Advent Logos

A critique on the book “Total Forgiveness” by R.T. Kendall

I was recently gifted a book titled “Total Forgiveness” by a friend and mentor. The reasons for which I’m not fully aware. The book takes on the greatest challenge God ever gave man: Forgiveness…but from a biblical perspective. My interest was certainly peaked on receiving this book because, like some people, I feel that I have a lot to forgive in my life. Life certainly hasn’t been easy so this book seemed to be a great starting point for most people for a deeper biblical understanding of forgiveness.

To be extra clear up front I believe this book to be a wonderful starting point, but only to the discerning christian. The author is extraordinarily educated with an outstanding resume some would be envious of. This is in no way critical of him as a person or of his numerous accomplishments that surely shadow my own. This is instead a critique of his ideas and his theological understanding. Ideas must be tested against Gods word. That is what I plan to do.

The first critique is perhaps inconsequential entirely. Throughout the book the author placed critic reviews in praise of himself and the book. These reviews were not pertinent to the book in any way and came across as braggadocios more times than one. Others that have also read the book see these “reviews” the same way. This is possibly the number 1 complaint about the book throughout hundreds of Amazon reviews. At the end of the day, this is really a non issue. It’s just a detracting element of the book that was/is completely unnecessary. Proverbs 27:2 would probably be used in the authors defense in this case. Moving on.

The second critique is from chapter 1. A couple pages in the author begins to explain what forgiveness is NOT. He goes through a list of ten things that forgiveness is not which are:

• Approval of what they did
• Excusing what they did
• Justifying what they did
• Pardoning what they did
• Reconciliation
• Denying what they did
• Blindness to what happened
• Forgetting
• Refusing to take the wrong seriously
• Pretending we are not hurt.

Many, if not most, of these are true. Forgiveness is definitely not approval of what they did. On the other hand, things like reconciliation and forgetting are (In my humble opinion) biblical principles of forgiveness. I can understand the authors reasoning on why he included them in this list. The author places reconciliation and forgetting in the category of “things forgiveness is not” because its difficult to do these things, especially in severe circumstances. This seems to be done for more politically correct reasons rather than honestly facing the biblical principles of forgiveness. But again, the critique is against the idea not the man. Forgiveness is after all the greatest challenge God ever gave man.

Later in the book the author rightfully recognizes that reconciliation with the world is one of Gods main purposes. 1 John 2:6 says, “Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 says, ” Be imitators of me..” 1 Peter 2:21 says, ” For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” John 13:13 says, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.” Ephesians 5:1 says, ” Therefore be imitators of God..” The inference we can draw from these scriptures is that we are asked to walk in the same way our Father does. Based on the authors conclusion that God came to reconcile, we too should also reconcile. There is plenty of scriptural evidence to support this inference. This cannot logically be applied to subjects such as love and forgiveness but not reconciliation. 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 says, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” Reconciliation is inherently tied to forgiveness and ultimately salvation.

Forgetting is also essential to Christlike forgiveness. Hebrews 10:17 says, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” Isaiah 43:25 says, “I am He who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” Acts 3:19 says, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.” Without God forgetting our sins, how does forgiveness even work? He remembers them no more. Forgiveness being the key, because without “forgetting” there is only mercilessness. Therefore, through Christs example, forgetting is inseparably part of true forgiveness. He always calls us to a higher standard.

The third and largest critique is found in chapter 3. The author opens the chapter with the recital of the Lords prayer. The final verse the author included being Matthew 6:15 which says, “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your father will not forgive your sins.” Other versions of the Bible translate sins to be debts, trespasses, or what is owed. A few pages into the chapter the author makes the claim that this verse does NOT mean that we loose our salvation if we refuse to forgive. He then explains that if it means we loose our salvation, it follows that we must be saved by works. Citing Ephesians 2:8-9 as this justification: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”

R.T. Kendall proceeds to makes 4 points on the topic about “What happens when we don’t forgive?” #1 is that salvation is unconditional. #2 is Justification before God is unconditional. #3 is our status in the family of God is unconditional. #4 is our eternal destiny is fixed.

