When you say “and he may have to make it right”, I feel I must warn you a little bit. God didn’t require us to “make it right” before sending Jesus to atone for our sins. Not only is repentance needed for us to be forgiven, but our own willingness to forgive as well. Requiring compensation first is not forgiveness. I’m aware that the entire concept is not easy or intuitive, but it starts to make sense the more you consider it.
God required atonement. He let Jesus pay it, but it was required.There are some things that only require a simple “I’m sorry”. Others DO require atonement.
Someone once wronged me. I won’t go into the details. This person was motivated by sheer malice, nothing more as far as I could tell. She gained no advantage; I wracked my brains for months to figure out how I inspired such intense hatred in her. But I never did.
Here’s the thing: In doing what she did, she endangered my wife’s life. I’m not going to forgive unless she convinces me she’s changed. That will require some serious sacrifice on her part.
It’s not likely to happen. She’s not sorry, and she lives 4 states away now.
But it’s been along time, and I’ve mostly forgotten about it. I’m no longer bitter, and, in fact, what she did gave me a tremendous opportunity to improve my life. But I wouldn’t spit on her to save her life, although I might in other circumstances.
It took years of prayer and struggle to get to the point that I could let it go, but I finally did. But, no, I won’t give her cheap forgivness.