About: Don Bassett

Some time ago I was speaking to a church in California on the subject of vicarious suffering (i. e. the kind of suffering someone does so someone else doesn't have to; see 1 Peter 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53:4-6).  To illustrate this sort of suffering I mentioned the fight for Iwo Jima, February 19-March 16, 1945.

From among 20,965 total casualties suffered in 26 days of hellish

The Museum of Biblical History in Collierville, Tennessee, is entering a period of transition.  After several years in service as our Executive Director, Jacob Shock has resigned from that post.  All of us who have come to appreciate his presence on our town square and the contributions he has made to the advancement of the museum wish him well as he moves on to new opportunities and

In part No. 1 of this discussion (Sept. 29, 2014), "Forgiveness -- Repentance a Requisite?" I answered the first of these two questions: 1) Must unrepented sin be forgiven by God and/or man? 2) What ought the posture/attitude of the offended party be toward an offender who gives no evidence of a desire for forgiveness?

My answer to that first question was no.  I know of no evidence

In order for one of us to forgive another, must that other person genuinely repent of the wrong he or she has done us?  What if a person who has wronged us shows no sign of a change of heart (repentance) and will not ask us for forgiveness?

Best to answer these questions with the answers to two more:  1) Must unrepented sin be forgiven by God and/or

Have you ever heard someone say, "Sure, I'll forgive him -- the day he pays me back everything he took!"  Forgiveness doesn't work that way.  It is not likely anyone will ever be able to compensate us fully for the wrong they have done us, even if they wish to do so.  We will have to forego payback if we are going to forgive.

God Himself does not