Paul continues referencing the Old Testament as he teaches against the idea that our works have anything to do with our salvation. In these three verses, he explains what David was talking about in Psalm 32, specifically verses 1 and 2. I encourage you to go to Psalm 32 and read the entire Psalm, it is clear in its guidance and encouragement for the child of God.
just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
In verse 6, Paul explains who is the subject of what David wrote is - the one to whom God counts as righteous, apart from works.
There is so much to be encouraged by here. Paul gives us a characteristic of salvation: righteousness. God counts us as righteous - also translated "God imputeth righteousness" - meaning God assigns righteousness to us! As His children, we can cling to this promise no matter where we are in life:
God - the only One who is truly righteous, gives to us the perfect righteousness that is required to be in His presence...wow!
Paul also ties in to what he has been talking about in the previous verses - God gives His children this righteousness apart from works, also translated "without" works. This righteousness God gives to us does not depend on what we do...good or bad - another promise from God that we can hold to!
"Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."
Another encouraging truth: the one who is counted as righteous is blessed - in the Greek meaning fortunate, well off. We can be sure that while blessed does mean that we are fortunate, and we are well off, it is a very deep, spiritual fortunate and well off - not a superficial, earthly well off, not measured by earthly perspective.
There are three promises of God to His children that David reveals in these two verses:
1. their lawless deeds are forgiven.
-lawless deeds meaning transgressions of the law, which every single one of us is guilty of.
-forgiven meaning to omit, lay aside, put away - they are gone!
2. their sins are covered
-sin meaning offensive to God, any unrighteousness - from smallest thought to biggest action.
-covered meaning concealed, not visible any longer!
3. the Lord will not count their sins against them.
-our sins are gone, to be remembered no more! That is true forgiveness!
I believe it would do us good to sit and meditate frequently on what has just been explained here in Romans.
As children of an Almighty, Loving, Righteous God - we are given all that is required to be in His presence, He forgives and covers our sins - and will not count them against us no matter how serious or evil they are, and all of this is completely free - not based on anything we do.
With this truth as a foundation, we can go forward and serve God with the proper perspective - complete and utter gratitude. We don't have to earn anything, we couldn't afford it anyway. We don't have to be defeated by our sin, it is forgiven. We are blessed beyond measure by the God that can pour out endless blessings - the biggest one being a relationship with Him!
I would like to encourage all of us to pray that God would help us understand, and appreciate even more the blessings that we enjoy because of what He has done. Meditate on these promises today, and often going forward, I will do the same. Having the correct perspective is so crucial to our daily walk with our Lord!
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