THE BLESSING OF FORGIVENESS

Psalm 32:1–2 (NKJV) — 1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

Romans 4:6–8 (NKJV) — 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Happy, excited, favoured is the man or woman whose sins are forgiven or removed or covered or taken away

Blessed is the one whom the Lord does not charge them to court because of their sins

The blessed person is a sinner, but God does not count it against him

You are blessed if your sins have been forgiven

David who wrote this psalm took this very seriously

David was very happy and blessed to receive this forgiveness

The psalmist, having received God’s forgiveness for his sins, expressed his joy over that fact. Blessed is used in 1:1 of a person who leads an untarnished life. Here it is used of one who has forgiveness. God forgives fully, for He does not count a truly penitent person’s sin … against him.

If we do not share his appreciation for forgiveness, it is most certainly because we do not share his understanding of sin.

We must understand that there is something called right and wrong, and God is the judge of all ofus

There are boundaries that God has set for us that we might not cross over

There is a boundary, there is a target, there is something that is straight and true, but sin steps over the boundary, misses the target, and twists the straight.

But the grace of forgiveness is ever sufficient for the sin.

David had found it to be so. His sin had been forgiven and covered

And sin was no longer charged to him.

This shows that when God forgives sins He does not “charge” them to our accounts; they are removed from the record. God will never bring them up again. That is why the forgiven worshiper wrote of such joy and happiness (Hb “blessedness”).

God had lifted the burden and carried it away.

God had covered it from view.

God had blotted out the handwriting of its indictment.

He does not profess to repent, with an intention to indulge in sin, because the Lord is ready to forgive.

He will not abuse the doctrine of free grace. And to the man whose iniquity is forgiven, all manner of blessings are promised.

He is now blessed, and ever shall be. Be he ever so poor, or sick, or sorrowful, he is blessed in very deed.

Pardoning mercy is of all things in the world most to be prized, for it is the only and sure way to happiness.

Notice the character of him whose sins are pardoned; he is sincere, and seeks sanctification by the power of the Holy Ghost.

The condition of God’s forgiveness is absolute sincerity. There must be “no guile” in the spirit, no attempt to deceive self or God.

The O.T. makes it clear that we have hope for forgiveness solely because of who God is.

There is nothing in human beings that merits pardon, but it’s “in accordance with Your great love” that God forgives the sin of His people.

Numbers 14:19 (NKJV) — 19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.”

Objectively, then, forgiveness is a loving act by God in which, in view of Christ’s sacrifice, He pronounces the guilty innocent and so takes away our sins forever.

As people who have received such a blessing, we must extend the same forgiveness to thos ewho have offended us

Forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us (Mat 6:12; Luke 11:4)

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matt 5:7)

Forbearance Scriptures

Matthew 18:26 (NKJV) — 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’

Mark 9:19 (NKJV) — 19 He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

1 Corinthians 4:12 (NKJV) — 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure;

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) — 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) — 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV) — 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

2 Corinthians 6:6 (NKJV) — 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,

Galatians 5:22 (NKJV) — 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Ephesians 4:2 (NKJV) — 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Colossians 3:12–13 (NKJV) — 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NKJV) — 14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

2 Timothy 3:10 (NKJV) — 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance,

2 Timothy 4:2 (NKJV) — 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.

Hebrews 13:22 (NKJV) — 22 And I appeal to you, brethren, bear with the word of exhortation, for I have written to you in few words.

Revelation 22:21 (NKJV) — 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.