Thankful to be Forgiven

Introduction

As we prepare for the time of year that is known for large family gatherings, I want us to slow down, even for a few moments and cherish this time as a church family. I am sure some of us will be asked tomorrow what we are thankful for and there will be a variety of different answers. But for our time tonight I want us to look at the thankfulness that we have for the forgiveness of our sins.

Turn with me in your Bibles to Psalm 32. We are going to read the first 2 verses. Please remain seated but if you would let us read verses 1 and 2 out loud together. It doesn’t matter which translation you have. I want to hear the word read aloud together. Read the verses. I want to see 2 things tonight, 1. Our sins are Forgiven (v.1), and 2. Our Sin does not Define us (v.2). Two things to be greatly thankful for.

1. Our Sins are Forgiven (v.1)

Look with me in verse 1. Notice that David begins by saying the declaration ‘blessed.’ He does so in both verses that we will look at. The word ‘blessing’ means more than a bestowing upon of something pleasant. What David is telling us is that this is a cause of happiness. We could read both verses beginning with “Happy is…” and rightfully so. There is another parallel we see between these two verses. That is the word ‘one’ (v.1) and ‘man’ (v.2). Jeremiah uses the word ‘man’ in the same way “Blessed (happy) is the man…” (Jeremiah 17:7).

David gives us two reasons in verse 1 for the happiness that you and I possess. That is that our ‘transgression is forgiven’ and our ‘sin is covered.’ I am convinced that Christians should be most thankful for is the forgiven of our trespasses against God. As we think of that in light of tomorrow, what are you most thankful for? What comes to your mind first? When we pray around the table on any given day, we express to the Lord that we are thankful for the food that is set before us. We are thankful for God helping us in our time of need. We are thankful that we are provided for every day. How often are we thankful for being saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, not of our works?

May this be an encouragement to you as we consider for a moment our transgressions in the light of who God is. Transgression “signifies willful deviation from, and therefore rebellion against, the path of godly living” (Vines). To be forgiven in the context of this verse means “to lift up.” We experience this as a lifting up or a removal of our sin that was tied to our account. God has the power to lift the sin off of us and take it away. Another word that is closely associated with this is “ease” which gives the idea that the heaviness of sin is taken off and that now, being forgiven by God the burden of sin that weighed so heavily on us before is gone.

If this is not a reason to be thankful, I don’t know what is!

Not only are our transgressions forgiven, but our sin is covered. So, God cleanses us from our sin. But he goes further. He covers them up. What is the intention of covering something up? In some respects, we cover it up to protect something, in others we cover something up so that it never comes to light again. This is what God does with our sin. When God does something he does it perfectly and completely. We can be confident that God has truly covered our sin. God has shown himself faithful and unchanging. Exodus 34:6-7 tells us about the promise of God to forgive the sins of his people. Listen to Isaiah 43:25. “I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” This should bring us to a place of thanksgiving to God for his gracious work in covering our sin. As David rightfully says, we can be happy, and we should be, that God has covered our sins, doing so in the precious blood of Christ.

2. Our Sin does not Define us (v.2)

We move on to our second point and that is “Our Sin does not Define us.” Look with me in verse 2. This verse starts with a similar line like verse 1. This time David says that the man whom the Lord does not count iniquity against is blessed (happy). In our former state of being a ruined sinner, we ran after what ever we thought would best suit us. We were defined by the lust of our heart, and we know from Jeremiah 17:9 that our heart is not a good thing to go by.

The idea of being defined by something is the same as being identified by it.

The word ‘counts’ in Hebrew is “used in the ordinary sense of “thinking,” or the normal thought processes” (Vines). In other words, the Lord does not dwell on the sin of man of whom is in the adopted family of believers. This truly is a blessing for the redeemed creature. This does not give Christian’s permission to sin, but it does tell us that we are no longer identified as sinners. In other words, God does not see us as sinners. He sees us as adopted and redeemed creatures. Again, what a wonderful gift to be grateful for!

Iniquity in this verse means guilt or punishment. Our slate is wiped clean in the blood of Christ. Because of his atoning work on the cross, God does not see us as guilt ridden people. As we think about what we are thankful for as Christians this evening, not being punished for our sins, something we are undeserving of, is one reason to be thankful. It is what leads David to confession of sin in Psalm 32:5.

Christ has done amazing work in his children. But how does this apply to us today? We find the answer to that question at the end of verse 2. Look there with me. The man is blessed in “whose spirit there is no deceit.” Do you see the application here? Remember the mention earlier of who we once were? Look at the work that Christ has done! We have gone from people full of lies and deception to those who are now not found with that within us! Why? Because we imitate Christ! Listen to 1 Peter 2:24. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” What a great work that Christ has done!

Now, if you are here and you have never experienced this great work of Christ, the time is right now for you to come and get right with God! How does this happen? Christ has commanded that men repents of his sin and comes for the free forgiveness that he offers. Would you do that this evening?

Conclusion

As we think about thankfulness, brothers, does the glorious work of Christ take the top spot in your mind? Are these truths that you resonate with often and think about? Christian, regardless of how long you have been saved, these truths are still as powerful today as they were upon the day that the Lord redeemed you.

Might I leave you with two things to ponder on.

1. Being forgiven by God is at the very center of the truth that we believe. Without the forgiveness of sins, none of what we looked at this evening matters. There is no rhyme or reason to what we do. Our worship would be meaningless, our gathering on Lord’s Day mornings would be purposeless. I plead with you, keep these things close to your heart and as you sit around the table with loved ones might the remembrance of these things be a means to share it with others as the Spirit allows.

2. Brothers, you, and I have every reason to live gratefully before our great God. The next time that ungratefulness wants to creep into your heart might you ponder that God has provided you and me the greatest gift. He has taken our sin away and he has adopted us into his family. He no longer counts us as a sinner. We are no longer seen that way in the eyes of God! Praise be to his name! I pray that this would be the joy of your heart as we enjoy the simple earthly joys that God has provided for us as we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow.

Benediction

2 Corinthians 9:10 “May the one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”