“LET by-gones be by-gones.” “Yes, that may do all very well for you,” says the upright creditor, as he urgently presses his oft-evaded claim, “but your debt cannot be reckoned among the by-genes till it has been honorably paid to the full.”
“Let by-gones be by-gones.” “Pause there,” says the sober-looking judge to the plausible pleader. “No doubt that might suit your client admirably, but I sit here to represent the claims of the Crown. I am responsible for the maintenance of justice, and I have before me, as charges against the prisoner, the criminal records of years past, and these all aggravate the charges of today. The full penalty must be administered; I have no alternative. And even when the present penalty has been discharged, the prisoner’s by-gones can even then only remain buried so long as no further breach of the law is proved against him.”
“Let by-gones be by-gones.” “Ah! but his behavior to me has been shameful in the extreme. I might be willing to forgive him if he would own his faults, but forget such treatment I cannot.”
“Let by-gones be by-gones,” says the unrepentant sinner, offending against both light and love. “Never, never!” whispers his upbraiding conscience. “Never, till the just claims of a holy God have been righteously satisfied. Every transgression must receive its just reward.”
BUT CHRIST HAS DIED. The just has suffered for the unjust; the Obedient One has answered for the disobedient; the Sinless has stood for the sinful; the Beloved Son has died for the hateful rebel.
“The Savior for the lost has died,
Jesus, my Lord, was crucified.”
And more. God has declared His satisfaction in that which Christ has done. The Ransom has been accepted; the Sin-purger seated. The darkness of the cross of Calvary has been exchanged for the glory of the throne of Majesty; the believer is free. God proclaims it. THE BELIEVER IS FREE! ― RIGHTEOUSLY FREE! “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). “And by Him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)). When God Himself declares that the believer stands clear of every charge, when He pronounces him to be cleansed from every spot, then by-gones are indeed by-gones; they are done with forever. And this He does declare. Read Hebrews 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17), and you will see it for yourself. “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Blessed absolution! “When He giveth quietness, who then can make trouble?” (Job 34:2929When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: (Job 34:29)). “It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth?” (Rom. 8:33, 3433Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:33‑34)). If God is my Justifier, it matters little who is my accuser.
“For me He has no sentence, not one accusing breath;
The charges laid against me, Christ answered by His death.”