Bible Discussion Thread

I thought i carried offence for years....only this week i realised it was regret...what does gods word say about holding onto regrets.even though those family members are now dead.?

If that's how we deal with sin, and even regret for sin - than surely regrets that were in no violation of the commandments (if that was the case) should be dealt with in the same manner, if not even more graciously - the Lord God does not expect us to be completely flawless (while on this earth), and because that's not what He looks for, even if you reached a point where you never made any mistakes (which won't happen), the Lord would not impressed:

Luke 17:10 "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

What the Lord looks for is repentance and faith:

Mark 1:15

"And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."

As well as hope and charity:

1 Corinthians 13:13

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

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If there is anything underlying the regrets, such as past sin, 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 showed us to have godly sorrow breaking God's commandments:

Romans 13:9 "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

And when mixed with faith in Jesus Christ salvation is received if unsaved, and all is forgiven - and once saved (not that we ever lose our salvation), but we can continue to repent for sins and have peace in knowing He understands we are made of dust, and we still have His total forgiveness:

Psalm 103

12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

13Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

14For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

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I would encourage you to read all of Psalm 103

When man repents with a godly sorrow instead of a worldly sorrow, they are forgiven by God as this chapter shows us:

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2 Corinthians 7

8For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.

9Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.

10For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

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Chapter 7 showed us they repented - in chapter 2 it showed us how we are suppose to comfort and confirm our love toward such a repentant person (has had godly sorrow for their sin):

2 Corinthians 2

2For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?

3And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.

4For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.

5But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.

6Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.

7So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.

8Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

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So if God forgives a repentant person, commands us to do the same ( Mat 6:9-15), and even says to confirm our love toward that person, then we should have peace and trust in God's Word that we are indeed forgiven if we have in fact truly repented (had sorrow to God for our breaking the commandments).