Is Forgiveness Unconditional?

Most people in our culture believe that forgiveness is unconditional by virtue of good intentions or death. So they say, “My intentions were harmless so surely God will forgive me” or “Because God is love, surely he will forgive me when I die.” Both of these cultural assumptions are unfounded in Scripture and not practiced in human relationships. For example, there are bitter widows who have never forgiven their husbands although their husband passed away years ago. Death does not automatically result in forgiveness. The same is true for good intensions. True forgiveness follows repentance, which is clearly depicted in the gospel. God sends his only Son to become a man, live a sinless life, and die as our substitute to “take away the sin on the world (Joh. 1:29).” So many incorrectly concluded from this verse, because they are part of this world, their sins must be washed away. Forgiveness is unconditional, but not automatic. It is unconditional only under one condition, that is, repentance.