A Word from the Word

Blessed Forgiveness

 

Psalm 32:1–2

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.     NIV

That’s a blessedness that’s available to every one of us. Do you know why it’s available to every one of us? Because there’s none of us that hasn’t sinned. And, in a certain sense, the fact that we are sinners opens us up to this blessing, because God is willing to forgive our sins. He’s willing to cover our sins. He’s willing to count no sin against us, if we repent, if we turn to Him in faith.

There are three things the psalmist says there that God will do:

• He will forgive our transgressions.
• He will cover our sins.
• And He will not count our sin against us.

But then there’s one thing that God requires of us. It says, “In whose spirit is no deceit.” God does require from every one of us sincerity, honesty, openness. We do not put on a religious act, we do not try to cover up, we do not excuse. We humbly and sincerely acknowledge that we have sinned, that we deserve God’s wrath and judgment, that we turn from our sin, we confess it and acknowledge it and God forgives. Oh, let’s cultivate a habit of being honest with God.