Kevin Burden - Cornerstone Baptist Church - Sunday AM, June 5, 2011
Isaiah 55:7-9 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Psalm 25:11 “For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.”
Hebrews 8:12 “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”
To PARDON is to forgive and release an offender from the obligation to suffer a penalty for crimes committed. An offender is pardoned when they are released from any liability to suffer for their crimes.
On December 6, 1829 two men, George Wilson and James Porter, robbed a United States mail in Pennsylvania. On May 1, 1830 both men were found guilty on six counts which included “robbery of the mail” and “putting the life of the driver in jeopardy.” On May 27th both George Wilson and James Porter received their sentences – Execution by hanging. The sentences were to be carried out on July 2nd, 1830.
James Porter was executed on schedule; George Wilson was not. Shortly before his execution a number of influential friends pleaded for mercy to the President of the United States, Andrew Jackson, on Wilson’s behalf.
President Jackson issued a formal pardon. Incredibly Wilson REFUSED the pardon!
Official court documents state George Wilson chose to “Waive and decline any advantage or protection which might be supposed to arise from the pardon referred to.” Wilson stated that he “had nothing to say, and that he did not wish, in any manner, to avail himself in order to avoid sentence.”
The case went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Marshall, wrote the following decision: “A pardon is an act of grace, proceeding from the power entrusted 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... A pardon is a deed to the validity of which delivery is essential; and delivery is not completed without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it be rejected, we have discovered no power in a court to force it on him.”
The High Court concluded that a pardon could not be forced upon a person. George Wilson chose to die!
Now that you have heard George Wilson’s amazing story, you are probably thinking: “How could anyone refuse a pardon from the death penalty? The man was a fool!” Yet man refuses God’s pardon everyday!
Consider, with me, the plight of every person.
#1. THE PLIGHT: There is a vast difference between our judicial system and the law of God. Our judicial system says, “A man is innocent until proven guilty.” God’s law says “ALL are guilty, and must die.” We read this in…
Ezekiel 18:4 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Romans 3:10 “There is none righteous,…” 19 “all the world is become guilty before God…” 23 “all have sinned,…” [6:23] “the wages of sin is death.”
1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, & the truth is not in us.”
According to God, everyone is guilty and the death penalty is hanging over every head. Billions are sitting on death row…
There are multitudes that do not know the meaning of their condition.
· Many recognize a problem exist and have attempted to reform by quitting drinking, cursing, lying, stealing, cheating, etc…
· Others have gotten religion; they’ve been baptized and catechized; joined the church and done good works.
· By doing so they feel they will merit heaven. These are still condemned and subject to death.
#2. THE PAYMENT: Barabbas was a murderer! He was awaiting execution when the jailer comes and announces, “Barabbas, you’re free!” “Why, what happened? What’s going on?” The Jailer, “Jesus is going to die in your place.”
Romans 5:7-8 “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradven-ture for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 Peter 2:21-24 “Christ suffered for us,…22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:…24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree,…”
In the Old Testament, the sins of the people were placed on sacrificial animals. Blood was shed to make “atonement” for sins.
· To “atone” means to bring into agreement through reparation; to bring reconciliation between the offended and the offender.
· To “make atonement for” is to satisfy fully by compensating for an injury.
In the New Testament, Jesus is the Lamb of God. His sacrifice paid in full your sin debt, as he was substituted as the Lamb. God has said that His sacrifice was our payment.
1 Peter 1:18-19 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,… 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
#3. THE PLEA: You would think folks would trample one another to accept and receive the payment for sin and pardon from guilt. Amazingly, most are unaware or unconcerned.
Because of Satan’s deception, men have ignored God and have forgotten that they are on death row.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”
But God is concerned; He loves us and is not willing that any should perish. The Scripture is rich with His pleading, but we find it hard to hear over the commotion we have crowded into our lives.
Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
#4. THE PROMISE: Man is condemned, but God has provided payment in full. Now, the Lord is pleading with men to receive His gift of salvation. The Pardon has been written. God has made this promise…
John 5:24-29 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word,...”
CONCLUSION: What is contained in this pardon? When God offers pardon, He does NOT mean…
Penance: Penance is self-punishment. It is an attempt to reform by perform-ance of good works.
Parole. The pardoned man is free, while the paroled man is under conditions.
Payment on our part. When a man has served out his sentence and is released, there is no pardon necessary. The problem is no man has enough resources to pay his sin debt! It would take eternity to serve out the sentence! The only hope is a full pardon. Jesus said, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
IT IS at no cost to you (Romans 10:9-10). God would be happy to forgive you and save you now.
