by Phil Sanders

"How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit!" (Psalm 32:1,2)

Forgiveness is not forgetting but "forgetting against." When God forgives us, He no longer counts our sins against us (2 Cor. 5:19) so that we might be reconciled to Him (2 Cor. 5:20).

Humans cannot undo the past, but God can forget our past sins against us so that we are no longer guilty. Psalm 85:2,3 says of God: "You forgave the iniquity of your people and covered all their sins. You set aside all your wrath and turned from your fierce anger."

David, who sinned with Bathsheba and killed Uriah, understood the terrible guilt and pain of sin; but he also understood the joy of forgiveness. He wrote and sang these words that gave him comfort,

“The LORD is compassionate and gracious,     Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.     He will not always strive with us,     Nor will He keep His anger forever.     He has not dealt with us according to our sins,     Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.     For as high as the heavens are above the earth,     So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him.     As far as the east is from the west,     So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:8-12)

When we realize our sins are forgiven at the cost of the precious blood of the Lamb of God (1 Pet. 1:18-19), we must forever humble our hearts in gratitude for His amazing love and sacrifice. That realization ought to call us to determine never again to do such things. Having a close, loving relationship with God is the most blessed thing we can ever have. Let us always find joy in our salvation.