“A REFUSED PARDON”

During the presidency of Andrew Jackson (1829-1837), George Wilson, a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll train and, in the process, killed a guard. The court convicted him and sentenced him to hang. Because of public sentiment against capital punishment, however, a movement began to secure a presidential pardon for Wilson, and eventually Jackson intervened with a pardon. Amazingly, Wilson refused it.

Since this had never happened before, the case was sent to the Supreme Court. This was their decision: “Pardon must not only be granted, it must be accepted. Because Mr. Wilson refused pardon, he was hanged.” (Bob Bauer in GNFT)

Likewise, pardon has been granted to us from God. But it must be accepted. Refusal has eternal consequences. How is this pardon accepted? We read of Jesus in Heb. 5:9: “He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him”. Jesus explained acceptance in Matt. 7:24-27.

Man’s acceptance…this is the area in which Satan has divided believers. He does not want us to receive pardon. He has perverted the gospel (Gal. 1:6-9), to declare obedience a work of merit. Since salvation by grace thru faith (Eph. 2:8) excludes works of merit, baptism is logically denied. One would think that baptism would cease to be practiced, but such is not the case. While many reject baptism as necessary for salvation, they practice it as an act of obedience.

How is God’s pardon accepted? Is obedience a pre-requisite to pardon? Is baptism an act of obedience or of merit? Where does the Bible answer these questions? It answers in every recorded act of pardon and obedience therein.

“WHEREFORE SIGHEST THOU?”

Do problems abound in your life? Does it seem that your life is just one challenge after another? Take heart; the only people who don’t have troubles are in cemeteries. In reality, the life of a Christian would be for the worse if not for them.

Steve Goodier shared the following story: Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef. On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question. “I notice that the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful”, a traveler observed. “Why is this?”

The guide gave an interesting answer: “The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, and storms-surges of power. It must fight for survival every day. As it is challenged and tested it changes and adapts. It grows healthy and strong, and it reproduces.” Then he added this telling note: “That’s the way it is with every living organism.”

For Christians, physical demands increase bodily strength. Mental and emotional stress produce tough-mindedness and resilience. Likewise, spiritual testing strengthens our faith (James 1:2-7). The benefit? We live by faith rather than by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Let us value God’s wisdom in providing the means whereby we can escape the corruption that is in the world by lust. It is called ‘adding’ to our faith (2 Peter 1:4-9).

“THE HYMNS WE SING”

 

“WHY DID MY SAVIOR COME TO EARTH?” In answer, let us consider two passages. The first comes from a conversation between Jesus and Pilate. In John 18:37, Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” The second comes from the words Jesus spoke to the twelve, in John 15:22: “If I had not come and SPOKEN unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.”

Read again closely, these two passages, for therein you find the answer to the question. Jesus had a purpose in coming to earth. It was an assigned responsibility (John 12:49). Do you understand His purpose for being sent into the world? If He had not, humanity would yet be ignorant of their sins (John 3:19-21).

Do you see from John 15:22 the significance of the ‘spoken’ word? It is God’s power to save (Rom. 1:16). It brings an awareness of how great a sacrifice Jesus made (John 15:13). “O, love beyond human expression…when Jesus was dying for me!” “And can it be that I should gain an interest in my Savior’s love; died He for me, who caused His pain.”

Why did Jesus come? To explain how to love: “Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16). “Ye are my friends, if ye do the things which I command you” (John 15:14).