The blessedness of pardon.
"Blessed is he," etc. The Old Testament Scriptures contain what we may call moral prophecies, no less striking than the historical and typical prophecies. This verse is among them. Beginning with this grand Bible word "blessed" (like Psalms 1:1-6.), it resembles an echo, a thousand years beforehand, of the Sermon on the Mount. We find here, not only "the shadow of good things to come," but "the very image" of the gospel promises of pardon and justification. Accordingly, St. Paul quotes and argues from these words (Romans 4:5-8).
I. IN WHAT DOES THIS BLESSEDNESS CONSIST?
1. In the actual fact of deliverance from the guilt and punishment of transgression. Forgiveness is a reality on God's part, because sin is a reality on our part. Forgiveness, or justification, is sometimes spoken of as "treating the sinner as though he had not sinned." This is but loose, figurative language. The reverse is the case. Forgiveness implies sin (Romans 4:5). Sin may have alleviations—ignorance, overpowering temptation, constitutional infirmity, and so forth—but as sin it is disobedience to God's Law. Therefore if God has really given a moral law to men, he is bound as righteous (Genesis 18:25) to take account of sin-of every sin of every sinner. Men have sinned (Romans 3:23). Therefore (innocence being lost)every one must necessarily be either forgiven or condemned. Accordingly, our Saviour always speaks of forgiveness as a definite act (Matthew 9:2, Matthew 9:6; Luke 7:47). His apostles in like manner (1 John 2:12; Acts 2:38; Acts 13:38, Acts 13:39).
2. In the joyful consciousness of pardon and reconciliation to God. These two—the fact and the consciousness—ought always to go together; but, as matter of fact, they do not. It is a great mistake to confound faith with assurance. Perfect, undoubting faith in God's promise, if that promise be rightly understood, must needs bring with it the blessed and joyful certainty of the fulfilment of the promise. But faith may be real, yet far from perfect; clouded by ignorance or error; enfeebled by doubt and fear shadowed by self-distrust, yet real, like the faith of sinking Peter.
3. In the holy and happy influence of this belief and sense of forgiveness on the heart and life; making God loved, sin hated, self humbled, obedience happy and free from bondage. Deliver-ante from the punishment of sin is not to be overrated as the chief element in this blessedness; yet it is a real and powerful source.
II. HOW OBTAINED?
1. The first step is a true sense of sin and of the need of pardon. This height of joy is reached at a rebound from the dust of self-abasement.
2. Personal reliance on Christ, acceptance of his atonement, and of God's offer and promise of pardon through him.
3. The study of God's Word, with prayer for the Holy Spirit's teaching. (2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:17-19.) Make sure, first, what God's Word really declares; then take God at his word. Beware of the subtile delusion of putting your own faith in place of Christ.