BLESSEDNESS OF FORGIVENESS

“BLESSED is he whose transgression is FORGIVEN, whose sin is covered” – Psalm 32:1

The BLESSEDNESS of FORGIVENESS is a vital but often overlooked virtue: “BLESSED is he whose transgression is FORGIVEN, whose sin is covered. BLESSED is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit” (Psa.32:1-2). The Bible-based response to sin is to come to God in humble surrender, repent, confess, and RECEIVE FOGIVENESS. The unbiblical responses are to: Do nothing – try to hide by changing church, community, job, or spouse; avoid guilt; try to pay for sin through self-imposed penance; fake repentance; try to lie to God, begging Him incessantly while persisting in the same sin; or attempt to exile oneself from God. All of these approaches are based on the sinner’s assessment of his feelings and actions, regardless of God’s thoughts and instruction!

God, our heavenly Father, is righteous and absolutely holy. He judges the world with righteousness and uprightness. He always handles Sin in a just manner. God, in His righteousness, cannot and will not let sin go unpunished. A day is coming for each person to render an account for his or her actions and receive the proper penalty. Unbiblical responses to sin signify a religion that’s divorced from God, which sadly is the norm in many climes today – people futilely trying to deal with sin in their own way. Yet, the nature of Sin is such that guilt of unconfessed sin absolutely crushes the soul. Silence about concealed and hidden sin suffocates the soul: “When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long. For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer” (vv.3-4).

Forgiveness is the only route to freedom; hence, the one forgiven is considered BLESSED! When we vulnerably open up to God, He lovingly removes all sin: “I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” And YOU FORGAVE the iniquity of my sin” (v.5). When we humbly come to God, He envelopes us with His presence and protection: “You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance” (vv.6-7). God’s guidance is the portion of the forgiven and blessed person: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye” (v.8). Above all, forgiveness produces inestimable JOY: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (v.11).

Psalm 32 is one of the seven penitential Psalms in the Bible. It relates to David’s sin with Bathsheba: David transgressed, missed the mark, and fell into iniquity; but God forgave, covered, and imputed – credited – his account with righteousness! Paul the apostle referred to this in Romans 4: 6-8, “Just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Therefore, the New Covenant affirms the necessity and importance of receiving forgiveness. King David and King Saul sinned; so, did Peter and Judas. But only repentant David and Peter received forgiveness. Saul and Judas tried to fix things by themselves and failed!

Repentance still matters! Unconfessed sin produces Guilt! For Believers in Christ however, sins are not merely covered; they are cleansed, wiped off, forgiven and blotted out: “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the FORGIVENESS of SINS, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph.1:7). Forgiveness is free, but not cheap. Christ paid the full price. Therefore, repentance towards Christ allows us to find the blessedness of forgiveness: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we CONFESS our sins, He is faithful and just to FORGIVE us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1Jh.1: 8-9). Forgiveness, cleansing, and Joy follow!