Blessed Is He Whose Transgression Is Forgiven (Psalm 32:1-2; Romans 4:7-8)

2022-06-11

Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. (Romans 4:7-8)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity (Psalm 32:1-2)

Both of these were a part of my Bible reading today, and it is not without significance. In the Psalms, David spoke of his own experience confessing sin to the Lord. Paul brought out the larger theological significance: God forgives, covers, and does not impute sin.

How can God do this? “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:7). How can He forgive, but never clear the guilty? Everyone is guilty of sin. He must punish sin; He is holy and not an unrighteous judge. He cannot dismiss crimes without punishing them.

God punished our sins in His Son, Jesus Christ. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5). God said that He was satisfied with the sacrifice of His Son; therefore, we place our trust in Him only.

The example of Abraham is also given, in that he was declared righteous before the covenant of circumcision was given, apart from good works. How was his faith described?

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. (Romans 4:20-22)

Be fully persuaded that God has both promised and performed our complete salvation in Jesus Christ, and that righteousness was imputed to us in Him.