Examine The Role Of Forgiveness In Christianity

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Forgiveness is one of Christianity and Islam’s greatest teachings. It is a value that is cherished by the religious and secular groups and bonds communities together by promoting acts of goodwill and compassion. Forgiveness seems to be a co-ordinal virtue within the Christian and Islamic religions, which express the importance of this value through teachings. Both Jesus and Mohammad convey the message that in order to be forgiven, you must first forgive others for the sins they may have committed. This subsequently links to the ultimate goal of salvation. However, in Islam, forgiveness is conditional on the person’s ability to repent; which differs from Christianity’s approach that enables limitless forgiveness. It is prudent to say that Jesus …show more content…

Christians believe that in order for God to forgive you for your sins, he first requires forgiveness. Thus implying that neutral forgiveness (forgiving someone who has done harm to you) and divine forgiveness (repent sinner receives a pardon) intertwine with each other. In Christianity, the virtue of forgiveness is to be practised by the followers. Forgiveness is then granted by God to those whom recognise their sins and forgive the sins of others. This notion is demonstrated in Matthew’s interpretation of the Lord’s Prayer which states “forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us” (Matthew 6: …show more content…

In Christianity, the Bible alludes that the virtue of forgiveness is able to be granted limitlessly, considering we confess their sins and forgive others whom have committed sins. This is evident in Matthew 18:21-22; Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” However, in Islam forgiveness is not granted infinitely. Rather, Allah grants forgiveness to those who repent against their own sins, forgive others for the sins they may have sinned and believing in Allah (Forgiveness in Islam,

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