The only way a man can be brought within the family of God is by the
blood, as it is said in Romans iii. 24, "Being justified freely by His
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus"; and again in
Romans v. 9, "Much more then, being now _justified by His blood_, we
shall be saved from wrath through Him." Justified from all things from
which we could not be by the law of Moses. When God looks into His
ledger, there is nothing found against the man who is washed in the
blood. One plunge in the crimson fountain, and the sinner is justified
in the sight of God. Christ was raised from the grave for the
justification of all who put their trust in Him, and such are not only
pardoned men but justified men. Justification is more than pardon. It
is said of an emperor of Russia that he sent on one occasion for two
noblemen who were charged with some conspiracy, and one he found to be
perfectly innocent, so he sent him home justified; but the other was
proved guilty, but was pardoned. They both returned home, but ever
afterwards would stand very differently in the estimation of their
sovereign and neighbours. From that may be seen the difference between
pardon and justification.