Pardon Me

Presidential pardons are not new and so I was not surprised when our present  president, before leaving office in several days, pardoned a huge number of people.  I was surprised about the number and about the crimes that were committed by individuals who were pardoned. That is what bothered me. Yet something else bothered me even more.  There seemed to be no remorse, or sense of guilt or repentance from those who were pardoned.... to God, to victims and/or their families.  A colleague and respectful friend* of mine adds perspective clearly. So here goes:

"…….The truth is, all of us……have broken the law—not of the land, but of God. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). The Bible warns that the penalty for our sin is death (Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:20).

"Thankfully, our Heavenly Father offers us a pardon. “He does not delight in the death of the wicked but wants everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). ‘This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins’” (1 John 4:9-10). When Jesus was crucified, God “laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). In Christ, God was “reconciling the world to Himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Before Jesus took His final breath, He declared, “It is finished.” Sin was paid for in full. God’s wrath was satisfied. God’s justice was honored.”

(But here comes the rub:)  “The cross provided a perfect, abundant, and just pardon. So, “Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). God’s pardon is abundant and absolute, washing away every sin we’ve ever committed or will commit. “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).” 

Q:  Yet, I have not heard of one person receiving a presidential pardoned, in this go around, that has repented of their sin to God. Bob goes on to write:

“However, notice that God’s pardon is not unconditional. To receive His grace, you must put your faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Acts 16:31) and repent—turn away from sin (Luke 13:3; Acts 3:19). He doesn’t require perfection, but He does require a change of direction. On the Day of Pentecost when those responsible for crucifying the Messiah, were convicted of their horrific sin, they cried out, “What shall we do?”  Peter didn’t respond, “Don’t worry, God’s grace automatically covers your sin; God has given a sweeping pardon to all.” Peter responded, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call” (Acts 2:38-39).'"

"Tragically, many choose not to accept this pardon. Instead, they rely on their good deeds or gamble on the alternative, believing they can face God’s judgment on their own merits. (Q: Or, I might add, do not believe in God who can free them from the captivity of sin, death and hell.) Such a decision is not just risky—it is eternally foolish.”

Q:  Yes, I needed pardon.  But it came at a cost:  Jesus dying on the cross.  It wasn’t free, Jesus paid for it.  It wasn’t without accountability and responsibility.  It came when I placed my heart, faith and trust in Jesus, and in humble access, began my confession of sin: "Almighty and merciful God, I confess and lament that I have sinned against You in thought word and deed…..”When I was in high school, I remember attending church with Becky, my wife for over 53 years, and we sang the following hymn with gusto and fervency.  These words taken from the hymn in the Baptist Hymnal were always sung with love, thankfulness and energy because I was free from the burden of sin and filled with the life of Christ in me:

By God’s Word at last my sin I learned;
Then I trembled at the Law I’d spurned,
Till my guilty soul imploring turned, to Calvary.
 

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty, at Calvary.
(“At Calvary” Hymn by William Newell).

Thank you, God, for pardoning me through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

Quentin 

Sharecropper’s Inheritance

May you be open to receive the blessings of God in this, the year of our Lord, 2025

…………………

*Bob Russell