84. Abundant Pardon.

Let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. - Isaiah 55:7.

THE prophet is setting forth the mission of Jesus (verses 4 and 5).

Straightway he makes an appeal to sinners, for Jesus comes to sinners. He proclaims pardon to them, for this Jesus brings: his coming is as the morning, bedewing the earth with delight.

The call is practically to faith and repentance; immediate, frank, spiritual, complete.

The inducement presented is an abundant free-grace pardon: "he will abundantly pardon."

There is no more likely argument wherewith to persuade souls.

I. LET US CONTEMPLATE THE ABUNDANCE OF DIVINE PARDON.

We may do so the better if we consider:

1. The abundance of the attribute from which it springs. All the attributes of God are infinite and harmonious, but we are told that "God is love," and this is not said of justice, or power. "Thy mercy is great above the heavens" (Ps. 108:4). "The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy" (Ps. 119:64)."His mercy endureth forever" (Ps. 136).

2. The abundance of the objects of the pardon. From the days of Adam until now God has pardoned multitudes among all nations, classes, and ages.

· We quickly lose patience when many offend, but it is not so with our God. "Thou hast forgiven this people from Egypt even until now" (Num. 14:19).

3. The abundant sins which are pardoned. Who can count the thoughts, words, and deeds which are pardoned?

· These repeated ad nauseam (Isa. 43:24; Rev. 3:16).

· Sins against law and gospel, light and love, in youth and old age.

· Yet these God removes, like the countless locusts blown away by the wind, or a,s the drops of dew exhaled by the sun.

4. The abundant sin of the sins which are pardoned.

· Some sins are planned and deliberated on, and each plotting and devising entails sin.

· Some are a spider's nest, swarming with many sins.

· Some are proud, wanton, cruel, blasphemous, impudent.

· Some are repeated, aggravated, and persisted in.

· Yet the intensified venom of epitomized sin the Lord removes.

5. The abundant means of pardon.

· The atonement of his Son, and his righteousness.

· The infinite merit of the ever-living Advocate.

· The Holy Spirit ever present to apply gospel provision

6. The abundant ease of the terms of pardon.

· No hard conditions of penance or purgatory.

· Only ask and have; repent and trust.

· Even the repentance and faith required are also given.

7. The abundant fullness of the pardon.

· It covers all sin, past, present, and to come.

· It is most effectual, and sure.

· It is perpetual, and irreversible.

· It is accompanied with imputed righteousness. Pardon washes, and justification clothes and beautifies.

8. The abundant blessings which attend it.

· Liberation from spiritual prison, legal bonds, etc.

· Freedom from the reigning power of inbred sin.

· Adoption into the heavenly family.

· Acceptance so full that we may challenge accusers.

· Employment in services of trust.

· Communion with the thrice-holy God.

· Reception of answers to our prayers, as true and certain as if we were perfectly pure.

· Ultimate admission into glory itself with the perfect ones.

II. LET US CONSIDER ITS PROPER INFERENCES, and these shall furnish the practical conclusion of our discourse.

1. Then there is no room for despair. If the Lord only pardoned now and then, it were well to seek his favor even on the bare chance of obtaining it; but now let us return unto him in sure and certain hope of pardon.

2. Then there is a loud call to repent, for who would offend so good, so kind a Lord? Let our relentings be kindled, since he is so forward to promise us pardon.

3. Here is a special call to the greatest sinners, since abundant mercy is most appropriate to their case: and no less should the less guilty come, since there must be room for them.

4. Such a much-forgiving God deserves to be much loved, and the lives of the pardoned should prove that to whom much is forgiven, the same loveth much.

5. If such mercy be slighted, we may be sure it will entail great wrath.