We do not know when a brother will STOP sinning against us. In another passage it says if a brother sins against you and HE REPENT, thos shalt forgive him, and onother says if he sins against you, you should go see him and tell him about the pain, then if he listen not you should take two or three witnesses, and if he does not stop you should get him in fromt of the whole church, and if he does not stop, he should not be considered a brother, but a heathen....
So what should we do? I guess it depends on the SPIRITUAL status if the one that needs to forgive.... Jesus also forgave ONCE... He said to the woman about to be stoned.... I also do not jusdge you, but GOD AND SIN NO MORE.... She also had to stop... And to the man with the withered hand... God and sin no more lest WORSE things become you.... Right through the Bible we learn NOT TO SIN, and to STOP SINNING... But do we? NOPE, then how can we NOT FORGIVE?
But what if I do STOP! Should I then forgive those keeps on sinning? Would God? God does not sin, why should he forgive more than ONCE? IF God knows you are not going to stop, why should HE FORGIVE? If God gave you the choice.... SIN ALL YOU WANT, AND THEN COME TO ME AND I WILL FORGIVE IF YOU STOP, OR, SIN ALL YOU WANT, THEN COME TO ME AND SIN SOME MORE, IT REALLY DOES NOT MATTER, I WILL FORGIVE.... Which one would you choose?
These are not an obtion.... GOD DEMANDS REPENTANCE.... TURNING AWAY FROM SIN.... Completely or not at all! It is only YOUR choice to in or not to sin... Sin does not happen automatically, it happens purposefully and willingly. Nobody sin unwillingly, you sin because you want too! Sin and how it happens are detailed in the Scripture...
It comes from WITHIN, and if the WITHIN is not changed it cannot STOP! Nothing that comes from OUTSIDE fouls up the man, it is the INSIDE that has to change... THE HEART has to change...Mark 7:21... For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Oh I can pretend to be mae new and have a repenting heart... but... I ask myself this.... Cobus compare yourself to ANY person that God witnessed with as one of HIS OWN... who do you measure up too? Even the simple Philip, deacon and evangelist, was special. Is Cobus special? NOPE! As useless as the next Christian. Oh wih a lot of explanation why God is not so active in Cobus as Philip, but if tht is true, I should throw the WHOLE BIBLE in the fire and forget about God. Or I should know this is TRUE.... Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
What is a sinner? Who is these sinners that God does not hear... If I sin and ask God for forgiveness, DOES HE HEAR? If I am sinner, can I pray for another sinner? When will God say I am not a sinner, and decide to listen to my prayer, and say YES, OK COBUS, I WILL DO WHAT YOU ASK?
When will God say to His Son.... Here is Cobus, MY SON, in whom I am well pleased? Will He ever say that? Oh we like to play Gospel don't we. And we like to be the Christian all say WOW, too do we not? Man we are sick in the heart, and we NEED GOD TO HEAL US... Lord take this stony heart, and Give me YOURS AMEN!