The 4 points I would like to make to you here today are these: #1 salvation IS conditional #2 Justification before God IS conditional #3 Our status in the family of God IS conditional #4 Our eternal destiny is absolutely NOT fixed. This may have offended some, but I ask to be heard out in my entirety before casting judgement on my “interpretation”. I want to biblically prove these things to you, leaving as much opinion out as humanly possible.

To convince you of these things I will first have to show that eternal salvation can be lost. After all, the proposition of forgiveness presupposes eternal salvation when discussed in a biblical sense about God. Therefore, I must make the case that eternal salvation is conditional of forgiveness and cannot be attained without it. In addition, I also must show that once we receive salvation through Jesus, we have a part in maintaining and keeping our salvation. Quite the task. Let’s begin.

Starting off we need to identify if there are any “sins” in the bible that God classifies as unforgivable. Of course we already know about one such verse which suggest this. Matthew 6:15 says, “If you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.” Unforgiveness of others is unforgivable. This is an inadequate example because this is the very verse I am attempting to demonstrate suggests the loss of our eternal salvation due to our unforgiveness.

How about in Matthew 18 in the parable of the unmerciful servant. In this story Jesus himself seems to suggest revocation of forgiveness followed by punishment. The master in this parable is owed a great debt by his servant. The servant pleads with the master to be spared punishment for what is owed. The servant declares that he will pay back everything owed if the master would simply have mercy. This is important because this is an analogy within the parable for the doctrine of good works. Good works of course eventually outweighing the bad. The master then doesn’t demand the servant pay him back, but instead cancels the servants debt entirely. This cancellation is an analogy for Jesus’ actions at the cross and wiping out your sin… your debt… completely. He paid it…He cancelled your debt. So, after the servant was cleared of all his debt, he ventures out to find all the people that owed him money. Instead of being merciful, he demands the debtors pay him back immediately. When the debtors begged for mercy the servant refused and had them thrown into prison. The servant failed to extend the same grace and mercy that was extended to him by his master. When the master learned of this he asked the servant, “shouldn’t you have mercy on your fellow servant just as I had mercy on you?” In anger the master revokes his mercy and grace previously extended to the servant and delivers the servant to prison, just as the servant had done to his debtors. This of course is a simple parable to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson.

The master in this parable is representative of God, the servant is you, and the debtors are the people who sin against us. Anyone care to guess what verse 35 says to close the parable? V.35 says, “so my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brothers for his trespasses…debts…sins.” The important part here is to do your own research into what is meant by jail or prison here. The word used in this verse is the Greek word Phulake, which means imprisonment, prison, guarded, or watched. Of course it could mean literal jail, but this same word is used throughout the bible in reference to hell. Revelation 20:7 is a great example which says, “when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison.” You will recall that Satan was thrown into the bottomless pit in verses 2-3 of Revelation 20. The bottomless pit is referenced as a prison. Parables are meant to be simple stories. If jail or prison is referenced in other places in the bible as a place for the unforgiven, why would we complicate this parable by saying he means literal prison? God after all doesn’t place us in literal, physical prison for being unforgiving. So, therefore the punishment must be prison in the age to come and not in the present.

Still, this isn’t adequate. Hebrews 10:26 says, “if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” Remember what Matthew 6:15 said we are supposed to forgive others for? Their sins against us. The rest of the verse implies that if we don’t forgive others sins we are deliberately choosing to be unforgiven by the Father because we have received the knowledge of the truth.

