Specifically he noted that the "repent" in Jesus', "Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand" was about receiving forgiveness. Among other things, I understand atonement and forgiveness of sins to be part of this but I see these as only part of the total concept of "repentance". Repentance is calling us to turn our whole former way of thinking upside down.
I am especially convinced of this by one of the proof texts that Edwards offered. We read in Acts 26 that Jesus sent out the disciples "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." Edwards honed in on the forgiveness aspect which is no doubt glorious but I would say that that simply flowed from the primary point which is that the people needed to have their spiritual eyes opened. This comes as they are born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. They see the Kingdom as they are redeemed from the grip of the Enemy and become citizens of the Kingdom of God.
Another interesting text chosen by Edwards I think continues to support the point. In the parable of the Unforgiving Servant, even though the servant was forgiven much, he didn't fundamentally change. He was still able to hold his fellow servant accountable for a much smaller debt and for this, he was severely punished by the master. I've heard many good explanations regarding what was wrong with this fellow's mindset, e.g., he didn't grasp that he was really forgiven, he thought he would have to pay back later, etc.. All interesting but the bottom line is that he did not have a change of world view regarding the working of the Kingdom. He did not repent - and he suffered for it.
So as I reflect on Edwards' message, clearly we need to receive forgiveness and just as freely give forgiveness. The point I would have driven harder would be the total reversal that the Kingdom of God requires and how it's only by the power of the Spirit that we can see this. And if we do, we can do nothing other than receive and give forgiveness.
Edwards either missed that or softened it too much. He used phrases like "I don't like this one" referring to the command to forgive and "use the replacement principle" (rather than think X I want to think Y about a person who might have sinned against you). While it's true that we may have a feeling of not liking a command, that is not something to celebrate but rather something that should strike us as grievous. It would seem to be opportunity to hit again on our utter dependency of the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us through the Word.
Regarding the replacement principle, that may be ok in the same sense that anger management is ok but the need of it only pinpoints a fundamental change that has yet to take place.
I think a sermon on this topic should have hammered home the basic principle rather than spending time on some of the "band aids" available. The Kingdom of God is here. Repent.
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