Commentary on "Optimism: Happiness and Healing"

MARTIN L. CAREY

 

Day 7: Friday, June 11, 2010 - Further Study

 

Overview

From today’s selection of Ellen White quotes, I would like to focus on one. She stated that our hope depends on the cross, for there we can look up to Jesus who died to save us and have great joy, for our sins are pardoned. Kneeling at the foot of the Cross, she said, is the highest place man can attain.

Observations

Surely we can rejoice for what we find at the Cross of Christ, for there we receive peace with God, and His life forever. And, we have the forgiveness of sins. Ellen White likes to use the word “pardon,” and by this she means a provisional forgiveness that only becomes permanent and complete when we are glorified. This is a critical distinction, because with real forgiveness that Christ provides, our sins are cast into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).

Do we believe that God has totally forgiven us and plunged our sins forever out of His sight? If so, we have great cause for rejoicing when we contemplate the Cross of Christ. If we don’t believe forgiveness is total and instant, our rejoicing will be tentative.

Ellen White has given us her definition of “pardon” for sins in The Great Controversy, where she describes the Investigative Judgment. Only at that judgment are sins completely blotted out:

“All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of Heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life.” (GC 483)

Then we have the straightforward words of Christ,

“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John 3:18

We are not condemned because we have been forgiven all our sins when we believed in Christ. This is not a provisional gift that is put on lay-away until we show ourselves worthy. God will never again hold our sins over us, once He has declared us righteous. We have that life now, and we have this on good authority:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24

Jesus could not say we have eternal life now if our sins are only provisionally forgiven. Provisional forgiveness is a regrettable concept. It is not something we would even put up with in our marriages. If I told my wife, “Alright honey, I’ll pardon you for being grumpy, but complete forgiveness will only come after you demonstrate that you can be sweet all the time.” You can well imagine her reaction; the couch or the doghouse for me!

God’s forgiveness is infinite, and He is faithful. That is why kneeling at the foot of the Cross brings us believers such joy, because all our sins are blotted out, like a thick cloud (Is. 44:22). God’s forgiveness is like no other.

“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died.” Romans 8:33

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12

 

Conclusions

1. Ellen White’s forgiveness of sins is described with the word “pardon,” which means a provisional forgiveness that awaits our character development to pass the Investigative Judgment.
2. God’s forgiveness is total and instantaneous, for those who believe in Christ are not condemned, but give eternal life right now.
3. We don’t put up with provisional forgiveness from our loved ones. Can we expect less of God?
4. We can have joy in Christ’s sacrifice because He removes our sins from us totally, now, and forever.

 

 

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Official Adventist Resources

Standard Edition Study Guide Week 11

Teacher's Edition Study Guide Week 11

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