Should We Forgive the Unrepentant?

In this episode of Kingdom Polemics, Pastor Aldo Leon tackles a highly charged and often misunderstood question: should Christians forgive those who remain unrepentant? The conversation, sparked by recent public discourse around forgiveness in tragic circumstances, goes well beyond the headlines and dives deep into Scripture, theology, and the nature of divine justice and mercy. Aldo challenges sentimental, one-dimensional notions of forgiveness that have become common in the modern church and instead builds a robust biblical argument grounded in God's character, the necessity of repentance, and the proper understanding of Christ's atonement. Highlights: Forgiveness is a divine act that originates with God, not a horizontal gesture independent of Him. Only God can forgive sin, and believers may only extend forgiveness insofar as it reflects His forgiveness. True forgiveness is never separated from repentance. The Bible consistently ties remission of sins to repentance; to declare someone forgiven without repentance is to proclaim what God has not declared. Forgiveness among believers is relational and covenantal. Even within the church, Jesus commands rebuke and repentance before forgiveness, highlighting that grace is not license for unrepentant sin. Aldo explores the parables of Jesus, church discipline, and the necessity of maintaining doctrinal integrity regarding God's justice. He explains that hell exists precisely because forgiveness is withheld from those who refuse repentance. The episode examines Christ's words on the cross — "Father, forgive them" — not as a universal declaration but as a priestly intercession for the elect that assumes repentance granted by God's sovereign grace. Finally, Aldo addresses the tension between love and justice. Drawing from Psalms and the broader witness of Scripture, he argues that Christians may, at times, rightly pray for God's judgment on the unrepentant wicked, just as they may pray for the repentance and salvation of others. Christian love, he contends, is not sentimental permissiveness but alignment with God's multifaceted purposes — both redemptive and judicial. This episode challenges modern assumptions about empathy, forgiveness, and the character of God, reminding listeners that biblical forgiveness is rooted in divine holiness, not human emotion. Support Kingdom Polemics by visiting: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/kingdompolemics and join the conversation on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@kingdompolemics — share your thoughts, questions, and reflections in the comments. Also, don't miss Aldo Leon's powerful book -In Christ's Crown, Christianity, & The Civil Realm-. In it, Aldo presents a compelling biblical vision of the civil magistrate's role under Christ's mediatorial reign — a vital read for anyone seeking to understand how Christ's lordship extends to every sphere of life. Available now at Berith Press: https://www.berithpress.com/bookstore/p/christs-crown-christianity-the-civil-realm .