Pardon and Forgiveness

Our English word Pardon is never found in the New Testament. In it’s place is it’s equivalent, the word Forgiveness. This is in perfect harmony with one of the chief messages of the New Testament.

Pardon is the act of a Sovereign (one who exercises absolute authority; king).

Forgiveness is the act of the Father.

The Fatherhood of God is one of the principal truths in the New Testament.

An unsaved, yet penitent (feeling or expressing humble or regretful pain or sorrow for sins or offenses), sinner must, as a rebel, ask for pardon.

When pardoned and regenerated, then he needs daily to ask of his Father in Christ, for forgiveness.

God Alone can Pardon

Luke 5:21 “Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

Daniel 9:9 “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses”

God Loves to Pardon

Nehemiah 9:17 “But thou art a God ready to pardon”

John 3:17 God sent Jesus to save the world, not condemn it.

Jeremiah 18:7-8 God would rather show mercy than send judgment.

God Pardons Gloriously

Gloriously means magnificently or wonderfully.

Isaiah 55:7 “He will abundantly pardon”

God Only Pardons:

1. On Confession

Psalm 25:11 “Pardon my iniquity; for it is great.”

We have to admit our sins to God. Honesty with God and ourselves is crucial. God knows our sins, but are we willing to admit them ourselves?

Sometimes the biggest challenge for someone raised in a Christian home is in realizing and admitting to God that we often think of ourselves as being better than we really are.

Only after we stop fooling ourselves can we truly confess our sins to God.

2. On Believing

Acts 10:43 “that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”

Hebrews 11:6 “for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

It does us no good to confess our sins to God if we don’t really believe He is able to forgive us.

3. On Receiving

Acts 5:31; Ephesians 2:8 Pardon is a gift to be received.