“Forgiveness”
written by J.C. Ryle (1816-1900)
edited in modern English by J. J. Cardwell (1960- )
“Because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.” —1 John 2:12
IV. Let me, in the last place, supply the readers of this paper with some marks of having found forgiveness.
I dare not leave this point out. Too many people presume they are forgiven, who have no evidence to show for it. Not a few cannot think it possible they are forgiven, who are plainly on the path to heaven, though they may not see it themselves. I would gladly raise hope in some, and self-inquiry in others; and to do this, let me set down in order the leading marks of a forgiven soul.
(a) Forgiven souls HATE SIN. They can enter most fully into the words of our Communion Service, “The remembrance of sin is grievous unto them, and the burden of it is intolerable.” The serpent bit them— how should they not shrink from it with horror? Poison brought them to the brink of eternal death— how should they not loathe it with a godly disgust? The Egyptian enemy kept them in hard bondage— how should not the very memory of it be bitter to their hearts? The disease causes them to carry the marks and scars upon them, and from which they have barely recovered— well may they dread it, flee from it, and long to be delivered altogether from its power! Remember how the woman in Simon’s house wept over the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:38). Remember how the Ephesians publicly burned their wicked books (Acts 19:19). Remember how Paul mourned over his youthful transgressions, “For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:9). If sin is your friend, you and God are not yet reconciled. You are not fit for heaven; for one main part of heaven’s excellence is the absence of all sin.
(b) Forgiven souls LOVE CHRIST. This is that one thing they can say, if they dare say nothing else— they do love Christ. His person, His offices, His work, His name, His cross, His blood, His words, His example, His ordinances— all, all are precious to forgiven souls. The ministry that exalts Him most is that which they enjoy most. The books that are most full of Him are most pleasant to their minds. The people on earth they feel most drawn to are those in whom they see something of Christ. His name is as ointment poured forth, and comes with a peculiar sweetness to their ears (Song of Solomon 1:3). They would tell you they cannot help feeling as they do. He is their Redeemer, their Shepherd, their Physician, their King, their strong Deliverer, their gracious Guide, their hope, their joy, their All. Were it not for Him they would be of all people most miserable. They would as soon consent that you should take the sun out of the sky, as Christ out of their religion. Those people who talk of “the Lord,” and “the Almighty,” and “the Deity,” and so forth— but have not a word to say about Christ, are in anything but a right state of mind. What says the Scripture? “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him” (John 5:23). “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed” (1 Corinthians 16:22).
(c) Forgiven souls are HUMBLE. They cannot forget that they owe all they have and hope for to free grace, and this keeps them lowly. They are brands plucked from the fire— debtors who could not pay for themselves— captives who must have remained in prison forever— but for undeserved mercy— wandering sheep who were ready to perish when the Shepherd found them! What right then have they to be proud? I do not deny that there are proud saints. But this I do say— they are of all God’s creatures the most inconsistent, and of all God’s children the most likely to stumble and pierce themselves with many sorrows. Forgiveness more often produces the spirit of Jacob, “ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant” (Genesis 32:10); and of Hezekiah, “I walk slowly all my years” (Isaiah 38:15); and of the Apostle Paul, “I am the very least of all the saints— sinners, ” (Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15). We have nothing we can call our own— except sin and weakness. Surely there is no garment that fits us as well as humility.
(d) Forgiven souls are HOLY. Their chief desire is to please Him who has saved them, to do His will, to glorify Him in body and in Spirit, which are His. “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me?” (Psalm 116:12), is a leading principle in a pardoned heart. It was the remembrance of Jesus showing mercy that made Paul in labors so abundant, and in doing good so unwearied. It was a sense of pardon that made Zacchaeus say, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold” (Luke 19:8). If anyone points out to me believers who are in a carnal, slothful state of soul, I reply in the words of Peter, “he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins” (2 Peter 1:9). But if you show me a man deliberately living an unholy and licentious life, and yet boasting that his sins are forgiven, I answer, “He is under a ruinous delusion, and is not forgiven at all.” I would not believe he is forgiven if an angel from heaven affirmed it, and I charge you not to believe it too. Pardon of sin and love of sin are like oil and water— they will never go together. All who are washed in the blood of Christ are also sanctified by the Spirit of Christ.
(e) Forgiven souls are FORGIVING. They do as has been done to them. They look over the offences of their brethren. They endeavor to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:2). They remember how God, for Christ’s sake, forgave them, and endeavor to do the same towards their fellow-creatures. He has forgiven them dollars; shall they not forgive a few pennies? Doubtless in this, as in everything else, they come short— but this is their desire and their aim. A spiteful, quarrelsome Christian is a scandal to his profession. It is very hard to believe that such a one has ever sat at the foot of the cross, and has ever considered how he is praying against himself every time he uses the Lord’s Prayer. Is he not saying as it were, “Father, do not forgive me my trespasses at all”? But it is still harder to understand what such a one would do in heaven, if he got there. All ideas of heaven in which forgiveness has not a place, are castles in the air and worthless notions. Forgiveness is the way by which every saved soul enters heaven. Forgiveness is the only title by which he remains in heaven. Forgiveness is the eternal subject of song with all the redeemed who inhabit heaven. Surely, an unforgiving soul in heaven would find his heart completely out of tune. Surely, we know nothing of Christ’s love to us but the name of it, if we do not love our brethren.
