Referring to an 1886 case, the Overview of Pardon Power does highlight the exception of cases of impeachment, and the limitation that “clemency may only be granted for Offenses against the United States”, therefore excluding state criminal offences and federal or state civil claims.[1] However, the scope of the authority is such that there is clearly the possibility a pardon could challenge the integrity of the judicial system. On what grounds, then, can absolute justice be maintained and pardon extended?
A just yet pardoning God
The Bible must have the answer. On one hand, in the book of the prophet Isaiah, God describes Himself as “a just God” (Isaiah 45:21) and throughout the Bible His dealings are portrayed as inherently righteous. But another prophet, Micah, writes:
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression . . . he does not retain his anger for ever, because he delights in steadfast love” (Micah 7:18 ESV).
On what basis does a just God extend pardon? And what kind of people are the recipients?
Humanity’s guilt
We should first note that, in chapters 1-3 of his letter to Christians in Rome, the Apostle Paul gives a lengthy argument proving that all of humanity is guilty before God (Romans 3:19), because all have sinned (3:23). He later states that the penalty due is death (6:23), not merely the cessation of life here on earth (i.e., physical death) but an eternity in the lake of fire separated from the God who made us in His image to enjoy relationship with Him. God’s justice demands this.
Great cost
Other than increasing his unpopularity with his enemies, there is probably relatively little cost to a President in signing a piece of paper to indicate that someone is forgiven. Not so with God. He could only offer pardon at great cost to Himself. In contrast with Presidents who issue pardons to those they personally favour, God penalised the One whom He favours above anything and anyone – His own holy Son, Jesus Christ. He offered Him as a substitute, judging Him in the place of sinners during three hours of mid-day darkness while He hung on a cross. Whether it’s the pardon to be enjoyed by a nation in the future that Micah predicted in his prophecy, or pardon for individual sinners today, the basis is the death of Christ and His shed blood.
Unlikely beneficiaries
Another contrast is stark – rather than pardoning “friends”, it is God’s enemies that reap the benefit of His provision of pardon. The Apostle Paul, writing to Christians in Ephesus, describes their pre-conversion condition as “dead because of [their] disobedience and . . . many sins”, “following the passionate desires and inclinations of [their] sinful nature” “by . . . nature . . . subject to God’s anger” (Ephesians 2:1-3 NLT) and he specifically reminds the Christians in Rome that “while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son” (Romans 5:10). Yet, to those who turn to Him from their sinful ways, God now offers a full and free pardon and new life through His Son, who died for sinners and rose again.
Vast scope
One of the limitations of Presidential pardons is that they can never exempt the recipients from charge for every future offence. The pre-emptive pardons just issued (the validity of which is being questioned by some) are still subject to the limitations set out in the Constitution. The value of Christ’s death is such that not only is pardon available to all who believe but the pardon God grants to repentant sinners covers all offences, past, present, and future. Believers are “made right in God’s sight by faith” (Romans 5:1 NLT). No charge can ever be brought against them in God’s court. Praise God, that all-encompassing pardon, and the eternal life that goes with it, are available to you today!
[1] https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/essay/artII-S2-C1-3-1/ALDE_00013316/
