Satan deceives many with the plausible theory that God's love for His people is so great that He will excuse sin in them; he represents that while the threatenings of God's word are to serve a certain purpose in His moral government, they are never to be literally fulfilled. But in all His dealings with his creatures God has maintained the principles of righteousness by revealing sin in its true character--by demonstrating that its sure result is misery and death. The unconditional pardon of sin never has been, and never will be. Such pardon would show the abandonment of the principles of righteousness, which are the very foundation of the government of God. It would fill the unfallen universe with consternation. God has faithfully pointed out the results of sin, and if these warnings were not true, how could we be sure that His promises would be fulfilled? That so-called benevolence which would set aside justice is not benevolence but weakness.

Satan bedrager mange med den besnærende teori, at Guds kærlighed til sit folk er så stor, at han vil undskylde deres synd. Satan gør gældende, at Guds ords advarsler nok skal tjene et bestemt formål i hans moralske styre, men at han aldrig vil gøre alvor af dem. Men i sin handlemåde over for sine skabninger har Gud uden undtagelse hævdet retfærdighedens principper ved at afsløre syndens sande væsen og ved at vise, at dens høst altid er elendighed og død. Der er aldrig blevet og vil aldrig blive givet syndstilgivelse uden på betingelser. At gøre det ville være ensbetydende med at opgive de retfærdighedsprincipper, som udgør selve grundlaget for Guds styre. Hvis det skete, ville den del af verdensaltet, som ikke er faldet i synd, blive grebet af bestyrtelse. Gud har tydeligt udpeget følgerne af at synde, og hvis hans advarsler ikke var troværdige, hvordan kunne vi da være sikre på, at hans løfter ville blive opfyldt? Den såkaldte mildhed, der tilsidesætter retfærdighedens fordringer, er ikke et udtryk for mildhed, men for svaghed.