(June 30, 2018 at 7:54 am)possibletarian Wrote: ...the question was 'why didn't god simply forgive us' I didn't ask according to your indoctrination how did god forgive us.
Sin creates a barrier (because of God's essential holiness) and an obligation to satisfy (because of God's essential justice). The repair necessary could only come from the God side of the equation. God could always forgive sins. They were not paid for (slate wiped clean as if they never existed) until the Cross. Just like you can forgive someone that wrongs you--but forgiving does not remove the consequences of the action. The Cross removed the consequences (at least the eternal ones--i.e. the gulf between us and God's justice and holiness) of sin to those who freely accept it.
