Today's encouragement comes from Psalm 32:1, where we read these words:
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."If sins are covered—and they can only be atoned for by apprehending the benefits of Christ's sacrifice of Himself on the cross, by faith—then a person is truly blessed. If a soul lives in unforgiveness before God, that soul can in no way be truly happy, or at peace.
Forgiven people are not sinless people—they continue to struggle, while they live here. But the guilt of their trespasses is forever removed, and their iniquity is not "imputed" to them, (see v. 2). Instead, Christ's perfect righteousness is imputed to them. Who are these blessed peo-ple? Believing Christian churchmen—who do not trust in themselves, but in Jesus alone.
[Puritan quote of the day: "We then, who are Christians, having made a vow to Christ in baptism, and so often renewed it in the blessed Sacra-ment [of the Lord's Supper], should, with much contentment, choose rather to suffer than violate our sacred oath.” —Thomas Watson, in, "The Art of Divine Contentment"]