I lay these things before every reader of this paper. I know well there are great diversities in the degree of men’s attainments in grace, and that saving faith in Christ is consistent with many imperfections. Still I do believe the five marks I had just named will generally be found, more or less, in all forgiven souls.
I cannot conceal from you, these marks should raise in many minds great searchings of heart. I must be plain. I fear there are thousands of people called Christians, who know nothing of these marks. They have been baptized. They attend the services of their Church. They would not consider themselves infidels by any means. Yet, as to true repentance and saving faith, union with Christ and sanctification of the Spirit are “names and words” of which they know nothing at all.
Now if this paper is read by such people, it will probably either alarm them, or make them very angry. If it makes them angry, I shall be sorry. If it alarms them, I shall be glad. I want to alarm them. I want to awaken them from their present state. I want them to take in the great fact, that they are not yet forgiven; that they do not have peace with God— and are on the high road to destruction.
I must say this, for I see no alternative. It seems neither Christian faithfulness, nor Christian charity, to keep it back. I see certain marks of pardoned souls laid down in Scripture. I see an utter lack of these marks in many men and women around me. How then can I avoid the conclusion that they are not yet “forgiven”? And how shall I do the work of a faithful watchman if I do not write it down plainly in so many words? Where is the use of crying Peace! Peace! when there is no peace? Where is the honesty of acting the part of a lying physician, and telling people there is no danger, when in reality they are fast drawing near to eternal death? Surely, the blood of souls would be required at my hands if I wrote to you anything less than the truth. “And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:8).
Examine yourself, then, before this subject is forgotten. Consider of what sort your religion is. Try it by the five marks I have just set before you. I have endeavored to make them as broad and general as I can, for fear of causing any heart to be sad that God has not made sad. If you know anything of them, though it be but a little, I am thankful, and entreat you to go forward. But if you know nothing of them in your own experience, let me say, in all affection, I stand in doubt of you. I tremble for your soul!
1. And now, before I conclude, let me put a PLAIN QUESTION to everyone who reads this paper. It shall be short and clear— but it is all important, “Are you forgiven?”
I have told you all I can about forgiveness. Your need of forgiveness— the way of forgiveness, the encouragements to seek forgiveness— the marks of having found it— all have been placed before you. Bring the whole subject to bear upon your own heart, and ask yourself, “Am I forgiven? Either I am, or I am not. Which of the two is it?”
You believe perhaps, there is forgiveness of sins. You believe that Christ died for sinners, and that He offers a pardon to the most ungodly. But are you forgiven yourself? Have you yourself laid hold on Christ by faith, and found peace through His blood? What profit is there to you in forgiveness, except you get the benefit of it? What does it profit the shipwrecked sailor that the lifeboat is alongside, if he does not jump in and escape? What does it avail the sick man that the doctor offers him a medicine, if he only looks at it, and does not swallow it down? Except you lay hold for your own soul, you will be as surely lost as if there was no forgiveness at all.
If you are ever receive forgiveness of sins, it must be now— now in this life, if ever in the life to come— now in this world, if they are to be found blotted out when Jesus comes again the second time. There must be actual business between you and Christ. Your sins must be laid on Him by faith— His righteousness must be laid on you. His blood must be applied to your conscience, or else your sins will meet you in the Day of Judgment, and sink you into hell. Oh, how can you trifle when such things are at stake? How can you be content to leave it uncertain whether you are forgiven? Surely that a man can make his will, insure his life, give directions about his funeral, and yet leave his soul’s affairs in uncertainty— is an amazing thing indeed.
[“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright ©2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”
Scripture quotations marked (KJV) are from the King James Version of the Holy Bible. The King James Version is in the Public Domain.]
Besides this, it is a PRESENT forgiveness. All who believe in Jesus are at once justified from all things (Acts 13:39). The very day the younger son returned to his father’s house he was clothed with the best robe, had the ring put on his hand, and the shoes on his feet (Luke 15). The very day Zacchaeus received Jesus he heard those comfortable words, “Today salvation has come to this house” (Luke 19:9). The very day that David said, “I have sinned against the LORD,” he was told by Nathan, “The LORD also has put away your sin” (2 Samuel 12:13). The very day you first flee to Christ, your sins are all removed. Your pardon is not a thing far away, to be obtained only after many years. It is near at hand. It is close to you, within your reach, all ready to be bestowed. Believe, and that very moment it is your own. “Whoever believes in him is not condemned” (John 3:18). It is not said, “He shall not be,” or “will not be,” but “is not.” From the time of his believing, condemnation is gone. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). It is not said, “He shall have,” or “will have,” it is “has.” It is his own as surely as if he was in heaven, although it is not as evident to his own eyes. You must not think forgiveness will be nearer to a believer in the day of judgment than it was in the hour he first believed. His complete salvation from the power of sin is every year nearer and nearer to him; but as to his forgiveness and justification, and deliverance from the guilt of sin, it is a finished work from the very minute he first commits himself to Christ.
