THE thirty-second Psalm declares the blessedness of the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. In the Epistle to the Romans, chapter 3, the good news is unfolded how God can be just, and yet the justifier of him that believes in Jesus. “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (7:24). Does the reader know the blessedness of transgression forgiven, and sins covered? Sin God cannot pass over, it must be judged, and the sinner receive his righteous reward; but in the cross of Christ we learn the wondrous story how God can forgive the guilty sinner, and yet act in full consistency with His own character as righteous and holy. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
In a fishing town in the West of England there lived a man with his wife and family. One day, while out shooting, he met with a serious gun accident, which deprived him of the means of gaining a living for them; throwing them all into the greatest poverty and need. The wife in her distress went to a gentleman who lived near, to ask him if he could aid them. He listened to her sad story, and then asked her the unexpected question, “Do you owe money to any one?” She replied, “Yes, sir, I owe a bill over there,” pointing in the direction of a butcher’s shop close by. He went in with her, and asking for the bill, duly paid all that was owing. The question was now asked if there was any one else to whom she was indebted; she replied by telling him that there were bills also owing to the baker and grocer. Having paid theirs likewise, he again asked if there was any one else that she owed money to; she replied, “No, sir, that is all I owe;” then handing her the receipts he said, “Now, my good woman, take these receipts and go to your home.” With a glad heart she departed, rejoicing that the debts were paid. Does the reader exclaim, “How glad I should be if all my sins were forgiven, like the poor woman’s debts were paid”?
Let us see on what ground they were paid.
1St She owned she was a debtor.
2nd She received the testimony to the debts being paid (the receipts).
3rd She went away happy in the knowledge of it.
Are these three things true of you, dear reader?
1St Have you owned yourself a sinner to God?
2nd Have you received His testimony to the finished work of the Lord Jesus?
3rd Are you rejoicing in the knowledge of accomplished redemption?
Perhaps you say, “I do not feel my debts are paid, that my sins are washed away; if I did, I should be happy.” The fact of the debt being paid: did not rest in the woman’s feelings, it was an undeniable fact whether she felt it or not, the receipts were the witness. Would you be assured as to the fact that your sins are put away? Then turn to God’s Word―that Word “which liveth and abideth forever,”―and there read the glad tidings for yourself, “That through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe (not feel) are justified from all things” (Acts 13:3838Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (Acts 13:38)). Again, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)).
But the Gospel of God does not end with the debts being paid, it brings not only “out of” but “into” Out of ruin, sin, and bondage; into pardon, nearness, and liberty. Let me finish my story. After the woman had gone to her home, the gentleman returned to the shops, and asked if they knew where she lived; receiving a reply in the affirmative, he ordered the butcher to send her some meat, the grocer to send some grocery, and the baker to send some bread. Such is the heart of God. He not only meets the sinner in his ruin and need, and sends him away forgiven, setting him at rest as to the PAST; but gives him the PRESENT knowledge of the favor in which he stands, and with a bright FUTURE before him, he “rejoices in hope of the glory” to come (Rom. 5:1,21Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2)). May the reader be able to do so too!
E. E. N.