Is Forgiveness a Two-Sided Transaction?

I believe that it’s possible and even necessary to separate forgiveness from reconciliation. In other words, I believe that if someone has wronged me, I can forgive them without reconciling or entering into a trusting relationship with them again. I can give them the gift of forgiveness. I no longer hold their sin against them. I free my heart from any bitterness. I leave any vengeance or retribution up to the Lord, and I refuse to take it myself. I refuse to have a bad, hateful, sinful attitude against them. That’s my granting of forgiveness to them.

Whether or not I trust them again, and whether or not there’s a true reconciliation of relationship is a two-sided thing. I would disagree with someone who believes that forgiveness and reconciliation are always the same thing. I believe that forgiveness can and must be one-sided. You must forgive and reconciliation. Rebuilding a relationship and trust is definitely a two-sided thing.