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Finding Forgiveness: Discovering the Healing Power of the Gospel
If you are a Christian, you have personally experienced the joy of sins forgiven and reconciliation with God. Forgiveness, writes Stanley Gale, “is a divine accomplishment to be savored and offered to others.” Forgiveness is the most basic of Christian graces, yet the topic raises many questions, including Is it biblical to “forgive and forget”? Why do we need to confess our sins if they are already forgiven? How do we actually go about forgiving someone? Does the Bible give a place to forgiving ourselves? What does life look like after forgiveness? In 'Finding Forgiveness', you will discover practical answers to these questions and many others. With pastoral warmth, the author will help you see how the awe of the gospel dawns anew for those who apply forgiveness and experience the healing of a burdened spirit or broken relationship. Table of Introduction 1. Forgiveness and the Gospel 2. Forgiveness as Kingdom Currency 3. Practicing Forgiveness 4. Authentic Forgiveness What About Forgiving Ourselves? Stanley D. Gale (MEd, MDiv, DMin) has served Christ and congregation as a pastor for thirty years. He has authored books on prayer, spiritual warfare, the Christian life, evangelism, and biblical worldview (Ecclesiastes). His ministry website is www.CHOPministry.net. “Stan Gale’s 'Finding Forgiveness' is beautifully written, eminently practical, richly biblical, and emotionally uplifting. It provides godly guidance and spiritual nurture for weary pastors, hurting believers, caring counselors, and troubled counselees. Here you’ll find grace in your struggle to forgive and be forgiven.” — Peter Lillback, president and professor of historical theology and church history at Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia “Forgiveness is both a theological and a personal issue. We all have a sense of what it means to be forgiven and to forgive. But do we truly understand it? Finding forgiveness is an eternal matter! Stan Gale answers all those nagging, ‘yeah, but’ questions that are on so many minds when it comes to forgiveness. In doing so, he teaches a biblically rich understanding of forgiveness with pastoral care. This little book will prove to be time well spent for every reader.” — Aimee Byrd, author of Theological Fitness and No Little Women
- GenresChristian Living
74 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2017
10 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Stanley D. Gale
17 books1 followerStanley D. Gale serves as senior minister of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He has authored a number of works on spiritual warfare, including Warfare Witness: Contending with Spiritual Opposition in Everyday Evangelism.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 4, 2017
Finding Forgiveness by Stanley Gale is a new book about the nature and practical working out of forgiveness in the life of the believer. If I could summarize the book in a few words I would say that it is both wonderfully practical and profoundly theological-- it is theologically pastoral. The first chapter focuses on the place of forgiveness within the big picture of the gospel. It is, as Gale describes, the "jewel of justification". Using WCS Q33 as a basic outline, Gale demonstrates that our justification is a once and for all pronouncement of guiltlessness before God.
"Q. What is Justification?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 33"
This is an important starting point because it sets the question of forgiveness squarely within the context of gospel grace and not as a transactional and meritorious exchange with God. This is important for the reader to grasp because the following chapter (called Forgiveness as Kingdom Currency) could make any reformed reader sweat bullets if the author hadn't already set the context within the gospel.
The second chapter is critical for the reader to understand before moving into such practical applications of forgiveness as forgiving others as well as ourselves. If you skip this chapter you will miss the theological foundation for the task of living out forgiveness. Don't skip this chapter. I have to confess, when I first received the book in the mail and read through the chapter titles I was a bit nervous when I saw a chapter with the word "currency" in the title. I was not familiar with the author and wasn't sure where he stood on the Reformed understanding of grace. I was comforted by the fact that Finding Forgiveness is published by Reformation Heritage Books and that held my worry at bay while I worked my way through the chapter. Having just read chapter 1 in which Gale affirmed that our justification is by grace alone, I was confident that he would resolved the tension and end up at a theologically orthodox position -- the way in which he did this was masterful to say the least.
"Confession would be opening an accounts receivable ledger, looking up the debt of the sin we confess, and finding it has already been paid. We don't draw on Christ's blood to pay. We draw up to the ledger to discover it has already been paid by Him; the debt is wiped clean. God calls us to the throne of grace not to be forgiven but to find forgiveness."
This distinction is important because the predominant concept of how believers relate to ongoing confession is that we confess our sins in order to be forgiven all over again. In this understanding of confessing our sins, we are told that though we are made clean upon justification, we must return to the cross continually in order for God to dust off the residual sin that accumulates between confessions. In this view, confession is a currency which we pay to God in order to for Him to be able to forgive us. Gale leaves no room for this and is thoroughly Reformed in his explanation of forgiveness.
