Abundant Pardon

By John Gipson

     Jesus never met a man he wouldn’t save.  Look through the gospel records and see for yourself.  You will never find him saying, “I wish I could help you, but there’s nothing I can do.”  You will never hear him say, “Your case is too difficult for me.”  He doesn’t leave any inkling of unwillingness or   inability.  He died for “the sins of the world” – all of them.  He shed his blood “for the remission of sins” – all sins.  No wonder he was such an      attraction for guilty men.  No wonder “then drew unto Him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.” 
     Let lost men “seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.”  Why?  “For he will abundantly pardon.”  Have no lingering doubts about God’s pardon.  It is abundant!  Those who have fled to Christ for refuge have not been disappointed – nor will you be. 
     That’s not to minimize the sins we commit.  How many they seem:  Sins of thought – rebellious, proud, blasphemous, cruel, false, unholy, ad infinitum:  sins of word – I would have to repeat the list; sins of deed –    ranging from theft to murder.  But cease your counting.  There is no way to tally so many sins.  They are as countless as the drops of dew, which fall in the autumn morning, as numberless as the sands of the seashore. 
     “God . . .will abundantly pardon.”  How refreshing it is to return to this theme.  He will really pardon.  Have you that have been pardoned ever asked, “Is it really true?  Can it be?  Am I really forgiven?”  Yes, it is true!  God doesn’t pretend to forgive; he forgives.  Your sins no longer exist.  They have been removed as far as the east is from the west.  They are gone        forever.  Those sins have been covered in a deluge of grace.  The poet was right when he said: 
     See here an endless ocean flows,
          Of never-failing grace, 
    Behold a dying Savior’s veins, 
         The sacred flood increase. 

    It rises high and drowns the hills, 
      Has neither shore nor bound, 
 Now, if we search to find our sins, 
    Our sins can ne’er be found.  

- via The Encourager, the weekly bulletin for the Calvert City Church of Christ, Calvert City, KY.  Lance Cordle preaches for the congregation.  He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com