God doesn’t hold grudges

I think most Christians would agree with that, but they seem to end up preaching doctrine that contradicts that.  To hold a grudge is to treat some in an unfavorable way in the present or future because of something they did in the past.  Even in the OT when it speaks of God’s wrath, many see that is God treating someone in an unfavorable way for something they did in the past.  You might think I am blaspheming or watering down things to make God seem more palatable or contradicting that fact that God will judge all, and will judge them all justly.

Is there one instance at all in the Bible were is shows God acting unfavorably towards someone due to their past actions?  You might mention Sodom and Gomorrah.  Didn’t God kill them all for doing bad things?  Or the flood, all of humanity?  This wasn’t like God was mad at them and was lashing out at them.  He simply didn’t want that thing occurring any more nor the spreading of those acts and prevented them from spreading and stopped them from occurring.  It is like if your child kept getting into trouble around a certain group of people, so you moved or sent them to boarding school.  He cares for the offender, that He removes them from their situation.  Better for a milestone hung around their neck and drowned than to continue.  We can’t think in terms of the flesh that life is all we have.  Life is a blessing and our flesh has a purpose here, but our ultimate purpose is for our spirit to be made whole again.  If that would be some time spent in Hades for that to occur, that is better than more time on earth “digging a deeper hole” for us and having even more fall into that hole.  But this is also what was so transforming when Jesus came.  God no longer had the need to wipe people from the earth, instead, He transformed people on the earth.

It is my belief that God forgives everyone instantly always and doesn’t hold any grudges ever.  Justice is the right thing.  Justice is not what we call it in the western world were a judge rules what their wisdom and experience and laws deem a punishment should be, nor is it and eye for and eye, nor what the victim’s anger thinks should happen.  It is simply the right thing.  So if the perfect Judge decides mercy is needed, that that is the right thing.  That is why it is just to not have sinners punished, because God gave us His mercy in the form of Jesus’ atoning death.  With humans, we can be deceived and someone can lie and fake remorse, but God sees our hearts, we cannot deceive Him.  But if a human sees remorse, and decides to extend mercy, are humans more merciful than God, the giver and Father of mercy?  All things come from God and the love that prompts mercy came from God, and we cannot love more than Him or absent of Him.

But just because God forgives is all instantly and without limit doesn’t mean we can receive that forgiveness instantly.  Forgiveness is a two way street, it has to be given, and accepted.  But one can only accept when they are remorseful and repentant.  That is why it appears God is waiting for us to repent before He can forgive.  Because we must repent before forgiveness is complete.  And God helps us get to that point through punishment and correction like a parent does.  Suffering is not a requirement of God before He can forgive.  But suffering can help lead us to repentance, but so does His kindness.  His wrath is only poured out on those who refuse to repent and receive His forgiveness, who think they can make up for or pay for the mistake by themselves.  And I do believe God will allow them to try as long as it takes (which is an eternity until annihilation).  But for those that humble themselves, admit that they messed up, request God forgive them (and God did more than meet us halfway there by sending His Son to show us how He already forgives us and wants us to trust in Him), forgiveness is made complete.

I don’t see any Bible verses that support that this has to be done on earth either while living in the flesh.  I do see a judgement day where all will stand before God and He will ask them a simple question.  Would you like to try and repay this yourself, or will you rely on me.  I think those that desire God’s will, will have that eternally, and those that don’t will be annihilated.