Below are a few scriptures confirming that the abuser must ask and repent of their sin... IF, the abuser does not confess and repent I see no command to forgive or dismiss the sin against you. See the scriptures below. You see that the scriptures say that; If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

You may ask yourself if you have the authority to override Jesus' teachings and publicly forgive the abuser if the trespasser does not confess and repent. Many people may choose to overlook the sin and that is fine! To 'overlook' or be 'tolerant' should not to be confused with forgiveness. The scriptures even go so far as to say that if the trespasser does not confess and repent... let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Jesus taught us the Lord's Prayer... within that prayer we ask our Father to; "forgive us as we forgive those who sin against us." It is assumed, since HE has taught about forgiveness, that we confess and repent of our sins as we ask forgiveness. Therefore, since we are required to confess and repent in our prayer, so are we required to confess and repent of our sins against a brother. "FORGIVE US AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US."

I have found that if you have anger and bitterness towards another person it will destroy you. Therefore it is good to release it. Call it forgiveness or any other name... you must let go of it or it can ruin your life.

Even though the scriptures indicate that you are required to forgive if the other person confesses and repents... I know from my own experiences that it is better if you forgive or "let it go," even if the trespasser does not confess and repent... Bitterness and resentment can destroy your life.

Luke 17 (King James Version)

 3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

 4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Luke 17 (New Living Translation)

Teachings about Forgiveness and Faith

1 One day Jesus said to his disciples, “There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves! “If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive.”

Matthew 18 (King James Version)

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.

Matthew 18 (New Living Translation)

Correcting Another Believer

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. 17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.