“One who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made. So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’ And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt” (Matt. 18:24-27). What relief to be pardoned of a debt so enormous as this man’s debt! It is only by the grace of our Lord that we can receive such a pardon.
“Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isa. 55:7). These words penned by Isaiah thousands of years ago are still true. Pardon is the only remedy for sin. The penalty for sin is death (Rom. 6:23). Since all have sinned, all need pardoned (Rom. 3:23). God is the source of the sinner’s pardon. Since all sin is against Him, pardon must come from Him (Psa. 51:4). God was willing to pay the highest price for our sins. The cost of the pardon was great. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).
There are many passages where the apostles wrote about having received pardon. The first sermon preached in the kingdom was to provide information about this pardon and how to receive it (Acts 2:38). Paul wrote, “He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us, in all wisdom and insight” (Eph. 1:5-8). As Isaiah mentions an “abundant” pardon, Paul here mentions grace being “lavished” on us. That word means to “super-abound.” This grace is not deserved or earned in any way. It is a gift of God (Eph. 2:8). However, obedience to the truth, that is the word of God, is required to receive the gift. “Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet. 1:22-23).
We should live in a constant state of gratitude for the immense debt that was forgiven us. “For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my iniquity, for it is great” (Psa. 25:11). God’s act of pardon should be an example to us, “forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).