What other verses suggest unforgivable sins, debts, trespasses, or what is owed? I believe Mark 3: 28-29 makes a good case for this claim. “Assuredly, I say to you, all sin will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation.” The important aspect of this passage is conditional on what blaspheming is. Blasphemy is simply “to speak a word against”, so it is a verbal sin. But what this verse is talking about is a very specific form of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. So to swing back to the end of the verse, the verse ends by stating whoever does this never has forgiveness and is subject to eternal condemnation. The tie between these two is what I want you to see. Those that do not have forgiveness are subject to eternal condemnation. It is logical then to say eternal salvation is dependent on forgiveness. I believe the entirety of the bible is in agreement with this. Gods purpose with the world is to reconcile. Reconcile means to restore, settle, resolve, or to account for. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus’ death was the price for our sins. Jesus’ resurrection restored us to God by settling, resolving, and accounting for our debt… our sin. Without forgiveness from God we have no hope of eternal salvation. Therefore, our eternal salvation is dependent on forgiveness.

In Romans 11 the apostle Paul tells a story to the gentiles. In biblical times there where 2 main groups of people: The Jews-Gods chosen people and the gentiles-everyone else. The Jews where in constant rebellion to God. Jesus came to form a new covenant with the Jew, but also to the gentile so that all of His children could experience salvation and favor. Paul explains to the gentiles an analogy of an olive tree. In this analogy, Paul reveals that some of the branches were (purposefully) broken off. These branches represented the Jewish people. Then, speaking to the gentiles, Paul says, “you are grafted into the tree among them (Jews)…so that you too can share in the nourishment of the roots (God). Paul then gives a cautioning proclamation to the gentiles. He says do not consider yourself superior to the other branches (Jews). You do not support the root (God), but the root supports you. The gentiles may say, “branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” They were broken off because of unbelief. If God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Paul is painting a very vivid picture here. Though this has nothing to do with the forgiveness we are discussing, it very much has to do with the subject of our salvation being conditional and our eternal destiny not being fixed. I consider this story important in recognizing that our salvation is fragile and God reserves the exclusive right to remove branches from His tree. Removing branches from His tree of course is a metaphor implying His ability to revoke your “family membership” due to certain violations of the terms and conditions. This furthers our evidence that not only is our salvation conditional, but our “destiny” is certainly not fixed.

Another famous passage from Matthew is often overlooked as well. Matthew 7:21 teaches us, “Not all who say to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” Perhaps this is an uncomfortable truth we are evading because it makes us uncomfortable. In the preceding verses we see that these people prophesied, cast out demons, and preformed many miracles. Press pause for one moment and think about this. With the exception of casting out demons, these are all identified as gifts of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12. Verse 4 says these gifts are given to believers by the same Spirit. An argument could even be made for those that cast out demons might have the gift of discerning spirits. With this knowledge we can conclude that perhaps those that say “Lord Lord” were possibly believers at one point. Romans 11:29 says that Gods gifts are irrevocable, so it also makes sense that these people still preformed the acts they say they did. Again the evidence is saying that salvation, even though you may have believed, is anything but guaranteed. These people obviously believed they were “saved”. They believed that because they professed the name of Jesus and believed in their hearts they thought their eternal salvation was ensured. Why then does Jesus say, “I never knew you. Away from me evildoers!” Evildoers implies evil works. Some may read this and say they simply were not truly “christian”. I believe the greater implication here is that just because we professed Christ as Lord and went to church doesn’t mean your eternal salvation is fixed. This means that there is another element to the equation that the church possibly overlooked. Perhaps we have grown so comfortable in our salvation that we have forgotten to not only be like Christ, but also to have a relationship with him. How do you get to know someone? You must establish…AND maintain the relationship. Simply professing Christ may not be enough. Jesus said, “I never knew you.” How confident are you in your “fixed/unconditional” destiny?

Through all this I have addressed that our salvation is anything but fixed and that it is conditional of relationship. Now let me address justification before God being conditional.

Justification first off is defined as the act of showing something to be right: righteous, righteousness. Justification is a legal term. It implies showing someones actions to be righteous instead of wrong (sinful), wicked, or unjust. This brings us to the “works” argument. Righteous by definition means to be without fault or blame. Obviously the bible teaches that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, ” He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus).” So it is only through Jesus that we can be righteous. Ephesians 2:8-10 is two sided, as you will see. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God, not as a result of works.” Most people would stop there and say that salvation is a 100% irrevocable gift based on faith not works. If it was by works then we could earn our salvation.

