Penitence can be a life sentence we shackle on our self when we realize the wrongs we have committed and in our own opinion are punishable with emotional chains. Penitence can be good and bad, but for the most part it is very bad. When you are feeling down because of guilt when you have committed atrocities, crimes, disrespected others, or abused others or yourself, then your judgement skills are usually less affective than the act you committed. So I have to ask you:
Who are you to judge human imperfections? Matthew 7:3 says "Why do you look at the speck that is in someone else's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye"?
When we view someone with a guilty conscience we say "Why can't you see past the log in your own eye?" But you find that person reprehensible just like the one's who can't forgive you, so you form your own court and condemn that person as they obviously are deserving of a life sentence. At least we're doing something right when we agree with the unforgivers....right?
Well that's wrong thinking, all you are doing is agreeing with satan that hell is better on earth and that you are deserving of it.
Penitence originates with remorse and guilt and are designed by God to raise a red flag for us to take notice. That's all! If we don't see past the flag then we are doomed to live under it. Remember the flag is not the destination. It's time to lower the flag with the Word of God
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207&version=NASB
