Topical Bible: Pardon: Exhibits The: Grace of God

◄ Pardon: Exhibits The: Grace of God ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

Pardon, in the biblical context, is a profound demonstration of God's grace, reflecting His willingness to forgive sins and restore a right relationship with humanity. This divine act of forgiveness is central to the Christian faith, illustrating God's love, mercy, and compassion.

Old Testament Foundations

The concept of pardon is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God's grace is evident in His dealings with the Israelites. Despite their repeated disobedience, God continually offers forgiveness. In Exodus 34:6-7 , God reveals His character to Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD God, is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and truth, maintaining loving devotion to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin." This passage highlights God's readiness to pardon, emphasizing His grace as a defining attribute.

The sacrificial system established in Leviticus also underscores the theme of pardon. Through the offering of sacrifices, the Israelites could seek atonement for their sins, symbolizing God's provision for forgiveness. Leviticus 4:20 states, "And he shall do with the bull just as he did with the bull of the sin offering; he shall do the same with this. So the priest will make atonement for them, and they will be forgiven." This system foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, which would provide complete and final pardon.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, the grace of God is most fully revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus provides the ultimate means of pardon for sin. Romans 3:23-24 declares, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Here, the apostle Paul emphasizes that pardon is a gift of grace, not earned by human effort but freely given through faith in Christ.

The parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32 further illustrates God's grace in pardon. The father's willingness to forgive and restore his wayward son reflects God's readiness to forgive repentant sinners. Luke 15:20 describes the father's response: "So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him." This parable powerfully depicts the grace of God in extending pardon and reconciliation.

Theological Implications

The grace of God in pardon is foundational to Christian theology. It underscores the belief that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of human merit. Ephesians 2:8-9 affirms, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast." This passage highlights that pardon is an expression of God's unmerited favor, accessible to all who believe.

Moreover, the grace of pardon calls believers to extend forgiveness to others. As recipients of divine grace, Christians are encouraged to forgive as they have been forgiven. Colossians 3:13 instructs, "Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." This call to forgiveness reflects the transformative power of God's grace in the lives of believers.

Conclusion

Pardon, as an exhibition of the grace of God, is a central theme in the Bible, revealing God's character and His redemptive plan for humanity. Through both the Old and New Testaments, the Scriptures consistently portray God as a gracious and forgiving Father, offering pardon to all who turn to Him in faith and repentance.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 5:15,16
But not as the offense, so also is the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, has abounded to many.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Righteous Grace
... which conscience has raised, - "Is it righteous grace?" It is this great work of
propitiation that exhibits God as "the ... It shows pardon not only as the deed of ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bonar/gods way of peace/chapter iv righteous grace.htm

What God is to Us.
... The Lord exhibits himself in a twofold appearance, according to the ... of his good-will
to save and pardon thee ... I am as abundant in grace and goodness as thou art ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/lecture ix what god is.htm

Moses' Prayer to be Blotted Out of God's Book.
... The solution which the supposition exhibits, is this, by ... Savior, and made indiscriminate
offers of pardon and peace ... his entrance on a slate of grace; but Moses ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon vii moses prayer to.htm

The Mustard-Seed.
... the circumstance that most clearly exhibits and indicates ... Spirit; the first request
for pardon and reconciliation ... tender, diminutive life of grace, the life of ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/iii the mustard-seed.htm

Entire Sanctification
... what name we please, it must imply the pardon of all ... we may be thus saved; and, by
the grace of that ... ruin of mankind, the gospel system, which exhibits it cure ...
//christianbookshelf.org/clarke/entire sanctification/entire sanctification.htm

Do are Then Make Void the Law through Faith? God Forbid; Yea, we ...
... It exhibits his disinterestedness. ... to him from the government, offering him a free
pardon on the ... So far as we can see, salvation by grace, not bestowed in any ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/do are then make void.htm

On the Nature of God
... that a free act of His will exhibits or offers an ... from the creature, and by the grace
of God ... Long-suffering, gentleness, readiness to pardon, and clemency, are ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 4 on the nature.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... repentant sinner receives back in his pardon, the full ... relationship with God, while
Sanctification exhibits the fruit ... all, it is the divine grace which works ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

1 Cor. 15:3-4. Foundation Truths.
... be unsound in the faith if he exhibits zeal and ... right hand of God to receive, to
pardon, and to ... things." Resolve and determine that by God's grace they shall ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter iv 1 cor 15 3-4.htm

Joy in Salvation
... the justifier of him that believeth, exhibits the infinite ... in God's salvation through
his abundant grace who have ... pardoned our sins, he did not pardon half of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/joy in salvation.htm