The problem is that there is a second half to Ephesians 2:8-10 that is largely ignored. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” We were created for good works. The discounted part of these verses is the “we should walk in them” part. This implies not only a necessary action: “walking”, but also a choice: “should” being the voluntary condition to the action.

I still haven’t convinced the “works” crowd. So out of fairness let me break down several passages often used in favor of the works message and against it. To their credit, works indeed cannot gain a person grace or salvation. This I agree with and see biblical evidence for. However, the issue we are addressing isn’t gaining grace or salvation, but maintaining it.

Verses often cited in favor of the “grace only” crowd are passages such as Galatians 2:16 which states, “knowing that man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ.. that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” At first glance its pretty convincing. The problem is context. Here Paul is addressing early Christians about detaching their beliefs from old testament Mosaic law and following Christ by faith under the new law. Mosaic laws were so numerous that it was almost impossible to adhere to them all. The law represented works… and those works became a burden…a religion. When Jesus came He cancelled the old covenant (Mosaic law) and formed a new covenant. One in which salvation couldn’t be earned but was instead freely given. Not on the basis of works, but on the basis of grace. Matthew 11:28 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” This verse is in reference to how burdensome the yoke of religion had become under the old law. It also gives us a better picture of the condition of the people still following the law in Galatians 2. Paul was attempting to free these early Christians from the heavy yoke of the old law so that they can understand justification doesn’t come from works of the law. Your good deeds and adherence to the Mosaic law were no longer good enough. Your good works will never outweigh your bad under the new law because justification comes through faith being first. Under the old law James 2:10 says, “for whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” If you read the remainder of John 2 you will see that the message Paul is trying to communicate is “forgive and you will be forgiven.” In fact the last verses of the passage are, “for judgement is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgement.” God is trying to communicate to his people to be merciful instead of making people guilty of the whole law under the Mosaic covenant.

Again, we see this theme play out in Galatians 2:21 which says, “I do not nullify the grace of God for if righteousness were through the law (works implied), then Christ died for nothing.” And again, at first glance the verse is convincing. But again, context is important. Paul is still attempting to teach this particular group of early Christians that righteousness does not come through obedience to the law… that is the Mosaic law… the old covenant. Remember that this time period was post resurrection. The new covenant was established at Calvary. No longer did adherence to the old law secure righteousness. Grace which came through faith was/is the only way to righteousness. If righteousness were gained through following the law, then a man could boast about his obedience…his works. Grace would become pointless and Christ died for nothing if being good at following laws was all a man had to do. They would be able to achieve righteousness on their own merit. “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” The law was only ever meant to be guidelines so that Gods people could have the knowledge of what is good and freely choose to live rightly. Instead, the law became a sword to punish those who failed to follow the law to the letter. Men had taken up the position as judge. Perhaps this is among the many reasons why God sent His son Jesus…To take back the judgement seat of His laws from men.

Need more proof still? Lets keep reading James chapter 2 starting in verse 21. “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” Continue reading through verse 26. “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” That is as black and white as it gets. No jumping through hoops, historic knowledge, or deciphering parables necessary. A man isn’t justified through faith alone, but also by his works. This proves without a shadow of a doubt that justification before God is in fact conditional. Works must accompany the faith. One without the other is dead.

Let me expound this thought. There is a context and an order in which “works” justified Abraham. Under the new covenant, works cannot gain grace. Grace is free. After grace, when works are combined with faith then justification comes through grace. Works must follow faith. Faith without works is dead. Works therefore is a requirement to faith for justification. Justification meaning the action of declaring or making righteous in the sight of God. Justification is a requirement to our eternal salvation. Our eternal salvation and our justification therefore are conditional.

