(_b_) This restoration to favor, viewed in its aspect as the renewal of a broken friendship, is denominated reconciliation; viewed in its aspect as a renewal of the soul's true relation to God as a father, it is denominated adoption.
_John 1:12_--"_But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name_"; _Rom. 5:11_--"_and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation_"; _Gal. 4:4, 5_--"_born under the law, that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons_"; _Eph. 1:5_--"_having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself_"; _cf._ _Rom. 8:23_--"_even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for our adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body_"--that is, this adoption is completed, so far as the body is concerned, at the resurrection.
Luther called _Psalms 32, 51, 130, 143_, "the Pauline Psalms," because these declare forgiveness to be granted to the believer without law and without works. _Ps. 130:3, 4_--"_If thou, Jehovah, shouldst mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, That thou mayest be feared_" is followed by _verses 7, 8_--"_O Israel, hope in Jehovah; For with Jehovah there is lovingkindness, And with him is plenteous redemption. And he will redeem Israel From all his iniquities._" Whitefield was rebuked for declaring in a discourse that Christ would receive even the devil's castaways; but that very day, while at dinner at Lady Huntington's, he was called out to meet two women who were sinners, and to whose broken hearts and blasted lives that remark gave hope and healing.
(_c_) In an earthly pardon there are no special helps bestowed upon the pardoned. There are no penalties, but there are also no rewards; law cannot claim anything of the discharged, but then they also can claim nothing of the law. But what, though greatly needed, is left unprovided by human government, God does provide. In justification, there is not only acquittal, but approval; not only pardon, but promotion. Remission is never separated from restoration.