if we are justified we will have that nature of God that…
““if we are justified we will have that nature of God that will increasingly and inevitably express itself in forgiveness, just as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us, we will be able to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). The Lutherans says: “We are justified by faith alone, but not by a faith which is alone.” It is always faith and life: first, the life of God within; then faith; then, the expression of the inner, divine life in what we do. The conclusion is: if we do not forgive, we are not forgiven. We are not justified. We are not God’s children, regardless of what our profession may be.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Justification requires embodying divine forgiveness; without forgiving others, one cannot claim true forgiveness or be God's child.
In simple terms: Forgiveness is proof of justification.
Key Takeaway
Forgiving others validates one's own forgiveness.
Themes
theology
ethics
spirituality
Christian doctrine
justification
Mood
reflective
serious
hopeful
Type
scriptural
theological
didactic
When to use this quote
- personal repentance
- conflict resolution
- pastoral counseling
- community reconciliation
Key Concepts
faith
divine nature
forgiveness
human conduct
Practical Applications
- teaching forgiveness in churches
- guiding personal spiritual growth
Questions to Reflect On
- How does forgiving others reflect one's inner faith?
- What are the consequences of withholding forgiveness?