Abundant Pardon

The prophet is setting forth the mission of Jesus (verses 4 and 5).

Immediately he makes an appeal to sinners, for Jesus comes to sinners. He proclaims pardon to them, for this Jesus brings: his coming is as the morning, bedewing the earth with delight.

The call is practically to faith and repentance; immediate, frank, spiritual, complete.

The inducement presented is an abundant free-grace pardon: “he will abundantly pardon.”

There is no more likely argument with which to persuade souls.

I. LET US CONTEMPLATE THE ABUNDANCE OF DIVINE PARDON.

We may do so the better if we consider,—

1. The abundance of the attribute from which it springs. All the attributes of God are infinite and harmonious, but we are told that “God is love,” and this is not said of justice, or power. “Your mercy is great above the heavens”: Psalm 108:4. “The earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy”: Psalm 119:64. “His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 136.

2. The abundance of the objects of the pardon. Since the days of Adam and even until now God has pardoned multitudes among all nations, classes, and ages.

   • We quickly lose patience when many offend, but it is not so with our God. “You have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now”: Numbers 14:19.

3. The abundant sins which are pardoned. Who can count the thoughts, words, and deeds which are pardoned?

   • These repeated ad nauseam. Is. 43:24. Revelation 3:16.
   • Sins against law and gospel, light and love, in youth and old age.
   • Yet these God removes, like the countless locusts blown away by the wind, or as the drops of dew exhaled by the sun.

4. The abundant sin of the sins which are pardoned.

   • Some sins are planned and deliberated on, and each plotting and devising entails sin.
   • Some are a spider’s nest, swarming with many sins.
   • Some are proud, wanton, cruel, blasphemous, impudent.
   • Some are repeated, aggravated, and persisted in.
   • Yet the intensified venom of epitomized sin the Lord removes.

5. The abundant means of pardon.

   • The atonement of his Son, and his righteousness.
   • The infinite merit of the ever-living Advocate.
   • The Holy Spirit ever present to apply gospel provisions.

6. The abundant ease of the terms of pardon.

   • No hard conditions of penance or purgatory.
   • Only ask and have; repent and trust.
   • Even the repentance and faith required are also given.

7. The abundant fullness of the pardon.

   • It covers all sin, past, present, and to come.
   • It is most effectual, and sure.
   • It is perpetual, and irreversible.
   • It is accompanied with imputed righteousness. Pardon washes, and justification clothes and beautifies.

8. The abundant blessings which attend it.

   • Liberation from spiritual prison, legal bonds, etc.
   • Freedom from the reigning power of inbred sin.
   • Adoption into the heavenly family.
   • Acceptance so full that we may challenge accusers.
   • Employment in services of trust.
   • Communion with the thrice-holy God.
   • Reception of answers to our prayers, as true and certain as if we were perfectly pure.
   • Ultimate admission into glory itself with the perfect ones.

II. LET US CONSIDER ITS PROPER INFERENCES: and these shall furnish the practical conclusion of our discourse.

1. Then there is no room for despair. If the Lord only pardoned now and then, it were well to seek his favor even on the bare chance of obtaining it; but now let us return unto him in sure and certain hope of pardon.

2. Then there is a loud call to repent, for who would offend so good, so kind a Lord? Let our relentings be kindled, since he is so forward to promise us pardon.

3. Here is a special call to the greatest sinners, since abundant mercy is most appropriate to their case: and no less should the less guilty come, since there must be room for them.

4. Such a much-forgiving God deserves to be much loved, and the lives of the pardoned should prove that to whom much is forgiven, the same loves much.

5. If such mercy be slighted, we may be sure it will entail great wrath.

Inviting Sounds

That sin which is not too great to be forsaken, is not too great to be forgiven.

Mercy in us, it is no more than a drop; but in God it is an ocean: in us it is no more than a little stream; in God it is a springing and flowing fountain. A spring continually runs, an ocean is never drawn dry. What is a little sparkle of fire, if it fall into the main sea? The same are the sins of a penitent person when dealt with by the mercy of God.—Thomas Horton.

One of the captive followers of the Duke of Monmouth was brought before James the Second. “You know it is in my power,” said the king, “to pardon you.” “Yes,” said the man, who well knew his cruel character, “but it is not in your nature.” However unwise this answer was, its truth was soon seen. Happily, we know that God has not only the power but the disposition to show mercy. “Also, unto you, O Lord, belongs mercy.”

Mr. Fleming, in his “Fulfilling of the Scriptures,” relates the case of a most hardened sinner who was put to death in the town of Ayr. It pleased the Lord to bring him to repentance when in prison, and so full was his assurance of pardoning mercy that, when he came to the place of execution, he could not help crying out to the people, under the sense of pardon, “Oh, he is a great Forgiver! He is a great Forgiver!” and he added, “Now has perfect love cast out fear. I know God has nothing to say against me, for Jesus Christ has paid all; and those are free whom the Son makes free.”—G. S. Bowes.

Lord, before I commit a sin, it seems to me so shallow that I may wade through it dry-shod from any guiltiness; but when I have committed it, it often seems so deep that I cannot escape without drowning. Thus I am always in extremities: either my sins are so small that they need not any repentance, or so great that they cannot obtain your pardon. Lend me, O Lord, a reed out of your sanctuary, truly to measure the dimension of my offences. But O! as you reveal to me more of my misery, reveal also more of your mercy; lest, if my wounds, in my apprehension, gape wider than your tents (plugs of lint), my soul run out at them. If my badness seem bigger than your goodness but one hair’s breadth, but one moment, that is room and time enough for me to run to eternal despair.—Thomas Fuller.