Topical Bible: Pardon: Promised

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In the Christian theological framework, the concept of pardon is central to the understanding of God's relationship with humanity. Pardon, in this context, refers to the forgiveness of sins and the removal of guilt, which is promised by God to those who repent and believe in Him. This promise is woven throughout the narrative of Scripture, highlighting God's mercy and grace.

Old Testament Foundations

The promise of pardon is evident in the Old Testament, where God repeatedly assures His people of His willingness to forgive. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God declares, "And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land." This verse underscores the conditional nature of divine pardon, contingent upon repentance and humility.

The prophet Isaiah also speaks of God's promise to pardon, emphasizing His readiness to forgive. Isaiah 55:7 states, "Let the wicked man forsake his own way and the unrighteous man his own thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon." Here, the emphasis is on God's abundant mercy and the assurance of forgiveness for those who turn back to Him.

New Testament Fulfillment

The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of the promise of pardon through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the Gospels, Jesus frequently speaks of forgiveness as a central aspect of His mission. In Matthew 26:28, during the Last Supper, Jesus says, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins." This statement highlights the sacrificial nature of Christ's atonement, which secures pardon for believers.

The Apostle Paul further elaborates on this promise in his epistles. In Ephesians 1:7, he writes, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace." This verse underscores the grace of God as the basis for pardon, made possible through the redemptive work of Christ.

Conditions and Assurance

While the promise of pardon is freely offered, it is not without conditions. Repentance and faith are essential prerequisites for receiving God's forgiveness. Acts 3:19 exhorts, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away." This call to repentance is a consistent theme throughout Scripture, emphasizing the need for a genuine turning away from sin.

Moreover, the assurance of pardon is a source of comfort and hope for believers. In 1 John 1:9, the apostle assures, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This promise highlights God's faithfulness and justice, providing believers with confidence in the certainty of His forgiveness.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the realization of the promise of pardon. The Spirit convicts individuals of sin, leading them to repentance and faith in Christ. In John 16:8, Jesus explains, "When He comes, He will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment." The Spirit's work is essential in applying the benefits of Christ's atonement to the believer, ensuring the experience of pardon and reconciliation with God.

Conclusion

The promise of pardon is a profound testament to God's love and mercy, offering hope and restoration to all who seek Him. Through the sacrificial work of Jesus Christ and the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit, believers are assured of forgiveness and a renewed relationship with their Creator.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, said the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 31:34
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, said the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Hebrews 8:12
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
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Jeremiah 50:20
In those days, and in that time, said the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
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Library

An Objection Anticipated Before the Discussion Above Promised is ...
... Chapter III."An Objection Anticipated Before the Discussion Above Promised is Commenced. ...
of repentance which we are just defining as being without pardon. ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter iii an objection anticipated before.htm

How Shall one Make Use of Christ as the Life, when Wrestling with ...
... their sins. 2. He should eye the covenant wherein new pardon is promised,
upon the renewing of faith and repentance. 3. He should ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter xxvii how shall one.htm

Pardon.
... Pardon. ... voice of mercy near, That whispers sins forgiven; And sweeter far the music
swells, When to the raptured soul she tells Of peace and promised heaven. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/336 pardon.htm

John Chapter vii. 40-53; viii. 11-Jan
... We cannot deny that God has promised pardon to those that have amended their
ways and are converted. For in what prophet thou readest ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate xxxiii john chapter vii.htm

The Promised Land
... glowingly and at length on the future of Israel and the Promised Land, and ... Supplementing
his pardon with command, he ordered his scribe to marry the sad little ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xlvii the promised land.htm

Psalm CII.
... Despair not; pardon hath been promised thee. ... To-morrow, he replieth, I will live
well. God hath promised the pardon; no one promised thee to-morrow.... 11. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cii.htm

Of Repentance, of Pardon, and the Commands of God.
... XXIV."Of Repentance, of Pardon, and the Commands of God ... And I have laid down a few
chief points of this law, since I promised that I would speak only of those ...
/.../lactantius/the divine institutes/chap xxiv of repentance of pardon.htm

David's Cry for Pardon
... cry for pardon be the echo of the most sure promise of pardon which sounds ... earnestly,
for you need it sorely; ask confidently, for He has promised before you ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/davids cry for pardon.htm

Perseverance of Saints.
... Thus the doctrines of the atonement and pardon through a crucified Redeemer, instead ...
the doctrine in question be true, that is, unless the promised grace and ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture l perseverance of saints.htm

God Willing that all Men Should be Saved.
... and those into which men were surprized by unexpected temptations, sacrifices were
ordered in the law, and pardon, on certain conditions, promised: But it was ...
/.../lee/sermons on various important subjects/sermon xvii god willing that.htm