John 5:14

THE PARDON OF SIN

‘Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.’

John 5:14

The pardon of sin is a part—a very important part—of the expulsion of sin. The power of sin is not gone because the sin is forgiven. On the contrary, it will continue to exist and trouble us long after we have had, and been quite conscious that we have had, forgiveness from the guilt of sin—up to a certain period, when that sin shall be destroyed.

I. Pardon leads to conquest.—The pardon of sin goes a great way to the conquest of sin; and we shall never do battle with sin very effectually until we have been, and feel that we have been, forgiven. Among other reasons for this I will mention three.

(a) The condemnation of sin cannot go without something of the sin going too.

(b) The man who has tasted the peace of God’s forgiveness is in a much better condition to encounter and overcome the corruptions of his own heart.

(c) A spring of action is set at work in the heart with which nothing else can compare.

II. Concerning the pardon of sin.

(a) From the confession of sin, it is a very short way—if it be any way at all—to the forgiveness of sin.

(b) Go, and sin no more. It is a means to a further end. The pardon, the liberty, the peace, is only the date of new holiness. Be of good courage, attack the very strongholds of your besetting sin, fight to death. ‘Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more.’