You may remember hearing the story a few years ago about the man who was on death row, awaiting his execution. Someone undertook his case, pleading for his life, and he was granted a pardon. But he refused to accept it.

The refusal caused quite a stir in judicial circles. What do you do with a man who refuses to be pardoned? The case finally went to the Supreme Court, and the decision was handed down. If a pardon is given, but the pardon is not accepted, then the pardon cannot be forced upon anyone. And the man who refused to be pardoned went to his death.

Mankind is under sentence of death. We are imprisoned on this planet, awaiting execution. But Jesus has undertaken our case. He came down and died in our place, taking our penalty, becoming our substitute. He offers us pardon. But we can refuse to accept it.

Forgiveness is a two-way transaction. In order for forgiveness to happen, it must be both offered and accepted.

Have you ever had it happen on the human level? Has someone wronged you, and have you gone to them and offered forgiveness only to be turned down? Have you ever discovered for yourself that forgiveness has to be two-way? You can be ever so forgiving. You can sincerely be eager for the relationship to be restored. But if the other person doesn’t accept the forgiveness you extend, forgiveness doesn’t happen.

In Luke 17:3 Jesus told His disciples how they should respond to those who sinned against them.

“If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

If he repent, forgive him. It doesn’t say, “If thy brother trespass against thee, forgive him.”

In verse 4, Jesus draws the lines even closer.

“If he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”

Again, the erring one must repent in order to be forgiven.

God has such a high regard for our power of choice that He will not force even His forgiveness upon us. He offers it freely; He encourages us to accept it. But the final choice is ours. We can refuse if we so choose.

As Jesus was being nailed to the cross, He prayed a prayer for those who were crucifying Him. His words were to be repeated through the ages, to this very day, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

His forgiveness was unlimited, extending even to the very ones who were putting Him to death.

He prayed for them specifically. But was His prayer answered? Was it possible for His prayer to be answered? What decided whether His prayer would be answered?

The Desire of Ages, page 745, tells us,

“Some by their impenitence would make it an impossibility for the prayer of Christ to be answered for them.”

God made provision for forgiveness-abundant and freely offered. Jesus provided the atmosphere for forgiveness. And some accepted, and some refused. For the ones who refused, His forgiveness did no good. It benefited only those who were willing to accept.

Forgiveness is available. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross sufficed to include in His salvation every soul ever born into this world. The only one who can prevent you from being forgiven is you.

It is your choice. Forgiveness is yours if you accept it.