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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