Pardon and Power

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 5
The reception of the gospel is the real starting point of a holy life. Till that point is reached every effort to be holy is utterly futile. It is only the sense of pardoning love that can impart power for holy living.
Man reverses the order! "Prove," he says, "by a holy life that you are worthy of God's love, and He will love and bless you." But this is not the gospel. The Lord did not say to the sinful woman, "Go, and sin no more, and I will not condemn thee." John 8:1111She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. (John 8:11). He said: "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
His love is not dependent on ours. "We love Him because He first loved us." 1 John 4:1919We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19).