Self-forgiveness is not possible

[Lamb]

I read something yesterday where a theologian said that self-forgiveness is not possible.

Here is a quote:

Our problem is not a lack of "self forgiveness," but that we never believed that God had forgiven us. That's the issue. We delude ourselves into supposing that God supplied 80% of the forgiveness, and now it's our responsibility to come up with the other 20%. The Lord did his part, “I forgive you,” and now we need to do our part, “I forgive myself.”

The author goes on to say that God's forgiveness was not deficient.

I can't link the article because it's in a Facebook group.

What do you think about what he says?

 

[1689Dave]

I agree. But the truth makes us free. And a lack of truth about our sinfulness keeps us bound. When I first heard the doctrine of Total Depravity I happily said "That's me!" That explains my life. I found great solace in Luther's "Bondage of the Will" which runs along the same lines.

 

[atpollard]

I would suggest that James might be on point here. The question is “Did God forgive us.” and hand in hand with that is the question of whether our faith (and therefore salvation) is genuine or dead. Tares look a lot like wheat when they first sprout. Time and fruit reveals the irrefutable difference. Sometimes we don’t feel forgiven because we are not … being sorry you got caught is not “repentance”. Trying to live better is not “salvation”.

When you meet God and He changes everything … everything is different. Like the quote from ”The Chosen”:

“I was one way, and now I am completely different, and the thing that happened in between was Him.”​

- Mary Magdalene​