With the theological stage set, Gale rounds off the book with a brilliantly pastoral treatise on the practicalities of forgiveness. Here he deals with such issues as how to practice forgiveness with others, the "alter of forgiveness" that we have in the Lord's Supper, and forgiving ourselves.
Finding forgiveness helps the believer understand his/her own forgiveness rooted in the gospel and understand how and why we forgive others. This book is just for a subset of Christianity- it is a book that the entire Church would benefit from reading. The grace of forgiveness and its continuing role in the Christian life is central to Christianity and the character and nature of God and the issue of forgiveness is important for us to get right. This is a book that you will want to read, set down, and come back to after a while. Forgiveness is a life-long grace that we partake of and in. I would absolutely recommend this as a part of a homeschooling curriculum as many of the existing character formation units tend to focus more on behavior modification rather than addressing character as something that God works in us through the gospel. The questions at the end of each chapter are perfect for family discussions if this book is read as a family.
Purchase Now on Amazon!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Reformation Heritage Books in exchange for an online review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
"Q. What is Justification?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
Westminster Shorter Catechism, Question 33"
This is an important starting point because it sets the question of forgiveness squarely within the context of gospel grace and not as a transactional and meritorious exchange with God. This is important for the reader to grasp because the following chapter (called Forgiveness as Kingdom Currency) could make any reformed reader sweat bullets if the author hadn't already set the context within the gospel.
The second chapter is critical for the reader to understand before moving into such practical applications of forgiveness as forgiving others as well as ourselves. If you skip this chapter you will miss the theological foundation for the task of living out forgiveness. Don't skip this chapter. I have to confess, when I first received the book in the mail and read through the chapter titles I was a bit nervous when I saw a chapter with the word "currency" in the title. I was not familiar with the author and wasn't sure where he stood on the Reformed understanding of grace. I was comforted by the fact that Finding Forgiveness is published by Reformation Heritage Books and that held my worry at bay while I worked my way through the chapter. Having just read chapter 1 in which Gale affirmed that our justification is by grace alone, I was confident that he would resolved the tension and end up at a theologically orthodox position -- the way in which he did this was masterful to say the least.
"Confession would be opening an accounts receivable ledger, looking up the debt of the sin we confess, and finding it has already been paid. We don't draw on Christ's blood to pay. We draw up to the ledger to discover it has already been paid by Him; the debt is wiped clean. God calls us to the throne of grace not to be forgiven but to find forgiveness."
This distinction is important because the predominant concept of how believers relate to ongoing confession is that we confess our sins in order to be forgiven all over again. In this understanding of confessing our sins, we are told that though we are made clean upon justification, we must return to the cross continually in order for God to dust off the residual sin that accumulates between confessions. In this view, confession is a currency which we pay to God in order to for Him to be able to forgive us. Gale leaves no room for this and is thoroughly Reformed in his explanation of forgiveness.
With the theological stage set, Gale rounds off the book with a brilliantly pastoral treatise on the practicalities of forgiveness. Here he deals with such issues as how to practice forgiveness with others, the "alter of forgiveness" that we have in the Lord's Supper, and forgiving ourselves.
Finding forgiveness helps the believer understand his/her own forgiveness rooted in the gospel and understand how and why we forgive others. This book is just for a subset of Christianity- it is a book that the entire Church would benefit from reading. The grace of forgiveness and its continuing role in the Christian life is central to Christianity and the character and nature of God and the issue of forgiveness is important for us to get right. This is a book that you will want to read, set down, and come back to after a while. Forgiveness is a life-long grace that we partake of and in. I would absolutely recommend this as a part of a homeschooling curriculum as many of the existing character formation units tend to focus more on behavior modification rather than addressing character as something that God works in us through the gospel. The questions at the end of each chapter are perfect for family discussions if this book is read as a family.
Purchase Now on Amazon!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Reformation Heritage Books in exchange for an online review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
January 25, 2017
Answers to most questions you have about asking for or receiving forgiveness can be found in this well illustrated and biblically faithful explanation of forgiveness. New believers will find some well roasted meat to chew on. Mature Christians will discover new richness to the theology found in the old hymns and catechisms as author Stanley Gale sometimes summarizes his exposition of scripture with one or more of these.
The inclusion of questions at the end of each chapter makes this book suitable for a small group study.
