I. How little the word "forgiveness" is understood! There cannot be forgiveness until there has been the consent of two parties. We sometimes have said, in our ignorance, "Why does not God forgive all men and make an end of sin?" He cannot.You yourself cannot. It is a moral impossibility. There is an immoral nobleness. Do you care nothing for sin? Then you are immoral. Do you treat crime lightly? Then you are not to be trusted with the interests of society. Forgiveness is not a one-sided affair. There must be consent of parties. This is plainly declared in the revelation of Divine truth. Our hearts must be melted into contrition; there must be tears of penitence in our very hearts; there must be a sob of contrition, a sigh of self-accusation, an utter renunciation of self-help. Then will take place, in the name of Christ, and at the foot of the cross of Christ, the great transaction which liberates men from the captivity of sin.
II. When God forgives what happens? When God forgives, God forgets. That is completeforgiveness. Where there is no forgetting there is no forgiving. What does God do with our sins when He has forgiven them? He casts them behind Him. "Behind God?" Yes. Whereis that? These are figures poor and lame, as all figures must be in such a case which, however, are meant to indicate the utterness, the completeness, the grandeur of the great act of Divine pardon. We are saved by love. Love, when truly understood, will be found but another term for faith faith completed, faith alive, faith at its sublimest point. It does appear to be infinitely impossible that sin can ever be rubbed out. But the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth from all sin; gets into the secret places of our heart, finds out our hidden iniquities and our concealed desires, and works its gracious ministry there, until we become without spot or wrinkle or any such thing a glorious Church.
Parker, City Temple,vol. iii., p. 193.
References: Acts 13:38; Acts 13:39. J. Natt, Posthumous Sermons,p. 141.Acts 13:39. Spurgeon, Morning by Morning,p. 136. Acts 13:42. J. W. Lance, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xviii., p. 261.Acts 13:43. J. Kelly, Ibid.,p. 324.Acts 13:46. Preacher's Monthly,vol. viii., p. 29; Homilist,3rd series, vol. iv., p. 292.Acts 13:48. Legge, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxx., p. 291.Acts 13:49. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. ii., No. 76. Acts 13:52. J. G. Rogers, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxix., p. 136. Acts 14:2; Acts 14:3. Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 220. Acts 14:3. G. Brooks, Five Hundred Outlines,p. 390. Acts 14:8-20. Preacher's Monthly,vol. i., p. 430. Acts 14:9; Acts 14:10. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. x., No. 559. Acts 14:11. A. P. Peabody, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxviii., p. 170. Acts 14:13-15. Preacher's Monthly,vol. v., p. 374.Acts 14:17. R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons,1st series, p. 226; Preacher's Monthly,vol. vii., p. 124; Homiletic Magazine,vol. ix., p. 28.