“The forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” – Ephesians 1:7

Could there be a sweeter word in any language than that word “forgiveness”, when it sounds in a guilty sinner’s ear, like the silver notes of jubilee to the captive Israelite? Blessed, forever blessed, is that dear star of pardon, which shines into the condemned cell, and gives the perishing prisoner a gleam of hope amid the midnight of despair! Can it be possible that sin such as mine can be forgiven, forgiven totally and forever? Hell is my portion as a sinner; there is no possibility of my escaping from it while sin remains upon me. Can the load of guilt be lifted and can the crimson stain be removed?Jesus tells me that I may yet be cleared.

Forever blessed be the atoning love, which not only tells me that pardon is possible, but that it is secured to all who rest in Jesus. I have believed in the appointed offering, Jesus the crucified, and therefore my sins are at this moment and forever forgiven through His substitutionary pains and death. What joy is this! What bliss to be a perfectly pardoned soul!

My soul dedicates all its powers to Him, who of His own love became my surety, and accomplished for me redemption through His own blood. What riches of grace does free forgiveness exhibit! To forgive all, to forgive fully and freely, to forgive forever! When I think of how great my sins were and how gracious was the method by which pardon was sealed to me, I am in a maze of wondering and worshipping affection. I bow before the throne of grace, which pardons me, I clasp the cross which delivers me, and from now on, all my days I serve the incarnate God, through whom I am now a pardoned soul.

– C. H. Spurgeon