16 August 2012

Christian Community: Forgiveness

Even when sin and misunderstanding burden the communal life, is not the sinning brother still a brother, with whom I too stand under the Word of Christ? Will not his sin be a constant occasion for me to give thanks that both of us may live in the forgiving love of God in Jesus Christ? Thus the very hour of disillusionment with my brother becomes incomparably salutary, because it so thoroughly teaches me that neither of us can ever live by our own words and deeds, but only by that one Word and Deed which really binds us together - the forgiveness of sins in Jesus Christ.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

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