| From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase |
|
|
Editor's Note: Archibald Brown (1844-1922) was a Reformed Baptist pastor in Britain. As Brown recounted his own conversion at age 16, God "arrested a careless young man, who was cursing and swearing on Monday, and singing God's praises at twelve o'clock on 
Wednesday." He was baptized by Charles Spurgeon in June 1861. During the years when Spurgeon was preaching to thousands at Metropolitan Tabernacle in central London, Brown was also preaching to thousands a few miles away in East London, first at Stepney Green Tabernacle and later at East London Tabernacle which was built to house the burgeoning congregation of over 3,000.
After Spurgeon's death, Brown was pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle from 1907 to 1910, until ill health forced him to resign. From 1912 until just after World War I, he pastored Wale Street Baptist Church in Cape Town, South Africa. After the war he returned to England and died on April 9, 1922, having outlived four wives. Noted Christian historian Iain H. Murray recounts his life's work in a biography titled Archibald G. Brown: Spurgeon's Successor (Banner of Truth, 2011).
Archibald Brown left behind a significant body of printed work, including hundreds of sermons. He preached the sermon which follows, "Who Is A Pardoning God Like Thee?", in 1871 at Stepney Green Tabernacle at the age of 27. We are dividing it into eight articles according to its sub-headings:
1. Who Pardons At Such A Cost?
2. Who Pardons To Such An Extent?
3. Who Pardons So Willingly?
4. Who Pardons So Frequently?
5. Who Pardons So Completely?
6. Whose Pardon Is So Full of Grace?
7. Whose Pardon But His Subdues the Sin?
- Dr. Paul Elliott
"Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?" Micah 7:18
No God like Israel's God - this was the joyous boast of patriarch psalmist and all the prophets. Not only was it rung into the ears of the chosen people, that the "Lord thy God is one Lord," but that their God was incomparable in Himself and all His actions. With what triumphant joy does Moses utter his song and extol his God before the assembled congregation of Israel. How defiant does the song become, as glorying in his Rock, he challenges all others to show its equal, and exclaims "their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges."
Well did Elijah, that prophet of fire, maintain the same when on Carmel's mount he dared all the prophets of Baal to the test; when before an assembled host he vindicated the honour of his God, and made the conscience-stricken crowd declare "the Lord, He is the God - the Lord, He is the God."
The psalmist bids his harp sound forth the same bold strain, as he sings "wherefore should the heathen say, where is now their God? And then lashing their idols with bitter sarcasm, continues, "they have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: they have ears, but they hear not: noses have they but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusteth in them."
Grandly does Jehovah throw down the gauntlet through His servant Isaiah, and challenge all comparison. "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One, "thus saith the Lord, the King of Israel, and his redeemer, the Lord of hosts. I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not of any."
God laughs to scorn all rivals. Idols, the work of men's hands, He spurns. Jehovah shares not His glories with another. Alone He is God, and incomparable are all His actions. It is happy work to boast in the Lord. Good is it for the soul to get out of itself its petty cares and trials, and revel in what its God is. This holy boasting is an atmosphere that strengthens while it rests - it prepares the heart to endure suffering with patience, and makes it bold for any enterprise. He who has a little God will always be a small saint; but in proportion as we understand the grandeur of our God, will our spiritual manhood grow strong!
Everything about our God is great and worthy of Himself. Every attribute is that attribute in fullest perfection. Everything our God does is done in a God-like manner. All He is - all He has - all He does, is beyond compare. Is he wise? Yea, He is the "only wise God." Is He potent? Yea, something more, for "the Lord God omnipotent reigneth." Is He holy? Yea, the Holy one - Him before whom the angels veil their faces and cry, "Holy - Holy - Holy." Thrice must the word be repeated to set forth the holiness of Him they praise.
When His mercy is the theme, the holy writers seem as if they felt all language far too poor to describe its matchless worth, and so they heap words upon words, and thus in every verse of a whole psalm it is declared that "His mercy endureth for ever." He is the God, "merciful" - or full of mercy, and all His mercies are "tender mercies" ; and His kindnesses "lovingkindnesses." But most transcendent is He in His pardons. Here indeed the incomparable God shines forth in glory all His own. His pardons, like Himself, are infinite, and know no bounds or limit. Well may we sing in triumph "Who is a pardoning God like Thee? Or who has grace so rich and free?"
My purpose this evening is, by the Lord's help to set forth before you the all-excelling nature of our God's forgiveness. This we shall try and do by asking seven questions, each question like our text, challenging comparison.
Next: Who Pardons At Such A Cost?
sas0012
Copyright 1998-2025
All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced in its entirety only,
for non-commercial purposes, provided that this copyright notice is included.
We also suggest that you include a direct hyperlink to this article
for the convenience of your readers.