Blessed are the forgiven

Introduction

How can we find true lasting happiness?

Happiness now and in eternity?

This Psalm tells us where true happiness lies, and it tells us how we can find it.

I. The Blessed

In the first two verses of the Psalm we find the answer to the question where can true happiness be found.

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered. 2  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,

The word blessed could also be translated happy.

2  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity,

Here it is clear that the happy person is the one who has found forgiveness with God.

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

True happiness comes when a persons transgression is forgiven, when their sin is covered.

To put it simply the Bible says here that true happiness is found when the wrong things we have done in our lives are forgiven by God.

True happiness is found when God declares our sin forgiven. When he counts our sins against us no longer.

Why is true happiness found in God’s forgiveness?

Our relationship with God is restored

We no longer stand before God guilty

We are given eternal life by God

So if this is true;

True happiness is found in having our sin forgiven.

The happy person is the forgiven person.

The question that we must ask is; how can you be forgiven?

King David goes on in the Psalm and tells us how from personal experiece.

First tells us how not to find true happiness

Then he tells us how we can find forgiveness

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

II. Wrong way- Do nothing

How not to find true happiness ;

V.3-4 say “3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah”

3  For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away

through my groaning all day long.

David speaks here from personal experience and he explains when he expereinced sorrow instead of happiness.

4  For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;

The verse begins; For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.

my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

David did not have this happiness when he kept silent.

When he did nothing about his sin.

He pretended it wasn’t there and did nothing about it, he ingnored his guilt before God.

This caused him to have sorrow. Listen to the language he uses;

My bones wasted away through by groaning all day long. my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

He tried to ingnore his sin and it brought sorrow.

App-

This is something that many people are guilty of doing, pretending that they havent done anything wrong.

Or maybe they know they have done worng like the psalmist here, but they do nothing about it. Like a man who thinks he has cancer but never goes to the doctor to get treatment.

I wonder have you ever done this?

I wonder are you doing this now? Maybe you know about your sin but as of yet you have done nothing about it.

Well that was what David did and as we read it only brought him sorrow.

So if that is the wrong way, whats the right way?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

III. Right way- Confess and forsake

How to Find true happiness in God’s forgiveness.

V. 5 says “5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah”

5  I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I did not cover my iniquity;

In this verse we read that David found forgiveness, because he acknowledged his sin to God, he did not cover his iniquity. He confessed his transgression to the LORD. Then in the end of the verse he says to the LORD “and you forgave my sin.”

I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,”

He repented of the wong that he had done, he turned from it, he confessed it to God and asked for his forgiveness.

He was forgiven.

and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

This is how a person finds forgiveness.

They must humble themselves, acknowledge they have sinned and are guilty before God.

They must turn from their sin in repentance and put their trust in Jesus Christ.

The moment David confessed and forsook his sin he was forgiven.

The reason God can freely forgive people who turn to him is because Jesus Christ, his Son, died on the cross to pay for it. Three days later Jesus rose again from the dead.

Now all who turn from their sin and believe in Jesus for themselves, trusting in his death and resurrection to take away their sin, they are forgiven.

I wonder is this something thay you have done?

Have you been forgiven by God because you have admitted your sin before him and believed in Jesus to take it away?

Conclusion

So where can we find true and lasting happiness?

The Psalm says “Happy is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Happy is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity ...”

How can a person be receive God’s forgiveness?

Not by doing nothing. David remained silent about his sin and it only caused him sorrow. Ignoring the problem will not do any good.

Instead a person must confess and forsake their sin and put their trust in Jesus. Believe in him, confess him as Lord. Trust in his death and resurrection to take away their sin?

I wonder have you done this?

If you have then you are blessed.