Iniquity, Pardon, and Usefulness

“Iniquity Shall Be Upon Him” (Numb 15:30-31)

“But the soul that does anything presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same blasphemes the Lord; and that souls shall be cut off from among his people.  Because he has despised the word of the Lord, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him”.

Confession SHALL save us, but if we don’t deal with God in Christ, admitting our sins and failures, then we shall be damned. Forgiveness is FREE and willing to be given by God, but it is only for the sins that we admit, admitting ourselves to be evil, and TURNING from sin through the pardon of Christ.  If you REFUSE to call evil as evil, and if you and I refuse to honor God, saying, “I will do as I will”, then we shall be DESTROYED and without pity.  The God who pardons by Christ is the God who damns everyone that doesn’t get pardon, that doesn’t admit the sin, come to God as commanded, and receive NEWNESS of life. Don’t be so arrogant as to tell God that you’re going to live as you see fit; be a humble and guilty sinner, trusting God to give you the healing He says.

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P A R D O N

I love this definition of pardon: (1) release from horrible crimes (2) not given by popes and bishops.

a.     a release from the penalty of an offense; a remission of penalty, as by a governor.
b.     the document by which such remission is declared.
c.     forgiveness of a serious offense or offender.
d.     Obsolete. a papal indulgence.

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The Lord is pleased, in a measure, to show me the suitableness and necessity of a humble, dependent frame of heart, a ceasing from self, and a reliance upon Him in the due use of appointed means; I am far from having attained, but I hope I am pressing, at least seeking, after it. I wish to speak the word simply and experimentally, and to be so engaged with the importance of the subject, the worth of souls, and the thought that I am speaking in the name and presence of the Most High God, as that I might, if possible, forget everything else. This would be an attainment, indeed! More good might be expected from a broken discourse, delivered in such a frame, than from the most advantageous display of knowledge and gifts without it.

John Newton, Letters