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Is forgiveness free, or does it come at the price of some sort of [[apology]]? Can even Christ forgive those who do not repent? The classic formula when requesting forgiveness is (1) to acknowledge the offense, (2) to express regret for the pain caused, (3) and to promise not to repeat the offense.

Is forgiveness free, or does it come at the price of some sort of [[apology]]? Can even Christ forgive those who do not repent? The classic formula when requesting forgiveness is (1) to acknowledge the offense, (2) to express regret for the pain caused, (3) and to promise not to repeat the offense.

Forgiveness usually results in freedom from punishment. It is safe to confess to a forgiving person, because the confession will not make one "[[guilty]]" but actually lead to a remission of guilt.  

Forgiveness usually results in freedom from punishment. It is safe to confess to a forgiving person, because the confession will not make one "guilty" but actually lead to a remission of guilt.  

[This point is often poorly understood by non-Christians. Associating guilt and confession with "[[justice]]" and "[[discipline]]", non-Christians generally expect any evidence of wrongdoing to correspond to punishment and will accordingly avoid confession like the plague.]

[This point is often poorly understood by non-Christians. Associating guilt and confession with "[[justice]]" and "[[discipline]]", non-Christians generally expect any evidence of wrongdoing to correspond to punishment and will accordingly avoid confession like the plague.]