HOW dull is the natural ear to scripture! How the eye glides over the words of life! How little it is known, even to such as read the Bible day by day, that "through this Man is preached unto you (to any and all indeed) the forgiveness of sins"! It is proclaimed of God that man may receive and enjoy it by faith.
Many a believer to this day regards forgiveness as a promise, and a promise so beset with holy conditions as to be rare and difficult of attainment. Therefore some often go for years, if not a lifetime, looking up to God with grief over their sins, and calling on the name of the Lord to intercede for them. Such souls in no way expect the present answer of assured peace, Their "mixed condition" is the excuse for not receiving it. They feel themselves altogether unworthy of such grace. Conscious of continual failure, they draw as their inference from it, that it is presumptuous to believe their sins forgiven, save (as they hope) when about to die, no longer exposed to further temptation.
But all this hesitation is their own thought, and sad unbelief of the gospel. It dishonors alike the grace of God, the work of Christ, and the testimony of the Holy Spirit. For "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Again, "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin," from every sin if from any. "The Holy Ghost also is a witness to us ... Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." These texts are cited, and much more to the same effect might be added. Is there not already ample proof that you who believe that Jesus is the Son of God are now called to believe also that your sins are forgiven? Why do you then doubt God's love, Who sent His Son to meet your ruin? Is-it not grievous sin to question His word? If you plead that, being so great a sinner, you fear to take His assurance to yourself, let me reply in His name that, because you were "lost," He sent so great a Savior. Not a single scripture sanctions a doubt. Forgiveness is not earned or won, but "preached." Every word of His encourages you to believe.
If you have been a great sinner, Christ is a greater Savior. Only believe on Him. This will soon give you to know that you are far more guilty than you have as yet realized. How blessed, and how humbling, to learn our depths of evil in His dying for us! This is what we find out when faith receives God's message, that “through this Man is preached unto us the forgiveness of sins.”
It is in virtue of Christ. Limit it has none attached to it, as it must have if it depended on you, me, or any other. It has all the worth and all the infinitude which He Who is a Divine Person, yet a man, can impart. God was glorified in Him, the propitiation for sins; so is He also in sending out the glad tidings of forgiveness to every one that believes. You honor both the Father and the Son by receiving the forgiveness of sins through the Savior. God gave and sent Christ for this end.
“Hear and thy soul shall live." Beware of doing despite to the Spirit of grace by refusing the message of mercy.