According to the New Testament, the forgiveness of sins is a promise given by Jesus Christ himself. The greatness of this promise is revealed in an overwhelming richness of literary genres, images, concepts, persons, positions and perspectives, all concretizing the reality of liberation and healing in different situations. This diversity is mediated by the Gospel, opening up the horizons and dimensions of salvation. Forgiveness of sins does not stand alone here, but is an essential and specific expression of grace, overcoming evil on the one hand and anticipating the perfection of salvation on the other. Both aspects of salvation are developed in the dialectic relation between the sins which must be forgiven and the sin representing the power of evil that can be overcome through new creation. The New Testament does not bear witness to this promise from a neutral viewpoint of superior and undisputed knowledge, but in the participatory observation of those who are in need of forgiveness themselves, yet know they have been sent and authorized to forgive sins.

Enthalten in:
Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche; 2018/4 (2018)

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Serie / Reihe: Zeitschrift für Theologie und Kirche

Personen: Söding, Thomas

Schlagwörter: Sünde Vergebung Versöhnung Neues Testament Befreiung Soteriologie Heil