Kleinig, John W. The Theology of Forgiveness and Its Enactment. Taskforce on the Practice of Forgiveness in the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). December 4, 2008.
Jesus, the Son of God, was sent by His Father to take away the sins of the world (Matt 1:21; John 1:29) and to speak His Father’s word of pardon to sinners here on earth (Matt 9:3-8; John 5:24). He does not just pardon the evil deeds that they have done but frees them from sinful state of mistrust of God and rebellion against Him. He speaks God’s word of grace to those who are guilty of rebellion against their Creator and under the sentence of eternal death from him for their rejection of Him. That word of pardon is his final judgment which they hear already now, long before they stand before His tribunal at the end of the world…