The Meaning of God's Pardoning Love, Part 1

By Ellen G. White

The Lord would have His people sound in the faith--not ignorant of the great salvation so abundantly provided for them. They are not to look forward, thinking that at some future time a great work is to be done for them; for the work is now complete. The believer is not called upon to make his peace with God; he never has nor ever can do this. He is to accept Christ as his peace, for with Christ is God and peace.

Christ made an end of sin, bearing its heavy curse in His own body on the tree, and He hath taken away the curse from all those who believe in Him as a personal Saviour. He makes an end of the controlling power of sin in the heart, and the life and character of the believer testify to the genuine character of the grace of Christ. To those that ask Him, Jesus imparts the Holy Spirit; for it is necessary that every believer should be delivered from pollution, as well as from the curse and condemnation of the law. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the sanctification of the truth, the believer becomes fitted for the courts of heaven; for Christ works within us, and His righteousness is upon us. Without this no soul will be entitled to heaven. We would not enjoy heaven unless qualified for its holy atmosphere by the influence of the Spirit and the righteousness of Christ.

In order to be candidates for heaven we must meet the requirement of the law: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself" (Luke 10:27). We can do this only as we grasp by faith the righteousness of Christ. By beholding Jesus we receive a living, expanding principle in the heart, and the Holy Spirit carries on the work, and the believer advances from grace to grace, from strength to strength, from character to character. He conforms to the image of Christ, until in spiritual growth he attains unto the measure of the full stature in Christ Jesus. Thus Christ makes an end of the curse of sin, and sets the believing soul free from its action and effect.

Christ alone is able to do this, for "in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted" (Heb. 2:17, 18). Reconciliation means that every barrier between the soul and God is removed, and that the sinner realizes what the pardoning love of God means. By reason of the sacrifice made by Christ for fallen men, God can justly pardon the transgressor who accepts the merits of Christ. Christ was the channel through which the mercy, love, and righteousness might flow from the heart of God to the heart of the sinner. "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

In the prophecy of Daniel it was recorded of Christ that He shall "make reconciliation for iniquity, and . . . bring in everlasting righteousness" (Dan. 9:24). Every soul may say: "By His perfect obedience He has satisfied the claims of the law, and my only hope is found in looking to Him as my substitute and surety, who obeyed the law perfectly for me. By faith in His merits I am free from the condemnation of the law. He clothes me with His righteousness, which answers all the demands of the law. I am complete in Him who brings in everlasting righteousness. He presents me to God in the spotless garment of which no thread was woven by any human agent. All is of Christ, and all the glory, honor, and majesty are to be given to the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world."

First published in April 1893, and reprinted in Selected Messages, Book 1, pp. 394-396.

NEXT: Part 2



 
 

God's Word Our Assurance
Christ Our Righteousness A Morning Talk
Through Faith Alone Part 1
Through Faith Alone Part 2
What Was Secured by the Death of Christ
Seek Those Things Which are Above Part 1
Seek Those Things Which are Above Part 2
Christ, Our Loving Comforter and Restorer
Work to Show Christ to the World
"Let Him Take Hold of My Strength"
Ellen G. White's Last Recorded Letter
The Joy of Giving
A New Year's Day Letter
Christ Our Hope
A Letter of Comfort and Assurance
Prevailing Prayer
A Prayer of Consecration
Help for the Tempted
God Will Provide
Christ's Righteousness Avails
Trusting Christ
The Fair Flowers of Promise
How God’s Love is Manifested, Part 1
How God’s Love is Manifested, Part 2
"Ye are Complete in Him," Part 1
"Ye are Complete in Him," Part 2
"Ye are Complete in Him," Part 3
"I Will Give You Rest"
Working as Christ Worked
A Life-Changing Experience
The Character of God Revealed in Christ
What God Desires Us to Be
God's Plans the Best
A Peculiar People
God With Us
Ask and it shall be given you, Part 1
Ask and it shall be given you, Part 2
The Meaning of God's Pardoning Love, Part 1
The Meaning of God's Pardoning Love, Part 2
The Foundation of Our Peace
One Thing Impossible With God
Windows Wide Open
The Only Foundation
Christ Spans the Gulf of Sin, Part 1
Christ Spans the Gulf of Sin, Part 2
Homeward Bound
A New Year's Day Letter
Asking to Give
The Mighty and Inspiring Conflict
God's Word a Treasure House
True Success
Little Things
You May Trust Him
Hearts Filled with Thankfullnes to God
Calamities and God’s Love; Sin, Judgment, and the Shortness of Time
Lord is Risen
The Sabbath
Some Thoughts for the New Year