Forgiveness Prior To Repentance?

Is forgiveness prior to repentance? Here’s a quote from James B. Torrance to help you ponder…

“What did Calvin and the Marrowmen mean by saying that ‘forgiveness is logically prior to repentance? … Suppose I had the misfortune to have a quarrel with someone, and the result was that we became estranged from one another. Then suppose after some time I came to my friend sincerely seeking reconciliation and said to him, I forgive you!’, it would be clear that this would be not only a word of love, it would also be a word of condemnation for I would be clearly implying that he was the guilty party! How would he react? His immediate reaction would probably be one of indignation, for, sensing the element of judgment in my words, he might reject my word of forgiveness, by refusing to submit to the verdict of guilt implied in it. He would be impenitent—there would be no ‘change of heart’ toward me. But suppose on subsequent reflection, he comes back and says ‘I am sorry. I was quite wrong.’ That would mean, in accepting my approach of love and forgiveness, he would in the very act be submitting to the verdict of guilty There would be a change of mind—act of penitence on his part.
The good news of the Gospel is that there is forgiveness with God our Father and he has spoken his word of forgiveness in Christ on the Cross—a word of love to humanity, and yet also a word of judgment. But that word summons from us a response of faith and penitence. In accepting the forgiveness of the Cross, we not only accept the gift of love, but in the very act know we are submitting to the verdict of guilty—acknowledging that it was our sins which put Christ on the Cross. Before the Cross, we know we are unconditionally summoned to renounce the sins for which Christ died. That is, God’s forgiveness is logically prior to our repentance. It is the goodness of God which leads us to repentance.”

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