Psalm 32:1-2 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
Ah my Friends, today we shall sit down and contemplate the blessedness of forgiveness with Bruh David. And believe me, that word ‘forgiveness,’ plays a major part in both the theory and practice of Christianity. In fact it is the very basis of our faith, for Christ only came to earth to die, so that we could be forgiven of our sins. If there was no need for forgiveness, He would have had no cause to come. So you can see the important role it plays. Bruh David understood the secret power of forgiveness, that’s why he could extol its virtue and vitality. ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.’ Yes my people, we experience a most powerful and liberating feeling when our wrongs are forgiven. And, ‘Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.’ As Jesus said of Nathaniel, the first time He spoke to him. ‘Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.’ (John 1:47) Can that be said of us my Friends? It’s something we should all work towards because it brings such blessing and happiness to a man’s spirit, when our God doesn’t charge any sins to our account, or searches our soul and finds no deceit or hypocrisy. It’s such a freeing, refreshing, cleansing feeling; like…like the sun reappearing in all its brilliance on a spring day after a shower of rain. However my brethren, until we ask for, or seek forgiveness from God, our souls are weighed down and heavy with guilt. There is no real joy; some sliver of disenchantment exists that spoils everything else that might be good. Yuh know, the one bad apple spoiling the whole barrel thing. As Bruh David acknowledges; ‘When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.’ (vs.3-4) Yes my people, that’s how it is when we go around bearing the unnecessary burden of sin and guilt: We grow old before our time, groan and murmur, and feel like we’re Atlas, bearing the weight of the whole world on our weak shoulders. But note, when Bruh David smartened up; ‘I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found. (vs.5-6) His burdened spirit was lightened. It’s that simple Friends. If we are godly, then we need to pray to the Lord for forgiveness. And our God just has this extraordinarily good habit of granting forgiveness to those who ask for it. When we sincerely repent of our sins, the Lord is magnanimous and merciful to forgive us. But our hearts must be right my people; we must feel a genuine sorrow, and also a genuine desire to do better. The Lord’s not into lip service, remember that. He searches our hearts, and if it isn’t a sincere cry, we can beg and plead till we’re blue in the face, He’ll ignore us. Neither should we forget that though Jesus died for our sins, only those who truly repent, turn to the Lord and follow Him are forgiven and promised eternal life. Ah ha; repentance and acknowledgement that the Lord Jesus Christ is King and Saviour is a necessary requirement. As Bruh Paul declared: ‘The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.’ (Acts 5:31) Yes my Friends, it all depends on our acceptance of Jesus as the one and only portal through which we can approach the Most High God Jehovah. But even before Jesus came, all the godly men of the Old Testament knew of God’s overwhelming penchant for forgiveness upon repentance and declared it to their people. We’ll leave out Bruh David here, else we’d take whole day. (smile) Isaiah postulated: ‘I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King… I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.’ (Is.43:15,25) Our God was prepared to do this even though His chosen people were disobedient. ‘This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.’ (Is.43:21-22) And Jeremiah solemnly pronounced: ‘And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ (Jer. 31:34) Now listen to Micah. ‘Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.’ (Mic.7:18-20) Oh my people, there’s no other God but ours! For two Beings of such might, mercy and magnificence cannot exist in one world. He’s utterly awesome, and everyday we should shower Him with praise and thanksgiving for His unfailing goodness to us, especially how He orchestrated His forgiveness of our sinful acts, by sending His Only Son Jesus to die for us. By the way, don’t think we’re finished with forgiveness yet nuh. It’s too big of a subject to be dealt with in just one li’l Bit. (smile) So, till we meet again, walk safely with Jesus and keep spreading the Word. Much LOVE!..to err is human..but not to repent..now that’s stupidity.. To Be Continued.
Ah my Friends, today we shall sit down and contemplate the blessedness of forgiveness with Bruh David. And believe me, that word ‘forgiveness,’ plays a major part in both the theory and practice of Christianity. In fact it is the very basis of our faith, for Christ only came to earth to die, so that we could be forgiven of our sins. If there was no need for forgiveness, He would have had no cause to come. So you can see the important role it plays. Bruh David understood the secret power of forgiveness, that’s why he could extol its virtue and vitality. ‘Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.’ Yes my people, we experience a most powerful and liberating feeling when our wrongs are forgiven. And, ‘Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.’ As Jesus said of Nathaniel, the first time He spoke to him. ‘Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.’ (John 1:47) Can that be said of us my Friends? It’s something we should all work towards because it brings such blessing and happiness to a man’s spirit, when our God doesn’t charge any sins to our account, or searches our soul and finds no deceit or hypocrisy. It’s such a freeing, refreshing, cleansing feeling; like…like the sun reappearing in all its brilliance on a spring day after a shower of rain. However my brethren, until we ask for, or seek forgiveness from God, our souls are weighed down and heavy with guilt. There is no real joy; some sliver of disenchantment exists that spoils everything else that might be good. Yuh know, the one bad apple spoiling the whole barrel thing. As Bruh David acknowledges; ‘When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.’ (vs.3-4) Yes my people, that’s how it is when we go around bearing the unnecessary burden of sin and guilt: We grow old before our time, groan and murmur, and feel like we’re Atlas, bearing the weight of the whole world on our weak shoulders. But note, when Bruh David smartened up; ‘I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found. (vs.5-6) His burdened spirit was lightened. It’s that simple Friends. If we are godly, then we need to pray to the Lord for forgiveness. And our God just has this extraordinarily good habit of granting forgiveness to those who ask for it. When we sincerely repent of our sins, the Lord is magnanimous and merciful to forgive us. But our hearts must be right my people; we must feel a genuine sorrow, and also a genuine desire to do better. The Lord’s not into lip service, remember that. He searches our hearts, and if it isn’t a sincere cry, we can beg and plead till we’re blue in the face, He’ll ignore us. Neither should we forget that though Jesus died for our sins, only those who truly repent, turn to the Lord and follow Him are forgiven and promised eternal life. Ah ha; repentance and acknowledgement that the Lord Jesus Christ is King and Saviour is a necessary requirement. As Bruh Paul declared: ‘The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.’ (Acts 5:31) Yes my Friends, it all depends on our acceptance of Jesus as the one and only portal through which we can approach the Most High God Jehovah. But even before Jesus came, all the godly men of the Old Testament knew of God’s overwhelming penchant for forgiveness upon repentance and declared it to their people. We’ll leave out Bruh David here, else we’d take whole day. (smile) Isaiah postulated: ‘I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King… I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.’ (Is.43:15,25) Our God was prepared to do this even though His chosen people were disobedient. ‘This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.’ (Is.43:21-22) And Jeremiah solemnly pronounced: ‘And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ (Jer. 31:34) Now listen to Micah. ‘Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.’ (Mic.7:18-20) Oh my people, there’s no other God but ours! For two Beings of such might, mercy and magnificence cannot exist in one world. He’s utterly awesome, and everyday we should shower Him with praise and thanksgiving for His unfailing goodness to us, especially how He orchestrated His forgiveness of our sinful acts, by sending His Only Son Jesus to die for us. By the way, don’t think we’re finished with forgiveness yet nuh. It’s too big of a subject to be dealt with in just one li’l Bit. (smile) So, till we meet again, walk safely with Jesus and keep spreading the Word. Much LOVE!..to err is human..but not to repent..now that’s stupidity.. To Be Continued.
