Only God can forgive sins. Man can forgive injuries done to him if he have grace enough; but no man, no matter how good or great, can forgive the sins which another man committed against God. This is as unnatural and impossible as for one man to forgive the wrong done by another man to a third party. Forgiveness of sins is God’s greatest blessing. For the saint His forgiveness is offered on the condition of confession. “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” For the sinner His forgiveness is conditioned upon the sinner’s acceptance of the work of Christ on his behalf.

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