“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.