Now I want to give you scripture to back this claim up further. It is a bold claim after all. I believe if there is a truth in Gods word (the bible) it will be confirmed by itself. Meaning that the bible will show something to be truth in more than one passage if it is actually true and not just our understanding of it. So here you go:

• James 2:14-20-What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
• Titus 3:14- And let our’s also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
• Matthew 5:16- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven
• Hebrews 6:10- God is not unjust; he will not forget your works and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
• James 1:22-26- But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. (works is implied by being a doer)
• Titus 2:7- in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility..
• 1 Timothy 6:18- Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share
• Hebrews 10:24- And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works
• Colossians 1:10- that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God
• Romans 2:13- for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified (doers implies works)
• 2 Corinthians 5:10- For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad (things done implies works)

I could go on, but I believe everyone is beginning to understand my point. Works is inseparable from justification and justification is inseparable from salvation. If we return for just a second to Colossians 1:10 above we can see that good work is the opportunity for fruitfulness. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Good works opens the door for us to be fruitful. With this knowledge I can demonstrate that eternal destiny isn’t fixed. Matthew 7:17-20 says, “every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” By their fruits you will know them. This is an analogy of course, but again we see here that trees not bearing good fruit are cut down and thrown into the fire. Tell me, after reading all of this, what does the fire represent?

Lets tie it all together. Remember our discussion about Romans 11. God is identified as the roots and we are grafted in branches. What is the branches function? To bear fruit. If we also remember John 15 when we abide in Jesus we bear fruit as a result. There is an order of operation here that is confirming this entire article. God is the root. When we abide in Him…in other words when we put our faith in Hims, then we (the branches) bear fruit. Faith comes before fruit. This is also important to recognize because as we have already discussed, works provide the opportunity to be fruitful. So, the order is faith, then works, then fruit. This order reaffirms James 2:26 that faith without works is dead. Do dead branches produce fruit? No. Then this also affirms John 15:5-8. Verse 6 says anyone that anyone who does not abide in Me (Jesus)….anyone who does not have faith in Me…is withered. Withered is a plant term that means to cease to flourish, to fall into decay. Faith AND works produce the fruit. Faith without works is dead. Works without faith is dead…withered…and can bear no fruit. Finish verse 6, Jesus said that branches not bearing good fruit will be removed and thrown into the fire.

Faith without works is dead. Without works there can be no fruit. Faith therefore must have works to produce fruit. God says you will know His people by their fruit. He is showing us that He must care very much about the fruit we are producing. Because if we are producing fruit, we are abiding in Him. THAT is the proof of our justification. A branch that does not produce good fruit is removed and cast into the fire.

I’ve ended the last three paragraphs the same way because I want you to recognize what the Bible is saying. How many “Christians” are getting to heaven and hearing the words “I never knew you”? If we are not following this order, perhaps too many.

Romans 6:22- “But now having been set free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” This verse encapsulates the entire message. We were first set free from sin (by grace through faith), we became servants of God (serving implies action which implies works), our fruits being holy (fruits of the Spirit: love peace, patience, kindness, etc), and in the end we will enjoy everlasting life. Did you see the order?

If our salvation is conditional, our justification before God is conditional, and our eternal destiny is NOT fixed, then our status in the family of God is also answered through answering the others. Which satisfies the original mission we began at the beginning of this critique. However, I want to take it one step further for the sake of being thorough.

Christians’ unfortunately apply logic such as Pascals wager to atheists in an attempt to help them see the logical benefit of believing, but often fail to apply it to their own beliefs. I believe the bible is very clear that failing to forgive others will result in God not forgiving us as this article has demonstrated.

Lets say for a minute that I’m wrong about all of it and that all the passages I’ve listed here didn’t exist. Using the Pascal system, whats your wager? Because the price is your eternity if you are wrong. There’s only one safe bet.

At this point it’s slightly humorous that all this evolved from a book critique. The pervading point that I believe was understated in the book was following in the example of Jesus. In a book about biblical forgiveness our understanding of forgiveness has to come from the Father. The suggestive nature of forgiveness in a book about forgiveness looses its urgency when the author minimized the gravity of the subjects ramifications. Very early on the author states in the book, “The degree to which the Holy Spirit is Himself in me will be the degree to which I am like Jesus and carry out his teachings.” I couldn’t agree more.

Thanks for reading,

God Bless

AL