Forgive yourself? I think not!

I was at a Bible study one evening where the majority of the people were in their late 20's and early 30's. We were talking about forgiveness. A very sincere Christian woman said “The Lord won't forgive you until you forgive yourself.” This seems to be a popular thought, I found, and was even quoted with scriptural veracity! Being the truth-seeker that I am, I asked for the scripture reference because it sounded very meek and pious and it came from a sweet person. Her reply was “I don't know ...I've just always heard that!”
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That's the problem! Some churches led by itinerants even quote hymns as scripture. It seems that mankind has a propensity to look for truth anywhere, but where they should look! The Bible is complete and we're even warned. We must know scripture and the only way to know it is to read it!
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Revelation (KJV) 22:18 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:”
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The Bible stands complete! Modern revelation is inconsistent with God's word. “Revelation” is “revealed truth”. God said to mankind fully what he had to say. He's told us of the creation, our standard of conduct, how to praise Him, how to be wise, how to avoid his wrath, how we'll fail, of his own person born of the flesh, of his own temptation, his miracles, his vicarious sacrifice on the cross, of the hope of salvation, his resurrection, the destruction of the kingdom of Satan and our own eternal life, or if we reject Him, our own eternal punishment. What more could you add?
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Some “cults” have added entire books: The Koran, the Book of Mormon, and the writings and dictates (bulls) of church leadership. All of these additions are in direct violation of the revealed Word of God. Plagues mentioned in “Revelation” will be a penalty God puts on those in error (Revelation 16):
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1. Boils or carbuncles
2. Sea turns to blood
3. Rivers turn to blood
4. Intense heatwave
5. Earth plunged in darkness
6. Euphrates River dries up to allow armies to wage the battle of Armageddon
7. A worldwide earthquake where even mountains will be leveled

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It would appear that these are not individual “plagues”, but corporate ones. With apostasy even the innocent will suffer. Not only are you responsible for yourself, but your communal apostasy will affect all those remaining!
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I'll use the Catholic use of “bull” to define it: It's a letter presenting a solemn announcement of a doctrinal interpretation. If a “bull” pronounces a doctrine in opposition to scripture, it isn't of God and the person pronouncing the bull is confused. (How ironic that the term matches today's slang for the term “without truth”). While I'm not attacking papal interpretation of scripture, both protestants and Catholics must examine all such proclamations in light of scripture. I will do that for the expression: “The Lord won't forgive you until you forgive yourself.”
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Acts (KJV) 10:43:To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”
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“His name” from above is Jesus! Jesus forgives your sins to whomever believes. Of course, before your sins are forgiven your belief and acceptance must be in Jesus and His own claims of who he is and what he did for the believer. (I don't see anything here that includes you forgiving yourself!)
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1 John (KJV) 2:12 “I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.”
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Here we go again! Sins are forgiven “for his name's sake”! Here also, scripture fails to mention anything about you forgiving yourself! Now are you beginning to see how to test your doctrine? What would happen if you even attempt to forgive yourself? Here I use one of the most important verses in the Bible again:
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John (KJV) 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
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What this means is that you can't forgive yourself. Only Jesus has that power. You're merely a vile vessel containing a soul which God loves. You are powerless to forgive yourself and you're also powerless to save yourself. Pagan religions (likewise Universalism and Analytical Psychology) believe that “the self” is God. That's idol worship and that worthless idol is the worst idol – the idol of “self”!
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What did this person really mean when she said “The Lord won't forgive you until you forgive yourself.”
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I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and knowing here sincerity and Christian faith she was only repeating a mantra she'd heard before. What that statement should say is “The Lord won't forgive you until you repent of your sins!” “Remission” means “forgiveness” and “pardon”. In scripture you can't be forgiven until you're sorry of your sins and ask God to pardon you. You can begin to see where “forgive yourself” is idolatry and “seek forgiveness” is scripture? There's a big difference – the difference between Heaven and Hell!