HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst —1 Timothy 1: 15.

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean—Isaiah 1:16.

When the [U.S. Civil War] was ended, the Government of the United States made a proclamation of pardon to the common soldiery in the Confederate army, but not to the chief soldiers. The Gospel of Christ does not act in that way. It says pardon for all, but especially for the chief of sinners.

I do not now think of a single passage that says a small sinner may be saved, but I do think of passages that say a great sinner may be saved. If there be sins only faintly hued, just a little tinged, so faintly coloured that you can hardly see them, there is no special pardon promised in the Bible for those sins; but if they are glaring, red like crimson, then they shall be as snow.

Now, my brother and sister, I do not state this to put a premium upon iniquity. I merely say this to encourage that those reading this message and who feels he is so far gone from God that there is no mercy for him. I want to tell him there is a good chance. Why Paul was a murderer; he assisted at the execution of Stephen, and yet Paul was saved. The dying thief did everything bad. The dying thief was saved. Many men swore dreadfully, but the grace of God met them, and they were saved.

It is a vast pool. Go and tell everybody to come and wash in it. Let them come up from the penitentiaries and wash away their crimes… If there be anyone so worn out in sin that he cannot get up to the pool, you will take hold of his head and put your arms around him, and I will take hold of his feet, and we will plunge him in this glorious Bethesda, the vast pool of God’s mercy and salvation.