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Monday, May 20, 2013

“The Promise of Christ’s Covering”


Psalm 32:1-2: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.


            This is an incredible promise.  God says that no matter what your sin is—no matter how ugly, how deep, how big or small—if you confess and uncover and repent, he will cover you.  The Bible is filled with metaphors and allusions to being covered and clothed by God. 


         In Isaiah 61:10, we read:  I rejoice for you have clothed me in the garments of salvation and wrapped me with robes of righteousness.”  There is a direct reference to Genesis 3 when God brought clothing for Adam and Eve.  We find a similar analogy in Zechariah 3. Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.  The angel said to those who were standing before him, Take off his filthy clothes.  Then he said to Joshua: “See, I have taken away your sin and I will put fine garments on you.”  This is what the Lord alone can do for us!

            You do not have to try to cover yourself.  You cannot.  If you open yourself to God, if you are honest, and transparent, if you lay bare your heart, he will cover you.  He will make you beautiful again.

            How can God promise us that?  How can God do this?  Paul tells us in Romans 4:4-8, quoting Psalm 32.  Check out that passage in your Bible.

            To the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.  David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness for the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: “Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

            God can do this because His covering is not a cover-up.  God actually puts them somewhere.  He accounts them to someone else.  Where?  Who?  The Bible says Jesus was clothed, in a sense, with our sin.  He was stripped naked.  Why do you think the Scriptures make such a point that they cast lots for his garment?  Why is it important that his garments were removed?  It is to show us he was made naked so that you and I could be clothed.  He was put to shame so that we could be clothed by his blood in grace with the righteousness of God.  That is the truth.  Confession and repentance are powerful because, through the blood of Christ, we are covered by His grace.  You can be forgiven.  You can be healed.  You can be freed.   How do we confess?  How do we uncover ourselves?  Tomorrow, we will conclude with a biblical process that speaks to this.

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