Week 3 - Romans 4:6-8
Romans 4:6-8 (ESV)
6…just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; 8 blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.”
The Case of David
Paul continues to prove God’s way of salvation by faith with another Old Testament example, King David. David was the greatest of Israel’s kings and a man after God’s own heart. David authored Psalm 32, the Psalm quoted in Romans 4:7, a thousand years before Jesus’ death and resurrection. David was speaking of God’s forgiveness of his own sin, his adultery with Bathsheba and then murdering her husband. God’s covenant relationship has always been about dealing with sin, about realigning one’s life with His kingdom. From the example of Abraham, we see that God counts us righteous through faith in His Son. David’s example shows us that God no longer counts us by our sin. These examples seem to say the same thing just in opposite form, but both truths must continually be at the forefront of our renewed mind. Our faith puts us in right relationship with God AND our sins are forgiven, covered over and no longer counted against us. God chooses to remember our sins no more. In order to walk out our true identity in Christ and to image God to the fullest, we must identify as being right before God, completely forgiven and having authority over sin.
Questions
Name sins God has counted against Christ instead of you. How do you express this joy of forgiveness?
If God no longer counts your sin against you, how does that help you deal with guilt from past sins?