“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1)
One of the central truths of Christianity is “forgiveness of sins.” Without it we would remain in a world of despair, without hope, only to perish forever. The greatest blessing of life is to know you are right with God – that your sins are forgiven. This blessing can be yours. Aloha Airlines flight 243 suffered explosive decompression at 19, 000 feet over the Hawaiian Islands and over one half of the aircraft roof disappeared. After the Boeing 737-200 safely returned to the ground at Maui International Airport a reporter asked a passenger “What was the first thought that crossed your mind?” He replied, “I wondered if God would forgive me of all my sins.” Questions about God’s forgiveness are answered as David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, wrote Psalm 32:1.
What does God forgive?
A transgression is the willful breaking of a known command. All that falls short of God’s perfect standard is sin. This includes every time I willfully break God’s Law, every action committed without love for God, actions omitted I should have done, and the sins of the mind and heart. David wrote in Psalm 51, overwhelmed by his personal record before God, “Hide Thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” There is nothing more offensive to God than the vast record of our personal sins against Him. When God forgives, He forgives every single sin.
Who does God forgive?
In our world many acknowledge that there is “something wrong.” History proves this. God says “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). You have sinned against the God of heaven. In Psalm 51 David wrote, “…my sin is ever before me. Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned.” Sin is against God. Sin separates us from God. Sin disqualifies us from entering heaven. God’s forgiveness affects the record of my sin and the destiny of my soul. This is an issue of personal sin before a Holy God. When God forgives, He forgives the sinner of every sin.
How can God forgive?
God cannot ignore sin in His universe. God can forgive because God can cover all of our sins against Him. It is God’s delight to offer forgiveness to you. David knew well the Day of Atonement in Israel’s history. It was the day each year when the High Priest of Israel took blood from an animal that had been sacrificed in the courtyard of the tabernacle and carried it into the Most Holy Place. It was here the High Priest sprinkled the blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. The mercy seat was the lid or “covering” of the Ark. The blood was sprinkled there beneath the presence of the Holy God dwelling between the wings of the cherubim shadowing the mercy seat, but above the broken Law of God contained in the Ark below. The blood covered the broken Law, shielding the sinner for another year from the judgment of God. This was a great blessing.
The blood of the sacrifices on the Day of Atonement foreshadowed the blood of the sacrifice of God’s only Son centuries later. His precious blood can cover the record of our personal sins and shield us forever from the wrath of God. His sacrifice would never have to be repeated. On the cross God dealt with sins – past, present, and future – once for all. So God can forgive because He looks to what Jesus did upon the Cross. Because of the blood of Christs sacrifice, our sins can be “covered.” “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). Sins “covered,” means that they are fully, completely and generously forgiven. Without forgiveness you will lose your soul and God will judge your sin. Are your sins covered? If your sins are covered, you are the blessed person of Psalm 32:1 and eternal life is yours to enjoy. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.”
