Here’s something else I think is important about my post with no title. The verses there tell us that if a brother commits a tresspass against us seven times in one day, and then… turns to us seven times in the same day and SAYS to us, “I repent,” we “shalt” forgive him. Many times we have a “wait-and-see” attitude. We say I forgive him, but he needs to “bring forth fruits of repentance.” That’s not what the Bible commands us here. The Bible gives us no warrant to verify a person’s repentance. It says “do it,” and the implication is: right away.
If you are unaware of the post with no title, here is a link to it.
While this is the third post, here is the second post related to this topic.
You Think Too Much! 
And if the person or institution never shows repentence, what next?
The NT requires us to forgive like Jesus did, and He forgives momentarily, immediately. We don’t have to give a pound of flesh to be saved. Catholics believe that; called penance. We discipline people if they won’t forgive. Everyone is expected to forgive. If he doesn’t “show repentance,” we confront him again, he gets up again, etc. That is the “bear one another’s burden” part in Gal. 6. When the prodigal came home, the dad didn’t require anything, except that he come home. Admitting wrong. Showing desire to do right. These are required. I’m glad you’re covering this.
“When the prodigal came home, the dad didn’t require anything, except that he come home.”
And if the prodigal son never came home, what next?
No welcome, no fatted calf…essentially in the context of the prodigal son story, no salvation; just like when people are disciplined and they don’t repent, thy are publicans and sinners.
No forgiveness, that is my point
Thank you for your comments on this subject, both to Pastor Voegtlin and Pastor Brandenburg.
Tim Dunkin