96 ronoivENEss OF SIN. III. Forgiveness has respect, as already said, to the PROPITIATION MADE IN AND BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, the Sou of God. Indeed here lies the knot and centre of gospel-forgiveness : it flows from the cross, and springs out of the grave of Christ. Thus Elihu describes it : " God is gracious to him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom." Job, 33 : 24. These words con- tain a summary of our whole subject. 1. God's gra- cious and merciful heart towards a sinner : " He is gracious unto him." 2. Actual forgiveness: " Deliver him from going down to the pit." And, 3. There is the centre of the whole, wherein God's gracious heart and actual pardon meet ; the ransom, the propitiation or atonement, in the blood of Christ, of which we now speak, "I have found a ransom." The same is expressed, "My righteous servant shall justify many, for he shall bear their iniquities." Isaiah, 53 : 11. Of the justification of sinners, absolution, or par- don, is the first part. This arises from Christ's bearing their iniquities : therein he " finished the transgression, made an end of sin, and made reconciliation for iniqui- ty." Dan. 9 : 24. All the sacrifices, and consequently, the whole worship of the Old Testament, evinced this re- lation between forgiveness and blood-shedding ; whence the apostle concludes, that " without shedding of blood there is no remission," Heb. 9 : 22; that is, all pardon arises from blood-shedding, even of the blood of the Son of God. So that we are said, in him, to have redemp- tion, even the forgiveness of sins. Eph. 1 : 7. Our re- demption in his blood, is our forgiveness. Not that we are all actually pardoned in the blood of his cross; for thereunto must be added gospel-forgiveness, but there- by it is procured, the grant of pardon is therein sealed, and security given that it shall, in due time, be made to us. To which purpose is that discourse of the apos- tle, Rom. 3 : 24, 25, 26. The work there mentioned
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