Q. One thing that I think would further support your case in this lengthy chapter on Divine Justice is that Paul hardly ever talks about forgiveness. Yes, he quotes the Psalms in Rom. 4 but the language is very rare in the early Paulines, and only shows up once in Colossians and once in Ephesians in the later Paulines. In other words, this is not the main way Paul explains the beneficial effects of Christ’s atoning death. Expand a bit on your point that Paul says sins, not just sinners are forgiven. What is the significance of this fact?
A. That’s interesting. My point is that divine forgiveness is more like a legal pardon which absolves one of guilt than like the personal forgiveness displayed in human relationships. Forgiveness can remove hard feelings and restore fellowship but is powerless to absolve of guilt. For that reason philosophers treat pardon and forgiveness as two quite different notions. God doesn’t merely forgive us but also pardons us and so removes our guilt and liability to punishment. Marvelous!
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