DAVID DECLARES IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS Devotion 25 of 28 "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin" (Rom 6:6-7) – Tomorrow:
"But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 'Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; Blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin." (Romans 4:5-8, NKJV)
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, David declared those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered "ARE blessed." Doubt and Fear both ask whether such a person even exists. Mister Skepticism expresses serious questions about the possibility of such an individual being found. Unbelief boldly announces such a condition is simply not possible. Sister Uninformed is willing to concede the theoretical possibility of finding such a person, but tends to think it would be vain to try and find one. All of these – Doubt, Fear, Skepticism, Unbelief, and Uniformed are the children of "FLESH." Like their father, they are all willing to allow for church membership, a modicum of effort, and a semblance of morality. However, none of them can receive anything that makes for confidence or assurance.
Faith, on the other hand, sees the truth that is declared. When Jesus tabernacled among men, He made sure He made this aspect of life known – the blessedness of having ones iniquities forgiven and his sins covered. Even before He died, He had power to forgive sins – to cover them, removing them from association with the very ones who committed them.
The term "blessedness" implies the forgiven person is aware of his forgiveness. He knows his sins are covered, and are no longer seen by God, who sees everything. After all, "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do" (Heb 4:13). If, therefore, he cannot see our sins, it is because they no longer exist. They have been "taken away" (John 1:29), "put away" (Heb 9:26), "cast" behind His "back" (Isa 38:17), "blotted out" like a "thick cloud" (Isa 44:22), and cast "into the depth of the sea" (Micah 7:19). The state of "blessedness," therefore, precisely reflects the reality of the case. That is why joy pervades the heart of the person to whom God imputes righteousness without works.
On one occasion, four believing men brought a palsied man to Jesus for healing. Because they could not access the Savior the ordinary way, they broke up the roof of the house in which He was ministering, letting the man down into the midst of the people, before Jesus. When Jesus saw "THEIR faith," He immediately addressed the afflicted man. "Son, be of GOOD CHEER; your sins ARE forgiven you" (Matt 9:2). His saying stirred up quite a controversy among the religious bigots in attendance. The man who was forgiven certainly did not participate in the vain jangling of the teachers about. In fact, after Jesus had soundly rebuked those men, He turned to the palsied man and said, "I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house." It is written, "And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, GLORIFYING GOD" (Luke 5:24-25).
On another occasion, Jesus declared an abundance of sins could be remitted by Him. You will remember that woman who anointed Jesus feet with precious ointment, washing them with her tears, and wiping them with her hair. When Jesus received what the woman did, he was confronted with hypocritical Simon, the Pharisee who had invited Jesus to his house. Simon reasoned ‘within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner." Jesus soundly rebuked Simon, saying "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, ARE forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. He then turned to the woman and said unto her, Thy sins ARE forgiven" (Luke 7:47-48). After some objected to Him saying such a thing, Jesus said to her, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace" (Luke 7:50).
How much more can the Lord forgive now that He, having put away the sins of the world, is enthroned in glory! How much more does He have power to forgive sins now that He has taken them away, reconciled us to God, and ever lives to make intercession for those who come to God through Him (Col 1:21; Heb 7:25)!
Jesus also declared there were some people He would NOT condemn, even though they were, from one perspective, worthy of condemnation. On one occasion Jesus' critics brought Him a woman who had been taken in the very act of adultery. The people reminded Jesus the Law required the death of the woman, then asked Him what He had to say. He challenged the condemning multitude, saying "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." The accusers departed, leaving the woman alone with Jesus. When He asked her where her accusers were, and who it was that condemned her, the woman replied, "No man, LORD!" With the voice of compassion and omnipotence, the Lord replied, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more" (John 8:3-11). How much more will He refuse to condemn those who have "received the atonement" (Rom 5:11).
Those who experience the forgiveness of their iniquity, the covering of their sins, and the refusal of the Lord to condemn them are blessed indeed!
PRAYER POINT: Father, through Jesus Christ, I thank You for the blessed state of having my iniquities forgiven and my sins covered.