Forgiven!

Psalm 32:1 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. 3 When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. (Selah) 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah 

One of the sort-of bumper-sticker-type sayings that emerged since I became a Christian, (or maybe even before,) is: “Christians Aren’t Perfect, Just Forgiven.”

This is in response to those who criticize Christians for being so “intolerant” of the sin of others. Christians have come to have the reputation of being judgmental, so the cool way to respond is to say, in effect, “Hey, I’m not judging you at all, just saying how great it is to be a Christian…and part of that benefit is even though I am a sinner, (just like you, by the way,) I am now a forgiven sinner.”

The next question that arises is, “Okay mister Christian-head, how can you be so SURE you are forgiven?” (Non-Christians certainly seem to dislike the assurance Christians walk through the world with – especially prevalent among those who attend denominational churches and have not really heard the gospel message.) Really, who are YOU to be so certain about forgiveness?

We can show them some examples. One of the greatest ‘heroes’ of the Old Testament is David. One of the greatest ‘heroes’ of the New Testament is Paul. Both experienced lives mired in some of the worst sin imaginable, and both freely express how their sin impacted their lives. Listen to David bemoan his “bones growing old,” while apart from the Lord in his un-confessed depravity. You can feel his pain. But you can also sense how the Lord ministered to him and brought him to a place of total forgiveness. Here is our example. If God could and did forgive David, He can certainly forgive me! And David proves all I have to do is ask.

Psalm 32:6 For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You In a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters They shall not come near him. 7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. 9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you. 10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; but he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him. 11 Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

-  Pastor Bill