Here is a big, big dilemma:
How is it possible that a God who is perfectly just, can then go and forgive guilty people like us? Would that not mean that God's not just any more?
To see my thoughts on this apparent problem, have a read of this essay that I wrote for theology at Bible College. I talk about the way it's been resolved, and it's pretty exciting!!
Have a read here
it took me a while when I first came to Christ to wrap my head around Gods grace
ReplyDeleteit is exciting and we are blessed and loved so much :)
Same here! I think in our Christian lives it will be an ever-increasing growth in understanding the depths of God's grace. And then we've got eternity....
ReplyDeleteYour explanation is clear and Biblical, but perhaps does not go far enough! God does forgive guilty people, but does this require our active confession, apology, 'repentance'? And is this just once when we are saved, or repeatedly and constantly whenever we sin? Have we been forgiven even if the sin is unrecognised, or unconfessed? The same dilemma/question applies to our own forgiveness of others who sin against us.
ReplyDeleteInteresting thoughts Keith.
DeleteI agree completely! God forgiving us absolutely requires that we believe the gospel, confessing and turning from our sin. We are saved by grace, through faith. Faith in Christ is the means, and that saving faith is also a living faith that will endure and manifests itself in good works (Eph 2:8-10, James 2:17). And we do need to repeatedly confess and leave our sin, putting to death the deeds of our sinful flesh, and working out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil 2:12).
In this essay I just wanted to focus on the way that it is possible for us to be forgiven, from the divine perspective. Yes we have a responsibility also from the human perspective, that just wasn't my focus here. Perhaps I'll write another one that treats that side of things too!
And you're right, the dilemma applies to our forgiveness of other people. Hadn't thought about that angle! We are called to forgive them and leave vengeance to God(Rom 12:19). Ultimately their sins against us are also against God, and they will be called to account for them at judgement - their sins will be addressed (if believers they were taken care of at the cross, or if unbelievers they'll take the punishment for these sins on themselves for eternity).