Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 32:1 – 2 ( KJV)
Psa 32:1 A Psalm of David. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Psa 32:2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Timothy 1:12 – 15 (KJV)
1Ti 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
1Ti 1:13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1Ti 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
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Transforming Power Statements:
1) Salvation, which is the term used in Scripture to discuss the way and the means by which a sinner is rescued from the darkness and destructive power of their sinful state in the sight of a perfectly Holy God, has always been a free gift provided by God on the basis of the merit of Jesus Christ, and is given by faith to everyone who believes.
2) David the King / Psalmist having led by God the Holy Spirit, wrote a song about the blessedness of the ones to whom God will not charge with the rightful punishment for their sins, but on the other hand will provide the grace necessary to forgive them, which He would in turn ‘write if off’ and charge it to His Son Jesus for all who trust in Him.
3) Even Paul, who referred to himself as the chief of sinners confesses to Timothy his son in the faith, that he, being the ‘chief of sinners’ was blessed about having the blood of Jesus the Christ charged to his account, and therefore, receiving God’s free grace and even being used in the ministry in spite of his condition. This proves exactly what it means to be cleansed by the power of God’s Grace.