A Just Law and the Transgressor—An Innocent Substitute to Uphold the Dignity of That Law—Pardon and Restoration for All Who Will Take It
SIN is an intruder in God's universe. It was introduced by Satan, the great rebel leader, when he rebelled against the government of God. It was the act of secession from the government. It was also man's act of apostasy and secession. In offering pardon, therefore, sin must be regarded according to its true character. No sentimentalism or superficial fancy can enter into a plan to save rebellious subjects.
CONDITIONS OF PARDON
There can be no just government without law, and "sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4. Therefore in granting pardon, the dignity of the law of the government must be maintained, or the government surrendered.
Pardon might be granted in two ways; first, by abolishing the law; second, by voluntary substitution. To abolish the law would be an admission, on the part of the governor, that the law was unjust; and that would be an admission that the transgressors had done no wrong in its violation. To abolish a just law to accommodate a lawless subject would be to encourage anarchy. To make such a charge against God would be to impeach His wisdom and declare Him unjust. A just God can never offer pardon on such terms.
PARDON THROUGH VOLUNTARY SUBSTITUTION
Voluntary substitution is the only way in which pardon can be offered and God be just. Some may say that to inflict the penalty of a transgressor upon an innocent person is unjust. In this instance, the Lawgiver assumes the penalty, that the sovereignty of the law may be maintained and the offender pardoned. In His provision for voluntary substitution, there is therefore no injustice. It is a dispensation of mercy. It is mercy rejoicing against judgment. James 2:13. Christ was voluntarily offered to become such a substitute for man. God can therefore "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom. 3:26.
As "where no law is, there is no transgression" (Rom. 4:15), and "sin is not imputed when there is no law" (Rom. 5:13), it follows that asking for pardon is an acknowledgment, on the part of the subject, that the law has been transgressed, and that its demands for the infliction of the penalty are just.
SATAN'S CLAIM OF INJUSTICE
Satan has ever claimed, as an excuse for his sin, that God's law is unjust. It was on this plea that he induced Eve to sin. If his claim could be sustained, there could be no just demand for pardon. In offering pardon, Christ must undo the work, for rebellious subjects, that Satan's anarchy has wrought. "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." 1 John 3:8.
Christ did not come to destroy the moral law proclaimed from Sinai. The proclamation of that law was the work of God. If Christ had undertaken to destroy it, He would have become a traitor to the government, destroyed Himself, and left the sinner unsaved to perish in his sins. Christ came to "destroy the works of the devil" by undoing them. He would put down rebellion by removing sin. He would do this first by offering pardon, and secondly by destroying rebellious subjects who refused to accept pardon on the terms upon which it was offered.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
Unconditional surrender is the first condition of granting pardon to rebellious subjects. When Christ came as man's substitute, He made an unconditional surrender of His will to God. "Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart." Ps. 40:7, 8. In Gethsemane it was still, "Not as I will, but as Thou wilt." "Thy will be done." Matt. 26:39, 42.
Not only did Christ make an unconditional surrender of His will to God, but, as previously stated, He declared His everlasting allegiance to the law of God's kingdom, in the statement: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5:17, 18. To fulfil a law is to keep it. He therefore solemnly pledged that He would faithfully keep the law, and that He would never join the rebel leader in seeking to destroy it, and that till heaven and earth pass away, not a jot or a tittle of it should in any wise pass away.
THE HARDEST THING TO SURRENDER
The prophet says that by sinning, "all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6. One of the things that is hardest for any man to surrender is his own way. That rebellious feeling against having our way directed by God's law is the result of the rebellious spirit we have inherited from Adam. But our wills must be surrendered to God, absolutely and unconditionally, if we would receive pardon for rebellion and sin. "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:6, 7.
OBSTINATE REBELS
Satan and his angels rebelled against the will of God, and determined to have their own way. They determined also to maintain their position in the kingdom, but they were cast out. "If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell" (2 Peter 2:4); and spared not the cities of the plains, because they despised government, were presumptuous, self-willed, and not afraid to speak evil of dignities (verse 10); but "turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly" (verse 6), He will not spare those who now refuse to accept pardon by an unconditional surrender of the will to God. Knowing this, Christ taught His disciples to pray daily: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." Matt. 6:10.
FAITH REQUIRED
"Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6. Faith is confidence. To discredit God's willingness to forgive, when He has made such an unparalleled sacrifice that He might pardon and restore the sinner, would be the height of ingratitude.
After following Christ through Gethsemane and Calvary, who can question God's willingness to forgive? If still the confidence is weak, remember that "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Rom. 10:17. Skeptics, while reading the Bible to oppose it, have become transformed into children of faith.
Who can read the story of the prodigal son, without increased confidence that God will freely forgive the returning sinner? The prodigal266had deliberately left his father's house, and wasted his substance in riotous living. He had held out against returning home, until he felt that he had made a fatal mistake in leaving the parental roof, and until starvation and poverty forced him to yield.
On the homeward journey, he doubtless questioned being received when he should meet his father, whom he had wronged by his life of shame. But during all the years of separation, his father had loved him and longed for his return. That father's eye, lighted by love, though dimmed by age, saw the emaciated form of his beloved son a great way off, and knew him, despite his tattered garments, and ran to meet him and welcome his return. He was not ashamed to own him as his child. He took off his own respectable garment, and placed it on his son. He returned with him, and restored him to his place in the family, with the greatest joy. The fatted calf was killed, and his return was made an occasion of great rejoicing. Luke 15:22-24.
So in returning and rest shall we be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be our strength. Isa. 30:15. For "like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." Ps. 103:13. "His love runneth faster than our feet to meet us on our way returning, and kisseth dumb our shame." He comes to meet us and to welcome us back to the family circle, where He says: "Unto them will I give in Mine house and within My walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off." Isa. 56:5.
Photograph by Paul Thompson
"Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance." Luke 15:7. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:16.
Faith accepts Christ as the sinner's voluntary substitute in life and death; appropriates His death as a restoration from past sins, and His obedient life as a restoration to perfect righteousness; accepts pardon, and is restored from sin to righteousness. R. C. P.
