The Blessedness of Imputed Righteousness

The Blessed Sinner

(Romans 4:6-8)

Human beings commit sin, yet they cannot resolve their own guilt. Christ saved such hopeless beings. He took “my” curse upon Himself and bore it in my place, and He imputed His perfect righteousness to “me.” In this way, “I” was delivered from the greatest misery and became truly blessed.

1. The Reason for Blessedness
David also confessed this blessedness, and Paul quoted him: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin” (Rom. 4:7–8). David was the king most highly honored by the Jews, yet he discovered that his blessedness lay in nothing other than this: God had covered his sin.

2. The Reason for Repentance
When the prophet rebuked David for his adultery and murder, David immediately acknowledged that he was a sinner and repented. He could do so because he was convinced that God had more than enough power to save a sinner and that God gives grace to those who repent. Today, many Christians refuse to repent and try to gain God’s approval by building up their own righteousness. But no matter how diligently we serve, it does not change the fact that we are sinners.

3. The Reason for Serving
God does not despise those who repent, but surely deals with their sin. David could declare himself blessed because he knew this. We who have experienced this truth in the love of God and the grace of Christ possess the greatest blessedness. Though we are sinners, we do not despair, because like Abraham and David, we have come to know the merciful God. We preach the gospel and serve the church because we are blessed. Let us never forget that we are forever indebted to God.

Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim