Very helpful comments-thanks! One image for sin (which is not, as far as I know, a strictly biblical one) is that all sin is poisonous. So, it’s both stupid and dangerous to ask, “how much poison can I take, and not be harmed or die.”

On the other hand, the presence of sin in our lives does not, in itself, at all indicate that we are out of the Good Shepherd’s hand! It just means that Jesus hasn’t come back yet.

The Apology (Article IV) says this, “Likewise, the faith about which we are speaking exists in repentance, that is, it is conceived in the terrors of the conscience that experiences the wrath of God against our sin and seeks forgiveness of sins and deliverance from sin. In such terrors and other afflictions, this faith ought to grow and be strengthened. Therefore, it cannot exist in those who live according to the flesh, who take pleasure in their lusts, and who succumb to them.”

I think the above thought is helpful, that “faith exists in repentance.” Each of us is at the same time saint and sinner, and the same Lord Jesus who holds us in His hand, having brought us from “death to life” (John 5:24), taught us, “Pray then like this . . . forgive us our debts” (Matthew 6:9, 12).

I think this topic illustrates the wisdom of Jack Preus’ little book, “Just Words.” If we limit ourselves to the language of “forgiveness,” then we can get twisted around. One ends up having to explain Scriptural statements like 1 John 1:9.

But what about this? I am already born of God, through baptism. I am alive in Christ. I have been reconciled to God, and incorporated into the Church, Christ’s body. Now, part of the on-going life of faith is my regular (indeed, constant!) need to be forgiven. But if I “die on the way to confession,” it doesn’t mean I’m not alive in Christ. I’ve been adopted; I’ve been born again. On-going and repeated forgiveness is simply God’s gift to me that keep me alive.

Thanks for your encouragement. And I appreciate your comment about “what shouldn’t matter.” On the other hand, I have become so pessimistic about the ability of Americans (including me) to actually receive communication on a blog or facebook or whatever that I think it is actually a duty of the writer consciously to go WAY out of his way to say what he means to say . . . and also what he doesn’t mean to say. So-that’s what I was deliberately trying to do. Since I am an American, and most of the people who would read my little post will be Americans as well. It is, you see, an election year–a time when fair-mindedness and truthfulness seem in shorter supply than they normally are.

Peace!

Thanks for writing, friend; always good to hear from you.

I know we often say it just as you did: “…the same forgiveness that they already possess…” And I agree with what you’re trying to say–it’s a done deal, the reconcilation has happened, we are justified now freely, by grace, through faith in Christ.

On the other hand, I’m not sure the NT ever actually says, “You are already forgiven, even before you have sinned.” It has much more “experiential” or “existential” way of talking–as in the Lord’s Prayer. You don’t need forgiveness until you sin–and then you ask, and for Jesus’ sake, the forgiveness is given. Again, I’m just suggesting a common way of speaking. And it is surely out of the “completed already” of our life in Christ that we can, with confidence, approach the throne of grace.

Marvelous! But as good as the content of your post was – and it was very good indeed – much more telling to me was your lengthy and italicized disclaimer identifying yourself as one who loves LSB. Perhaps that shouldn’t matter.

Yes–more than one way to look at it. I only know that I need to hear as much of Jesus as possible, and that I usually don’t feel like I hear enough.