Justification, Forgiveness, and Pardon

[mgkortus]

1) How are these three concepts, justification, forgiveness, and pardon, related? What is the unifying idea behind all three?

2) How are these three concepts each distinct?

 

[Ask Mr. Religion]

It would help if you could tease out a wee bit of what you are seeking here as I am hesitant to assume where you are going. Here is a first stab at your questions.

If you are justified you have been judicially declared innocent (exonerated, absolved, vindicated).
If you have been forgiven, you are not innocent; your guilt and the consequences of your guilt remain.
If you have been pardoned, the consequences you are due from your guilt have been set aside.

Biblically,
- Our justification is an alien righteousness, that of another, Our Lord.
- Our forgiveness (dismissal of debt owed) comes by our faith in the object of that faith, He who bore our guilt and satisfied the consequences of our guilt.
- Our pardon comes from our repentance and the free grace of God in granting our pardon that has been secured by Our Lord (WCF 15:1-3).
- Faith, followed by repentance (see Auchterarder Creed) are the first fruits of our quickening (regeneration).

 

[Gforce9]

Matt,
I think Richard Gaffin has made an excellent case that all these are resultant of union with Christ.