The pardon of a believer's sins is AN ENTIRE PARDON. It is the full pardon of all his sins. It were no pardon to him if it were not an entire pardon. If it were but a partial blotting out of the thick cloud - if it were but a partial cancelling of the debt- if it were but a forgiveness of some sins only - then the Gospel would not be glad tidings to his soul. The law of God has brought him in guilty of an entire violation. The justice of God demands a satisfaction equal to the enormity of the sins committed, and of the guilt incurred. The Holy Spirit Has convinced him of his utter helplessness, his entire bankruptcy. What rapture would kindle in his bosom at the announcement of a mere partial atonement of a half Savior - of a partial payment of the debt? Not one throb of joyous sensation would it produce. On the contrary, this very mockery of his woe would but deepen the anguish of his spirit.
But, go to the soul, weary and heavy laden with sin - mourning over its vileness, its helplessness, and proclaim the Gospel. Tell him that the Atonement which Jesus offered on Calvary was a full satisfaction for his sins. That all his sins were borne and blotted out in the awful moment. That the bond which Divine justice held against the sinner was fully cancelled by the obedience and sufferings of Christ, and that, appeased and satisfied, "God was ready to pardon." How beautiful will be the feet that conveys to him tidings so transporting as this! And are not these statements perfectly accordant with the declarations of God's own Word? Yes, for he says it himself; "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." --Octavius Winslow
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God not only makes a plan of salvation - He works the plan. He who predestinated back in eternity also calls the one predestinated. There are no salvation packages left unclaimed at the depot of predestination. --C.D. Cole
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He Will Sustain You!
“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee:
He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22
The promise is not that the Lord will remove the load we cast upon Him, nor that He will carry it for us--but that He will sustain us so that we may carry it.
He does not free us from the duty - but He strengthens us for it. He does not deliver us from the conflict - but He enables us to overcome. He does not withhold or withdraw the trial from us - but He helps us in trial to be submissive and victorious, and makes it a blessing to us. He does not mitigate the hardness or severity of our circumstances, taking away the difficult elements, removing the thorns, making life easy for us - but He puts Divine grace into our hearts, so that we can live sweetly in all the hard, adverse circumstances.
"And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:23 --Unknown
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