Book 4 of 4 - External Means by which God Invites Us into the Society of Christ and Holds Us Therein
Chapter 1 - The True Church with which as Mother of All the Godly We Must Keep Unity
23-29 - Forgiveness illustrated
23. Some say if you fall from the first forgiveness you received at your conversion, you are lost. This is wrong. God calls us to confess our sins daily in the Lord's Prayer. He tells us to forgive each other 70 times 7, because that is what He does with us.
24. In the church's infancy, during the patriarchs' lifetimes, they committed grievous sins (Gen 37:18, 28; 34:25; 38:16; 2 Sam 11:4, 15), but were forgiven by God (2 Sam 12:13).
25. The law and prophets show forth God's continual forgiveness. Jer 3:1, 12; Ezek 18:23, 32; 33:11; 1 Kings 8:46-50; Num 28:3.
26. God wouldn't remove this with Christ's coming in fullness of grace. Titus 1:9; 3:4; 2 Tim 1:9; 2 Cor 5:18. Peter was told not to deny Christ - Matt 10:33; Mark 8:38 - he did anyway - Matt 26:74 - and was still forgiven - Luke 22:32; John 21:15.
27. The Galatians and Corinthians erred and sinned horribly. They were not cut off from grace, but were called to repentance - Gal 3:1; 4:9; 2 Cor 12:21. The church is always offered mercy - Ps 89:30-33.
28. Others say only willful sin is unforgivable. They "allow pardon for no sin, except one that is an error of ignorance." But the law granted atonement for both - Lev 6:1; 4. Other examples of willful sin forgiven - 2 Sam 11; Gen 37:18; 1 Cor 5; Matt 26:74.
29. The early church "made pardon very difficult... to deter others." But the Word says not to push so hard - 2 Cor 2:7.
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