GOD’S TWO LAWS OF PARDON
Acts 2:36-38; 8:18-24; I John 1:7
The New Testament teaches that God has two laws of pardon (forgiveness) available in Christ. The first is for the sinner who has never experienced forgiveness, the second is for the Christian. The second has two aspects that help us to better understand the nature of a believer’s security. Come let us look at God’s wonderful plan of salvation.
THE FIRST LAW OF PARDON—BECOMING A CHRISTIAN (ACTS 2:36-38)
1. All accountable people sin and fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).
2. If they are to be saved, they must hear the Gospel story, believe it, repent (a change of mind toward God and away from self), confess their belief that Christ is God’s Son, and be baptized for the remission of sins (Rom. 10:14; Lk. 24:45-47; I Tim. 6:12-13; Acts 22:16).
3. This obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26) allows a person to enter into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27; Rom. 6:3-4) and thus be added to the church (Acts 2:47), which is His body (Eph. 1:22-23).
4. Christians are those who have been transferred from the darkness of being lost into the light of salvation and kingdom citizenship (Col. 1:13; Rom. 5:1-2; Eph. 2:19; Phil. 3:20).
5. This is God’s first law of pardon.
THE SECOND LAW OF PARDON—CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS (I Jn. 1:7; Acts 8:18-24)
1. Christians sin (I Jn. 1:8, 10) and God’s second law of pardon is for them.
2. Sin, however, is not to characterize a Christian’s life (I Jn. 3:6-10; Rom. 6:1-2, 15).
3. The first aspect of the second law of pardon is that as long as we remain faithful to Christ (practice righteousness and thus do not depart from God), we enjoy the continuing forgiveness of Jesus’ blood (I Jn. 1:7; 2:1-2; cf. I Kings 15:4-5).
4. However, if we depart from God’s way and cease to walk in the light (I Jn. 1:6; Heb. 10:26-31), we need the second aspect of this law (Acts 8:22).
5. While pardon for the faithful Christian involves ongoing repentance and prayer as his or her lifestyle (Eph. 4:17-32; I Jn. 1:9), pardon for those who have become unfaithful demands a more pointed and more far-reaching application of these actions (Psa. 51; Acts 8:18-24).
6. The first aspect of this law is accessed daily as we walk with God; the second aspect is accessed when we, having fallen away, "come to our senses" and make a major course correction (i.e. Lk. 15:11-24; II Kings 22:14-17; 23:1-3; II Sam. 12:1-13).
7. This is God’s second law of pardon.
CONCLUSIONS
1. For those never in Jesus, belief, repentance, confession, and baptism bring pardon.
2. For Christians, a walk of repentance and prayer continues forgiveness.
3. For Christians who have discontinued the walk, a dramatic change of direction involving repentance and prayer is the way back to God and forgiveness.
4. Understanding these things brings assurance to the faithful Christian, but strong uneasiness both to those never in Christ and to those who one were enlightened yet have fallen away.
Edwin
7/30/00