Forgiving someone is often done through a performative utterance, like “I forgive you” or “Your sins are forgiven.” In the Bible we learn that

• Justification is only by faith.
• Justification includes forgiveness.
• Jesus forgave people because he saw their faith.

What is odd is that these three points are seen as complementary, but judging by recent (and less than pleasant) discourse, they are actually in conflict. What Jesus should have said is that “Your sins were already forgiven when you first came to faith.” He is denying that the regenerate are immediately justified when he claims to forgive them on the spot.

Of course, this is all nonsense, but it is where some critics of Reformed baptismal efficacy are going to lead us unless we come to our senses.