Blessedness

“To him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” [1]

The work referred to here is the work of trying to justify oneself before God. Trying to behave in a god-like (godly) way to impress oneself or God! Such a futile lifestyle!

The Lord revealed to King David of Israel a more blessed way...

“David describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: ‘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.” [2]

The word “Blessed" here is from the Greek word makarios (Μακάριος), which means to be happy or blissful, but it also means a self-contained happiness. The idea is that our happiness is independent of our circumstances. It is self-contained, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally.” [3]

To David “blessedness” was:

God imputing righteousness to him apart from works (God did the work)
God forgiving and covering his lawless deeds (God had him covered)
God imputing no sin to him (because his sin was placed on another - Christ)

This is a grace-based salvation from sin... God’s grace!

Jesus “was delivered up because of our offenses and was raised because of our justification.” [4]

Jesus took care of our righteous standing before God on the cross and in His resurrection from the dead.

King David understood this “blessedness.” God’s “blessing” yielded for David songs of praise to God. He used the word “praise” 164 times and the word “sing” 59 times in the Book of Psalms. Thanks to the Lord, his mouth was filled with praise and his heart with song.

May the Lord bless you today!

[1] Romans 4:5
[2] Romans 4:6-8
[3] http://christianity.com/.../teachi.../what-does-blessed-mean
[4] Romans 4:25