This book is an expanded version of his pamphlet “Why Must We Forgive”. Stanley Gale has added a really helpful chapter on “What About Forgiving Ourselves?” The writing is clear, concise and his explanations are well developed, making very helpful distinctions in the nuances of words often used carelessly in conversation. The inclusion of many personal stories makes this an enjoyable read that communicates well the essential theological understanding of forgiveness and the implications for putting it into practice.
I found Gale’s answer to the question “Why does John say that God is ‘faithful and just’ to forgive us when we confess rather than ‘faithful and merciful’ most enlightening. In this, as in the rest of the book, there are clear connections to the finished work of Jesus Christ as what we trust in. He calls this “Kingdom Currency”. Gale says “Mercy does not give us the consequence deserved. ‘Just,’ however, necessarily captures the transaction involved in forgiveness, how that forgiveness was achieved.”
The second most helpful discussion for me was the discussion around the inadequacy of “apology” to achieve authentic forgiveness. An apology may recognize a wrong, but it does not necessarily bring about a plan of action to address a wrong. In contrast, saying “will you forgive me” engages the other person and brings about the beginning stages of reconciliation.
Are you having difficulty with forgiveness? This book is a timely, helpful, uplifting and encouraging read.
I received this book from Reformation Heritage Books in exchange for an honest review.
The inclusion of questions at the end of each chapter makes this book suitable for a small group study.
This book is an expanded version of his pamphlet “Why Must We Forgive”. Stanley Gale has added a really helpful chapter on “What About Forgiving Ourselves?” The writing is clear, concise and his explanations are well developed, making very helpful distinctions in the nuances of words often used carelessly in conversation. The inclusion of many personal stories makes this an enjoyable read that communicates well the essential theological understanding of forgiveness and the implications for putting it into practice.
I found Gale’s answer to the question “Why does John say that God is ‘faithful and just’ to forgive us when we confess rather than ‘faithful and merciful’ most enlightening. In this, as in the rest of the book, there are clear connections to the finished work of Jesus Christ as what we trust in. He calls this “Kingdom Currency”. Gale says “Mercy does not give us the consequence deserved. ‘Just,’ however, necessarily captures the transaction involved in forgiveness, how that forgiveness was achieved.”
The second most helpful discussion for me was the discussion around the inadequacy of “apology” to achieve authentic forgiveness. An apology may recognize a wrong, but it does not necessarily bring about a plan of action to address a wrong. In contrast, saying “will you forgive me” engages the other person and brings about the beginning stages of reconciliation.
Are you having difficulty with forgiveness? This book is a timely, helpful, uplifting and encouraging read.
I received this book from Reformation Heritage Books in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2017
About the Book:
If you are a Christian, you have personally experienced the joy of sins forgiven and reconciliation with God. Forgiveness, writes Stanley Gale, "is a divine accomplishment to be savored and offered to others." Forgiveness is the most basic of Christian graces, yet the topic raises many questions, including these:
Is it biblical to "forgive and forget"?
Why do we need to confess our sins if they are already forgiven?
How do we actually go about forgiving someone?
Does the Bible give a place to forgiving ourselves?
What does life look like after forgiveness?
In Finding Forgiveness, you will discover practical answers to these questions and many others. With pastoral warmth, the author will help you see how the awe of the gospel dawns anew for those who apply forgiveness and experience the healing of a burdened spirit or broken relationship.
My Review:
Forgiveness always sounds good, in theory but when you actually go about it, it gets complicated real quick. I have found myself to particularly bad at forgiving. I am a person that tends to cut a person off after they have hurt me repeatedly instead of just turning the other cheek.
We are told in Scripture that we have to forgive as God forgives us. We also learn that our salvation can be lost due to unforgiveness. so apparently forgiving is what God requires of us and that makes it very important.
In Stanley Gale's book, Finding Forgiveness the author takes us on a journey of awakening not only waking us up to the fact that it is imperative to forgive but shows us how to get on the right path to forgiveness. At the end of every chapter there are questions for you to think or ponder on if using this for a short Bible story or a group study.
God's forgiveness is imperative for our walk daily and for our end goal to remain Heaven with Him forever. Though it is a difficult task to forgive someone it is of utmost importance to do so and the author has given us a study to help in the endeavor.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
If you are a Christian, you have personally experienced the joy of sins forgiven and reconciliation with God. Forgiveness, writes Stanley Gale, "is a divine accomplishment to be savored and offered to others." Forgiveness is the most basic of Christian graces, yet the topic raises many questions, including these:
Is it biblical to "forgive and forget"?
