough so that God may forgive you,” but to announce the good news that forgiveness has already been purchased, and call them to believe it. That believing is what turns the heart to God — and that is repentance."

Misleading people into believe they don't need to repent, mocking repentance by saying repent enough, ignoring the words of Jesus and twisting away the gospel which states repent for the kingdom of God is near.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE REPENTANCE WITHOUT TRANSFORMATION, repentance is transformation, if you have truly repented you would know this. To repent is to change your ways and follow God's ways. Do not conform to the world but be renewed, be transformed by the word of God, by changing your mind, how you think, changing your lifestyle.

If you read Romans 2 well, you would know that in that verse 4 you quoted the kindness of God there is His patience waiting for people to repent. It isn't God's forgiveness leading to repentance like you want to assume.

And that's why verse 7, Romans 2:7 states that it is those who continue to do what is good are those whom God gives eternal life.

Repentance is genuinely asking for forgiveness with a genuine desire to change and do what is right

Happy Sunday everyone have a wonderful week ahead in Jesus name name