“BLESSED is he whose transgression is forgiven." (Psa. 32:11<<A Psalm of David, Maschil.>> Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. (Psalm 32:1)) No one who has faced the reality of eternity and of judgment to come, and who believes that God is just, will do other than add his "Amen " to these words. Yes, indeed, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."
There is no merit in being forgiven: there is great evil in being a sinner needing forgiveness. The blessedness of being forgiven is not to the praise and glory of the transgressor, but to Him who forgives.
God forgives. There is forgiveness with Him that He may be feared, and He shows us in His word that none but He forgives sins against Himself. Forgiveness is the divine prerogative. In the absolute dominions of the world kings have reserved to themselves the right to forgive. God, the Infinite, forgives. He does so on the basis or foundation of righteousness. He is just and the Justifier. He does not forego His Light in the exercise of His Love. He ever abides faithful, and in all His ways displays what He is. On the moral basis of the atonement for sin wrought by the Lord Jesus, God can be just while justifying the sinner, and thus when God proclaims forgiveness to man, it is thus announced: "Be it known unto you... that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).)
We place two texts together—
“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven."
"Preached unto you [is] the forgiveness of sins."
The blessedness of forgiveness may, therefore, be yours, and indeed the message of forgiveness is brought to the very door of your heart. To you personally the announcement is made; the one condition necessary for its acquirement is your faith: “By Him all that believe are justified."
"All that believe." This is both exclusive and inclusive. All who do not believe are excluded; all who do believe are included. Many do not and will not believe: their loss falls upon themselves. Amongst the many who do believe are those who tremble, and at times question the validity of their faith. But the object of the belief is Jesus, the once crucified but now exalted Son of Man, and not the greatness or smallness of our faith in Him: He, and not our faith, is the Savior. God has set Him forth the object for our faith, and whosoever believes on Him has the blessedness of forgiveness. It is a personal and an individual question: let us each humbly answer as before God whether we do indeed believe on Jesus, not indeed historically, but lovingly. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9).)