Conditional Pardon by L. H. CHRISTIAN

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 28, 1916

Conditional Pardon

By L. H. CHRISTIAN

L. H. CHRISTIAN

Is the forgiveness which the Lord gives the honest, penitent sinner conditional or unconditional? If, for instance, a man who has lived in sin for sixty years turns to the Lord and obtains forgiveness, is he forgiven on the condition that he remain faithful to the end? We know that if this man should serve God five or six months and then backslide into his former life of sin, he would be lost. But in the judgment will that forgiveness which he had received for the sixty years of sin stand, or will he be punished for these first years of sin just as much as for the last? This is not an idle question. A clear understanding of it is needful for the children of God.

The Scriptures teach that there is a difference between the forgiveness of sin and the blotting out of sin. A child of God needs a daily forgiveness. Whenever he confesses and forsakes any sin, this sin is forgiven. The Lord is merciful and willing to forgive at once. But the blotting out of sin is a future act. The sins are blotted out in the final judgment.

God forgives a man’s sins and writes his name in the book of life on certain conditions. In the eighteenth chapter of Matthew we find a parable which clearly informs us that God’s children are forgiven on conditions. A certain servant owed his master ten thousand talents. As he was unable to pay, the master commanded him to be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. But when the servant fell down and worshiped the king, saying, “Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all,” the master was moved with compassion and forgave him the debt. However, this forgiveness was not absolute and final. When the man who had received forgiveness, refused to forgive a fellow servant that owed him one hundred pence, his own master took back the forgiveness which he had already freely granted him. “His lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due.” Concerning this the Saviour says, “Likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you.”

That the forgiveness which we receive from the Lord is conditional is also taught in other scriptures. “If we walk in the light,” the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” “When I shall say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.” Eze. 33:13. Notice the statement that the person who turns from righteousness to a life of sin shall die “for his iniquity” which he has committed. He does not die for a part of the sin which he has committed; but his whole life of sin calls for punishment and his final death.

As far as we know, God does not give a single blessing without conditions. He promised Adam and Eve this world and a continuance of life, with final immortality to themselves and to their posterity, on condition of obedience. He promises us immortality on precisely the same condition, only that the obedience which we must render is the obedience of the Christ-life in us through faith.

This subject of conditional pardon is clearly taught in the sanctuary services. Throughout the year the Israelites who confessed their sins received forgiveness. But the final blotting out of their sins did not come until the great day of atonement. On that day the sins of the people which had been confessed and for which they had been forgiven, were taken out of the sanctuary and placed upon the scapegoat, and finally destroyed. In like manner the sins of the righteous will not be blotted out until the great day of atonement in heaven. God would not be dealing justly with mankind if he granted unconditional pardon to the penitent.

To every child of God it should be a serious and solemn consideration that he is forgiven freely and fully only on condition that he daily surrender all to Christ. The Lord will “speak peace unto his people, and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.” Ps. 85:8. Chicago, Ill.