(Second outline.)
The blessedness of pardon
may belong to widely different stages of Christian experience. Take, e.g; those of which we have images in Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress '—in Christian's entering the wicket-gate, losing his burden, escaping from the dungeon of Giant Despair. First faith; full faith; recovered faith.
I. THE BLESSEDNESS OF A FIRST FAITH. A first conscious, undoubting reception of God's promise—the glad tidings (Luke 24:47; Acts 13:32, Acts 13:38); and personal acceptance of Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord (Acts 16:30-34).
II. THE BLESSEDNESS OF FULL FAITH. Unlimited trust in all that God has pro raised, and acceptance of all that he has given us in Christ. Christian was in the path of salvation, the way of life, from the moment he entered the gate; but he was not quit of his burden till he came in full view of the cross of Christ (1 John 4:16, 1 John 4:19; 1 John 5:12).
III. THE BLESSEDNESS OF FAITH RESTORED AFTER FAILURE, The joy of forgiveness, forfeited by sin, recovered; and love, faith, hope, again kindled by the Holy Spirit, in place of gloom and despair. Christian was far on in his journey when he and his comrade strayed into By-path Meadow and fell into the clutches of the giant. This is the psalmist's experience. He had fallen into gross sin, and long as he "kept silence," refused to confess to God and to humble himself, he had no rest or peace. (Psalms 32:3, Psalms 32:4). When he turned in penitence and trust to God, the fount of joy was at once reopened in his heart. He escaped from bondage into freedom (Psalms 32:5; 1 John 1:8, 1 John 1:9; 1 John 2:1, 1 John 2:2).