Eager to understand forgiveness at a deeper level, theologically and experientially, I am reading Embodying Forgiveness by L. Gregory Jones. The book breaks down into three parts: 1) Cultural and Social Shortfalls in Forgiveness 2) Biblical and Theological Anaylsis 3) Practice of Forgiveness.
I am looking forward to reading through the book for several reasons: 1) Jones grounds his understanding of forgiveness in the Trinitarian community with Jesus’ death and resurrection at the center. 2) He does not dodge the issues of a bad theology of forgiveness like “cheap grace,” individualistic, and socialistic theologies of forgiveness. 3) Jones promises to get to the theological and experiential relationship between repentance and forgiveness, an issue too frequently overlooked in discipleship.
I expect to periodically post on this book. This morning I will post a quote that locates forgiveness in the scheme of redemptive history:
Jesus’ ministry is shaped by his proclamation and enactment of God’s inbreaking kindgom; and central to that proclamationa and enactment is forgiveness of sins. In one sense it is not surprising; Israel knew a gracious God, and the promise of forgiveness is found throughout the Hebrew Bible. Further, significant movements within Israel looked forward to the dawn of the messianic age as a time when forgiveness and repentance would become pivotal signs of God’s salvation.
Curtis “the Voice” Allen recently rapped at 