Topical Bible: Pardon is Granted by Christ

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The concept of pardon, or forgiveness, is central to Christian theology and is intricately linked to the person and work of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, Christ is portrayed as the ultimate source of forgiveness, offering pardon for sins through His sacrificial death and resurrection. This entry explores the biblical basis for the belief that pardon is granted by Christ, drawing from various scriptural passages and theological insights.

Biblical Foundation

1. The Authority of Christ to Forgive Sins: The Gospels present Jesus as having the divine authority to forgive sins, a prerogative traditionally reserved for God alone. In Mark 2:5-10, Jesus heals a paralytic and declares, "Son, your sins are forgiven." When questioned by the scribes, He responds, "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." . This passage underscores Christ's divine authority and His role as the mediator of God's pardon.

2. The Sacrificial Death of Christ: The New Testament teaches that Christ's death on the cross is the means by which pardon is made available to humanity. In Ephesians 1:7, Paul writes, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" . This verse highlights the belief that Christ's sacrificial death is the basis for the forgiveness of sins, emphasizing the grace of God as the source of this pardon.

3. The Resurrection and Assurance of Pardon: The resurrection of Christ is seen as the divine confirmation of His power to grant pardon. Romans 4:25 states, "He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification" . The resurrection assures believers that Christ's sacrifice was sufficient and effective, providing a foundation for the assurance of forgiveness and justification before God.

4. The Call to Repentance and Faith: The New Testament consistently links the reception of pardon to repentance and faith in Christ. In Acts 3:19, Peter exhorts, "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away" . This call to repentance is coupled with faith in Jesus as the Messiah, as seen in Acts 10:43, where Peter declares, "All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name" .

5. The Role of the New Covenant: The concept of pardon is also tied to the New Covenant, inaugurated by Christ. In Matthew 26:28, during the Last Supper, Jesus states, "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins" . This covenantal language signifies a new relationship between God and humanity, established through Christ's atoning work, where forgiveness is a central promise.

Theological Implications

The granting of pardon by Christ carries profound theological implications. It affirms the deity of Christ, as only God can forgive sins, and underscores the necessity of His atoning sacrifice. The doctrine of pardon through Christ also emphasizes the grace of God, as forgiveness is offered not based on human merit but through faith in Jesus. This pardon is transformative, calling believers to a life of repentance, faith, and obedience, reflecting the new life they have received in Christ.

Practical Application

For believers, the assurance of pardon through Christ is a source of profound comfort and motivation. It encourages a life of gratitude, worship, and service, rooted in the knowledge of being forgiven and reconciled to God. The call to extend forgiveness to others, as taught in passages like Matthew 6:14-15, is a natural outflow of having received pardon from Christ, fostering a community marked by grace and reconciliation.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of the palsy, Son, your sins be forgiven you.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 7:48
And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Thanksgiving to God for the Pardon Granted to the Offenders ...
... 6. From these animals Christ also instructs us, when He says, "Be ye ... Himself, and
the man should so be deprived of that pardon which is granted us from ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily xii thanksgiving to god.htm

The Same Subject Continued.
... subsequently received pardon, than that you should interpret that (pardon as granted)
to an ... not to steep, to wit, Paul, the "apostle of Christ," [851] the ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter xiv the same subject continued.htm

Pilate's Fruitless Efforts to Save Jesus. --The Dream of Pilate's ...
... a privilege to the Jews, pardon was granted every year ... They clamoured for the pardon
of a murderer rather ... lowly form, he yet found in Christ's demeanour under ...
/.../section 287 pilates fruitless efforts.htm

How to Make Use of Christ for Taking the Guilt of Our Daily Out ...
... any ground of peace while it is so, that I see no pardon or remission granted to
me ... thou art mourning and sorrowing over it, and running to Christ the prince ...
/.../brown/christ the way the truth and the life/chapter viii how to make.htm

Object of Christ in the Last Supper.
... were compelled to expedite the crucifixion of Christ, and were ... the crucifixion of
the malefactors, or that the pardon of a condemned criminal (granted by the ...
/.../section 265 object of christ.htm

Examples of Such Offences under the Old Dispensation no Pattern ...
... to which indulgence was in days bygone granted, if on the ground of some pristine
precedent pardon is claimed ... with an eye to the glory of Christ, I prefer ...
/.../tertullian/on modesty/chapter vi examples of such offences.htm

Pardon and Peace
... thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace ... thee with a quiet mind,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. ... I take for granted, we are all trying to do ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxix pardon and peace.htm

Extent of Atonement.
... The mere pardon of sin, as an act of sovereign mercy, could not have been compared,
had it been ... Universalists taking it for granted, that Christ had paid ...
/.../finney/systematic theology/lecture xxvi extent of atonement.htm

"My Little Children, These Things Write I unto You, that Ye Sin ...
... Thus peace is purchased, pardon granted, the soul is restored unto its primitive ...
Whensoever you read it written, "The blood of Christ cleanseth us from all sin ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xxi my little children.htm

From Aversion to the Christians, Julian Granted Permission to the ...
... Aversion to the Christians, Julian granted Permission to ... were initiated, and besought
Christ, with hymns and supplications, to pardon their transgression ...
/.../the ecclesiastical history of sozomenus/chapter xxii from aversion to the.htm