In Psalms 32:1-2 and 51:2-3, David used three different words to describe the fullness of our sin: transgression (pesha‘), iniquity (‘avon), and sin (chatta’ah). As transgressors, we willfully disobey the One to whom we owe our allegiance. In our iniquity, our hearts have been twisted. And as sinners, we woefully miss the mark of God’s holiness. Yet in His grace and mercy, He covers our sins and does not count them against us. His grace is greater than all our sin.
How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!
How joyful is the man
the LORD does not charge with sin
and in whose spirit is no deceit! (Psalm 32:1-2)
Charles Spurgeon wrote of this great psalm:
Note that the three words so often used to denote our disobedience—transgression, sin, and iniquity—are the three-headed dog at the gates of hell, but our glorious Lord has silenced its barkings forever against his own believing ones. The trinity of sin is overcome by the Trinity of heaven. Non-imputation is of the very essence of pardon: the believer sins, but his sin is not reckoned, not accounted to him.
Martin Luther wrote of Psalm 32:
They are holy because God in His grace neither sees nor counts these sins, but forgets, forgives, and covers them. We are all sinners alike, only that the sins of the holy are not counted but covered; and the sins of the unholy are not covered but counted.
The Trinity of heaven has conquered the trinity of sin. Our sins are covered and not counted.
Kinvac Nis / flickr
