God's Forgiveness is Unconditional... Right?

I’m continuing to read Brad Hambrick’s Making Sense of Forgiveness. In the book, Hambrick addresses several misunderstandings of the nature and purpose of forgiveness. One such misunderstanding he addresses relates to the notion often heard in Christian circles — but perhaps only vaguely understood — that God’s forgiveness is unconditional. In fact, it may be more common to hear about God’s love as unconditional, but Hambrick is right to apply that assertion to forgiveness, for love and forgiveness are closely linked.

Ephesians 4:32 serves as a representative verse: “[Forgive] one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” In other words, God’s forgiveness to us serves as the template and motivational fuel for our forgiveness towards others. But it also begs a question: if we’re to forgive others as God forgave us, how exactly does God forgive sinners? What does his forgiveness entail? Is his forgiveness truly unconditional (i.e., absent of any conditions being met)? Here are some helpful distinctions. We’re not trying to be “picky” about language, but we are trying to be careful about our words and what they mean and imply. For a further dive into the importance of words and what they convey when it comes to this subject, see David Powlison.

“Does the fact that there is no sin so bad that it is beyond God’s ability to forgive mean that unconditional adjective to describe God’s forgiveness? No, this truth is about God’s capacity to forgive. It is limitless. That is different from unconditional.

Does the reality that God delights in forgiving mean that his forgiveness is unconditional? No, this truth is about God’s willingness to forgive. It brings him the most joy (Luke 15:7). That is different from being unconditional….

God is infinitely generous in his forgiveness, but he is not unconditional. We have no reason to fear our sincere request for forgiveness will ever be denied. But we should not feel entitled to or cavalier about God’s forgiveness.”

There is a condition for forgiveness: repentance for sin and accepting God’s leadership in our lives. Anything short of that is not genuinely requesting forgiveness. And God knows if we’re simply going through the motions or if our contrition is authentic. God is not fooled (Galatians 6:7).

So what? What difference does a more narrow definition of God’s “unconditional” forgiveness make for us? Hambrick provides two possible answers:

“First, vertically, we have no reason to fear God withholding forgiveness. No one who owns the wrongfulness of their sin, accepts Christ’s payment for their sin, and embraces their need to follow Jesus as Lord will be denied. God understands his children follow him like clumsy toddlers. We fall often. But God absolutely delights when we follow him like children who imitate a loving father (Ephesians 5:1). Our soul can rest in this.

Second, horizontally, if God is not duped when he forgives, we do not have to fear being forced into foolish forgiveness based on a theological technicality. We do not have to fear a harmful person saying, ‘Because you’re a Christian, you have to let me keep hurting you,’ and them being right.”

So, when we come to God with a contrite spirit requesting forgiveness, we do not need to be afraid or doubt that he is able and willing to gladly restore us; he does not bring up or weaponize our sins against us. At the same time, we do not treat God’s capacity and willingness to forgive cheaply, as if they serve as a get-out-of-jail free card. We dare not go through the motions or treat God like a rabbit’s foot to be controlled. It is also wise to question those who have wronged us and yet seem to act as if God’s capacity and willingness to forgive means we should simply forget their offense and not have certain expectations for changes that accompany genuine repentance.