The forgiveness of sins granted freely ( Isaiah 43:25 ), readily ( Nehemiah 9:17 ; Psalm 86:5 ), abundantly ( Isaiah 55:7 ; Romans 5:20 ). Pardon is an act of a sovereign, in pure sovereignty, granting simply a remission of the penalty due to sin, but securing neither honour nor reward to the pardoned. Justification (q.v.), on the other hand, is the act of a judge, and not of a sovereign, and includes pardon and, at the same time, a title to all the rewards and blessings promised in the covenant of life.
Source
- part_of
source-manifest/easton— Easton's Bible Dictionary (PD)