If there is any doubt about sin being actually
forgiven before the exercise of faith or penitence, I would ask: What is
the actual ground of forgiveness? Is it not the Atonement of Christ?
Necessary as faith and penitence are, could either or both procure
forgiveness? If they could, Christ need not have died. But of all
things, that was the prime necessity. Without shedding of blood there
could be no remission. The corollary of that is, that with shedding
blood there can be instant and universal remission.
* * * * *
Instant, we say? Yes; for "we are reconciled to God by the death of His
Son," He was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world," so God
is reconciled now; and not only that, but from all eternity.
* * * * *
And universal? Yes; for he "tasted death for every man." So every sinner
is forgiven by virtue of Christ's Atonement. The benefit of that
Atonement extends to the worst man of our race.
* * * * *
But are not faith and penitence necessary? Yes, they are necessary to
final salvation; but if they are necessary to forgiveness, then there
was no necessity for Atonement. It is Atonement alone which procures
pardon; and as Atonement was for the whole race, so forgiveness is for
the whole race also.
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