Have you ever done anything that you need to be pardoned? I have. When you read the first question was your immediate thought that I do not need to be pardoned because I have committed no crime? What things that we do require a pardon? Is it more than committing a crime? What do I need to do in order for the pardon to be completed? If you were given a pardon, will you or have you accepted it? I have accepted my pardon.
There is a case that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court in 1833 that in United States law sheds some light on the idea of a pardon and why it may bring hope. The case is The United States vs. George Wilson. In 1829 George Wilson robbed and wounded a mail carrier. In 1830 he was convicted of the offense and sentenced to death by hanging. Andrew Jackson was President of the United States at that time and granted a pardon to George Wilson. George Wilson had not sought the pardon and then he refused to accept it. The basis of the case was, should the United States set George Wilson or hang him as sentenced. Chief Justice Marshal writing for the majority wrote, “A pardon is an act of grace, proceeding from the power intrusted with the execution of the laws, which exempts the individual, on whom it is bestowed, from the punishment the law inflicts for a crime he has committed.” The ultimate conclusion of the court was unless George Wilson accepts the pardon George Wilson’s sentence must be carried out.
I see this very relevant to my situation when it comes to God. In the mind of the state, I have not been convicted of any crime and therefore have no need of a pardon. However, in the mind of God I have committed numerous sins. I sin on a regular basis and each of those sins needed to and deserved to be punished. That punishment is death. God had a plan for the punishment that my sin deserved. His plan was that He would send His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that I might be pardoned from my sin. Paul says it very simply in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (ESV) But like a gift a pardoned must be accepted. It is very simple to accept God’s pardon for my sins. All I need to do is believe that Jesus Christ died and rose again so that I might have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (ESV) This is truly the greatest hope that I have in my life.
Join me understanding that God has granted a pardon for all mankind’s sin and receive hope along with the pardon. Now if you have not accepted your pardon from God do it now and receive the eternal life that Jesus died on the cross so you could be pardoned. Learn how to accept your pardon from Jesus. Understanding that the only true pardon comes from God. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross satisfied the penalty for my sins and yours as well. It satisfied all my sins from the past, in the present and in the future. My penalty and yours was satisfied on the cross by the death of Jesus, God’s greatest act of love and wrath, who became sin for me and you. It was also God’s greatest act of faithfulness because “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 (ESV) Because wisdom shows us, we need to believe in Jesus. I hope that you join me in helping others to choose Jesus.
If you have not read my previous blogs you can find them here.
You can find my book, Hope Amid Hopelessness: Our Abba Father Provides a Way Through Mental Illness here.
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