When I picked up this book for the first time, I was mostly expecting a 100+ page lecture on forgiving other people. But the very first chapter made it clear John MacArthur’s main focus was not going to be someone else’s sin and our responsibility as Christians to love them anyway; he instead chose to target humanity’s sin and our desperate need for Divine grace. As he aptly points out, however, modern psychology has done a great disservice to our culture by ascribing to almost every sin a “scientific” explanation. Murderers, rapists, drug addicts, thieves and liars are no longer pointed to the cross; instead, their actions and addiction are often explained as some kind of social disorder, which then erases any guilt or sense of responsibility that may otherwise lead them to repentance.

Once a solid foundation is laid in support of our need to be forgiven, MacArthur explains God’s willingness to forgive and exactly how He is able to do this justly (“The Necessity of Atonement”). He did get a little distracted for a few paragraphs by predestination, but for the most part he kept everything short, sweet, and to the point. He also shares some beautiful insight into the story of the prodigal son, painting a good historical and cultural backdrop that sheds greater light on Christ’s most popular parable.

My biggest problem when reading theology is that most authors think repeating themselves again and again gives their work greater meaning, while I tend to find it redundant and boring. MacArthur, on the other hand, did a great job of condensing the doctrine of forgiveness into a very readable devotional (only 114 pages) that left me hungry for a deeper understanding of God’s forgiveness, not burnt out and ready to study something else. If you’re intrigued by the title, then you’ll probably be just as intrigued by the book itself and should seriously consider picking up a copy of this worthwhile read at your local Christian bookstore.

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Disclaimer: I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all expressed opinions are my own.