"Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered."
Romans 4:6-7
In the fourth chapter of Romans, Paul is laying out the doctrine of Justification by Faith. He uses two Old Testament men as examples of how this doctrine works. He speaks of Abraham’s justification by faith, and of David’s statement on how blessed it is to be justified without works.
“Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man,”
Paul borrows David’s words from the 32nd Psalm.
“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,” (Psalm 32:1-2).
A blessed man is the man whose sin is dealt with by God. He is blessed, or as the Greek word translated as “blessed” here means, “the declaration of blessedness, the congratulation.”1 In this happy state, God has done the work of justification, and we are blessed. It is all about what He has done and not about any work on our part.
“Unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,”
David said it is a blessing that God grants (imputes) righteousness to a man without the man’s works. Think of it, if you had to impress God with your good works, you could never do enough, or be good enough, to show God you are guiltless from your sin. To work for righteousness is a hopeless endeavor. But since God does not grant righteousness based upon our works, but only by His grace, we are very blessed! For my salvation it is not about my works, but about His righteousness by His grace!
“Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.”
How is it with your soul? Are your iniquities forgiven, and are your sins covered? Have you been to Jesus for cleansing? Have you experienced His grace and mercy in forgiving your sin?
Are You Washed in the Blood?2
By Elisha Hoffman
1 Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Chorus:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
2 Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? [Chorus]
3 When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb? [Chorus]
4 Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
O be washed in the blood of the Lamb! [Chorus]
1. M.R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword. Both A.T. Robertson and Vincent translate makarismos this way.
2. “Are You Washed in the Blood?” Author, Elisha A. Hoffman (1878). Copyright Status, Public Domain.