Forgiveness and Divine Grace: A Path Paved by Repentance
Based on the cited texts, God's forgiveness is closely tied to inner repentance and the acknowledgment of one's guilt. One excerpt states: "God permits this so that they may receive forgiveness in at least this manner, because a person, in his mortal hour, repents and feels the need to ask forgiveness from those he wronged." (source: link txt) It is also noted that the Kingdom of God is granted to people as a gift, as grace—since no one deserved it due to the constant state of human sinfulness—and therefore the possibility of this gift is inseparable from the necessity of forgiveness: "If no one deserved the Kingdom of God, then it can only be given to people as a gift, as grace that is bestowed freely. But since a person not only did not deserve it, but also does everything possible to be unworthy of it (by sinning), the possibility of the gift becomes linked with the necessity of forgiveness. The latter thus becomes a necessary condition for salvation." (source: link txt) These texts emphasize that forgiveness and the gift of salvation from God are connected with a repentant attitude. Although forgiveness is considered a selfless gift, it is not granted automatically without an internal realization and repentance, even if the person does not directly ask for it.Supporting quotes: "God permits this so that they may receive forgiveness in at least this manner, because a person, in his mortal hour, repents and feels the need to ask forgiveness from those he wronged." (source: link txt) "If no one deserved the Kingdom of God, then it can only be given to people as a gift, as grace... then the possibility of the gift becomes linked with the necessity of forgiveness." (source: link txt)