SWEET FORGIVENESS
Sweet Forgiveness
Psalm 32:1-2
Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.
This psalm of King David provides insight of the times God forgave him. That forgiveness brings about all the benefits and blessings David describes. The Apostle Paul quoted this passage in Romans 4:7-8. But while David is speaking of his personal experience of forgiveness and blessings, Paul points out that this forgiveness and the blessings they bring can be to the benefit of anyone who believes in Jesus, confesses, and repents of their sin, and accepts the forgiveness He offers. David was helpless in his sin, but his faith in God brought about forgiveness; and David gave all the glory to God for the forgiveness He extended, and the blessings that flowed afterwards. Paul, in Romans 4:20 noted "yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God…”
Even though God would be just to judge and punish David for breaking His commandments and ignoring God's promptings, David discovered the unspeakable gift of the underserved blessings that flowed when he confessed and repented of his sin. Because he recorded in the Psalms such forgiveness, blessings, and favor that God gave to him, David likely knew that God would do the same for anyone who confessed and repented of their sins. Certainly, the New Testament supports this availability to anyone who believes, confesses, and repents. The forgiveness of sin that God offers to such believers brings about deliverance from sin and into His blessings. David exemplifies God's willingness to deliver him out of his sin even in times of distress and confusion.
God exchanges our sin with righteousness. The righteousness of Christ is credited to the debt we earned because of our sin. God gives those who believe the blessing of being "born again" as a "new creation" and restored to His purpose for their life. Righteousness can never be earned. It is only available through the sacrifice of God's Son, Jesus. Belief in Jesus leads to confession and repentance of sin, which leads to God's forgiveness and the application of Jesus' righteousness to the life of the believer. Anything added to or taken away from the above description of salvation is a false gospel.
God’s righteousness is extended. It cannot be earned by the sinner. It was paid for with the perfect and sinless life of God's Son Jesus and is then freely given to anyone who believes in Jesus, confesses they are sinful, and commits to turn from their sins. Because of Jesus' sacrifice, when God looks upon a person who has believed, confessed, and repented, He sees the righteousness of Christ instead of past sins. A sinner deserves punishment and repayment but is ignored instead. Psalms 32 clearly describes the meaning and benefit of God’s forgiveness.
The famous hymn by Horatio Spafford, It Is Well with My Soul, aptly says:
My sin, O the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole! Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! O, my soul!
The seventh verse of Psalms 32 read: “You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble; you surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.” When forgiveness is extended to the Christian, they can hide in their relationship with Christ. Jesus becomes their “hiding place” and “deliverance” from their sin—past, present, and future.
Watch and listen to the video link below and meditate on the ancient advice of King David.
God’s Richest Blessings!
Dr. H. Kenneth Smith
*Scripture references are NASB unless otherwise noted.