In the preceding pages we briefly show the extreme penalty for willful sin. Adam’s penalty, which involved his entire race, was of this sort; and only as the result of Christ’s death as our ransom from that penalty of that willful sin, is any forgiveness of it subsequent sins possible.

Forgivable sins are those which result from weaknesses incurred through that one Adamic sin which Christ settled once for all. They are such as are not willful, but are committed through ignorance or weaknesses of the flesh. God stands pledged to forgive all such sins upon our repentance in the name and merit of Christ’s sacrifice.

Unpardonable sins, sins which cannot be forgiven, are such as are willfully done. As the penalty of the first willful sin was death — extinction of being — so death is the penalty of every willful sin against full knowledge and ability to choose and to do the right. This is called Second death, in distinction from the first or Adamic penalty, from which Christ’s ransom sacrifice will release all mankind.

The “sin unto [Second] death,” for the forgiveness of which the apostle declares it is useless to pray (1 John 5:16), is not only a willful sin but a sin against clear knowledge; a sin for which no adequate excuse can be found. Because it is a sin against clear knowledge or enlightenment in holiness, it is called the “sin against the holy Spirit” (Matt. 12:31,32), for which there is no forgiveness.

But there are other partly-willful sins, which are, therefore, partially unpardonable. In such the temptations within and without (all of which are directly or indirectly results of the fall) have a share — the will consenting under the pressure of the temptation or because of the weakness. The Lord alone knows how to properly estimate our responsibilities and guilt in such cases. But to the true child of God there is but one proper course to take — repentance and an appeal for mercy in the name and merit of Christ, the great sacrifice for sin. The Lord will forgive such a penitent, in the sense of restoring him to his favor; but he will be made to suffer “stripes” (Luke 12:47,48) for the sin, in proportion as God sees it to have been willfully committed.

Not infrequently a conscientious person realizes that he has committed sin, and that it had some willfulness in it. He properly feels condemned, guilty before God; realizing his own guilt and forgetting the fountain for sin and uncleanness, opened by God for our weak, fallen race, he falls into a state of sadness, believing that he has committed the sin unto death. Such wander in deserts drear, until they find the cleansing fountain. Let such remember, however, that the very facts of their sorrow for sin and their desire to return to divine favor are proofs that they have not committed the sin unto death; for the apostle declares that those who commit sin of this sort cannot be renewed unto repentance. (Heb. 6:6) Penitents, then, may always feel confident that their sins were in part, at least, results of the fall, and hence not only death, but requiring forgiveness and stripes.

Such is the wonderful provision of God, through Christ, for the acceptance of every soul which, forsaking sin and the love of it, seeks righteousness and life through him who is “the way,” as well as “the truth and the life.” Thus all, whether naturally stronger or weaker, have an equal opportunity to gain everlasting life as well as to gain the great prize of joint-heirship with Christ. (Rom. 8:17)