Introduction:
        The problem plaguing man is sin. All the problems in the world, all the things that man has to be counseled for and helped with can ultimately be traced back to sin. What man needs is forgiveness or pardon - Psalm 32:1-2.

Forgive - "to send away, the remission of the punishment due to sinful conduct, to dismiss or release" (Vine).
Pardon - "to release a person from further punishment of a crime" (Webster's).

        What has made the Bible the best selling book of all time is that it contains the message of man's forgiveness of sins. Salvation in found in this book! God offers pardon through His Son Jesus Christ - 1 Tim. 2:3-4.

        We have all sinned and are in need of forgiveness. Jesus shed His blood on the cross to forgive the sins of all mankind. But what many people fail to realize is how we are saved? How does man receive the forgiveness of his sins?
        God has a Law of Pardon. In fact, He has two of them. I'm not talking about the difference between the Old and New Testaments. Not talking about two ways a person can become a Christian. What I am talking about is how two different groups of people can receive the forgiveness of their sins. Failure to make this distinction has caused a lot of confusion.

I. Alien Sinners
        Like an alien to our country, one who is not a citizen. How do those who are not yet citizens of the kingdom of God, those who are outside of Christ, receive the forgiveness of their sins? What must they do?

     1. Some would say "nothing." Salvation isn't poured out on everyone freely or even against their will like the Universalist says.
     2. Some would say that good people are automatically saved. God has not promised to forgive sins on the basis of character.
     3. Others claim that one way is as good as another, that we are free to choose or make up our own way.
         God has a law of pardon. We must obey it.
         Jesus is the author of eternal salvation - Hebrews 5:9.
         Jesus wrote the rules. What has He said we must do in order to be saved?

Believe . . . . . . . . John 8:24; Acts 16:31
Repent . . . . . . . . .Luke 13:3; Acts 17:30
Confess . . . . . . . . Christ Matt. 10:32; Rom. 10:9-10
Baptized . . . . . . . Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38

        Through obedience to the Gospel the alien sinner enters Christ and becomes a child of God, a citizen in the kingdom of God (Gal. 3:26-27).

        This confusion on the part of our denominational friends sometimes becomes apparent when we talk about the necessity of water baptism. They will make an argument against baptism which goes like this: "You do not get re-baptized when you sin, so you don't really believe baptism is necessary for the forgiveness of sins." Their logic is flawed on at least two parts.
        For one, they don't claim to "re-believe" every time they commit a sin. The consistency of their argument would demand that they do, but they don't.
        Second, they fail to see that God has two laws of pardon. It should be apparent that what a Christian does to receive the forgiveness of his sins is different than what he did to first become a Christian.

        What do we mean by God's Second Law of Pardon? Is it another way an alien sinner can be forgiven? Is it for those who don't want to be baptized? No, it is for another group of people.

II. Erring Christians
        James 5:19-20 - it is possible for a Christian to sin, and to live in such a way that their soul becomes in danger of death and hell. Many people deny this. Say that once we are saved, we are always saved. But the Bible teaches differently. We can wander from the truth and sin in such a way that our soul is in danger of death.

        1 John 1:6-7 - those Christians who continue to walk in the light can receive the forgiveness of their sins. Walking has to do with how we are actually living. But if we "wander from the truth" ("walk in darkness, lie and do not practice the truth"), we can no longer receive the forgiveness of our sins. John 15:5-7

        What does the Bible say Christians are to do to receive the forgiveness of their sins?

1. Confess Our Sins - 1 John 1:9-10
        Confess that we have sinned. More than admitting or reporting. To confess means to acknowledge that we have done wrong and that we seek to make it right. "A full acknowledgement of errors, mistakes, and wrongs, with a pious and humble appeal to God for mercies."
To confess means to say the same thing as another. God says we have sinned.
v. 10 - to say we have no sin is to make God a liar.
v. 9 - to confess our sins is to agree with God.

2. Repent of Our Sins - Acts 8:22
        Simon had become a Christian (v. 13). He was told to repent of his sin.
To repent means to turn away from sin. To stop sinning. God will not forgive us of our sins while we refuse to come out of them.

3. Pray For Forgiveness - Acts 8:22
        We are to ask God to forgive us. Jesus is there to help us - 1 John 2:1.
        The Bible never calls upon alien sinners to pray "The Sinner's Prayer."

        1 John 1:9 - remember, God wants to forgive. He is faithful and just to forgive us once we meet the requirements of His law of pardon.

        God has called upon us to live pure, holy, sinless lives. But He knows that we will continue to sin and fall short of His grace. So, in His love, He has made a way for His children, those in Christ, to receive the forgiveness of their sins. We have God's Second Law of Pardon.

Conclusion:
        We need to know God's two laws of pardon. One for the alien sinner and one for the Christian. Each is for a different subject with different steps involved.
        If you are not a Christian, the blood of Jesus will cleanse you of your sins if you will fulfill the requirements of God's first law of pardon. Confessing your sins and praying for forgiveness will not do you any good until you do.
        If you are Christian, God will forgive you of your sins and cleanse you of all unrighteousness only if you confess, repent and pray.
        Romans 6:23 - will you take God's pardon?

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