Forgiveness — Q and A

What do I do if an authoritative figure in my life admits that he made a wrong decision and asks for forgiveness?

You forgive him.  Even as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you. When God forgives, he does not remember our transgressions against us anymore.  We should forgive in the same way.  When you remember for some reason the wrong that was done against you that you have forgiven, you also remember that you have forgiven that person regardless of who it was.

What do I do when someone tells me about what someone else did and they prove it to me be using that person’s admission of wrongdoing and plea for forgiveness?

You tell them that you thought they had forgiven the person.  A Christian forgives when asked and doesn’t wait for verification and then remembers that offense against that person “no more.” If someone is rehearsing someone else’s wrongdoing and using that person’s request for forgiveness as proof of the wrongdoing, the talebearer is sowing discord and gossiping.  They should be strongly rebuked and you should stay away from that person until they repent and change their ways.