Why do we need to confess our sins if they are already forgiven?
How do we actually go about forgiving someone?
Does the Bible give a place to forgiving ourselves?
What does life look like after forgiveness?
In Finding Forgiveness, you will discover practical answers to these questions and many others. With pastoral warmth, the author will help you see how the awe of the gospel dawns anew for those who apply forgiveness and experience the healing of a burdened spirit or broken relationship.
My Review:
Forgiveness always sounds good, in theory but when you actually go about it, it gets complicated real quick. I have found myself to particularly bad at forgiving. I am a person that tends to cut a person off after they have hurt me repeatedly instead of just turning the other cheek.
We are told in Scripture that we have to forgive as God forgives us. We also learn that our salvation can be lost due to unforgiveness. so apparently forgiving is what God requires of us and that makes it very important.
In Stanley Gale's book, Finding Forgiveness the author takes us on a journey of awakening not only waking us up to the fact that it is imperative to forgive but shows us how to get on the right path to forgiveness. At the end of every chapter there are questions for you to think or ponder on if using this for a short Bible story or a group study.
God's forgiveness is imperative for our walk daily and for our end goal to remain Heaven with Him forever. Though it is a difficult task to forgive someone it is of utmost importance to do so and the author has given us a study to help in the endeavor.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
February 9, 2017
I just finished reading "Finding Forgiveness - Discovering the Healing Power of the Gospel" by Stanley D. Gale and published by Reformation Heritage Books.
The book deals with the theme of forgiveness very well. It rightly builds on the gospel as the basis for forgiveness. Everything we are to be as Christians we need to learn from the way God has forgiven us. Gale rightfully says that forgiveness is the currency of the kingdom. I thought that was a very good concept. He also deals a blow to those who would hold to "forgive and forget" and "forgiving ourselves". Neither one is a biblical concept.
Coming from a reformed tradition he quotes from Westminster Confession and Catechisms. He does so since they offer succinct summaries and they are available of public domain. Personally, I would have preferred less of these and more of Scripture, but the good is a good read. I have many highlights that have provoked some future sermons.
I will give to it 4 stars.
I got the book for free from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
The book deals with the theme of forgiveness very well. It rightly builds on the gospel as the basis for forgiveness. Everything we are to be as Christians we need to learn from the way God has forgiven us. Gale rightfully says that forgiveness is the currency of the kingdom. I thought that was a very good concept. He also deals a blow to those who would hold to "forgive and forget" and "forgiving ourselves". Neither one is a biblical concept.
Coming from a reformed tradition he quotes from Westminster Confession and Catechisms. He does so since they offer succinct summaries and they are available of public domain. Personally, I would have preferred less of these and more of Scripture, but the good is a good read. I have many highlights that have provoked some future sermons.
I will give to it 4 stars.
I got the book for free from Cross Focused Reviews in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2017
Finding Forgiveness by author Stanley Gale is a concise and helpful work on the issue of forgiveness. The topic of forgiveness is one of the most important themes in Scripture touching upon the promise of forgiveness in the gospel and extending to our responsibility to forgive others.
In five chapters the author is able to bring much needed clarity to important aspects of forgiveness. In the first chapter addresses the gospel and the joy found in knowing the forgiveness of sin made possible by Christ and his work. In the second chapter the importance of forgiveness in the Christian life is highlighted. Chapter three addresses the actual how of forgiveness addressing how forgiveness is to be practiced in relationships. Chapter four addresses the issue of what makes forgiveness real and genuine. The final chapter addresses the new concept of self-forgiveness.
This book stands out in how the author is able to draw out the principals of forgiveness clearly and concisely while also addressing important misconceptions that have crept into the church. This book would help anyone seeking to understand what biblical forgiveness is.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
In five chapters the author is able to bring much needed clarity to important aspects of forgiveness. In the first chapter addresses the gospel and the joy found in knowing the forgiveness of sin made possible by Christ and his work. In the second chapter the importance of forgiveness in the Christian life is highlighted. Chapter three addresses the actual how of forgiveness addressing how forgiveness is to be practiced in relationships. Chapter four addresses the issue of what makes forgiveness real and genuine. The final chapter addresses the new concept of self-forgiveness.
This book stands out in how the author is able to draw out the principals of forgiveness clearly and concisely while also addressing important misconceptions that have crept into the church. This book would help anyone seeking to understand what biblical forgiveness is.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews