Difference Between Forgiveness And Restoration

There is a difference between forgiveness and restoration. Some wrongly assume that saying your sorry is enough. But the truth is that the victim can often see the difference between a hastily uttered apology and genuine repentance. Consider the example of an abuser saying, “you’re a Christian so you must forgive me.” The implication is that the abuser is then free to continue his abuse. But who would be foolish to open themselves up to another round of abuse? A truly restored relationship requires recognizing and confessing guilt and real repentance which may very well include restitution when possible. (K. Edward Skidmore - Sermon Central).