Tuesday, June 2, 2009

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

Giving and receiving is God’s creation norm. …But it is not normative in the human community. There is much amiss among us.

Sin is anti-gift and anti-personal. Sin ruptures or sabotages a living relationship. Instead of receiving, we take. (p. 185)
We sin plenty – in big and small ways. We take instead of give and so we need forgiveness. Exposing and pointing out sin isn’t how we glorify God, however. Instead, forgiving sin is how God is glorified. The only remedy to sin committed is forgiveness. Peterson graces us with this picture:

Jesus does not stand aloof from the mess we are in. He joins us where we are, mired in the mud of sin (‘became sin for us’: see 2 Cor. 5:21). He takes his place alongside us and invites us to pray with him, ‘Forgive us…’ (p. 186)

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