Vs. 3 – They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways.

Thomas Manton:

You have the blessed man described negatively, they do no iniquity. Upon hearing the words, presently there occurs a doubt, how then can any man be blessed? for ‘there is not a man that liveth and sinneth not,’ Eccles. 7:20; and James 3:2, ‘In many things we offend all.’ To deny it, is a flat lie against the truth, and against our own experience. ‘If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us,’ 1 John 1:8.

First, What it is to do iniquity? If we make it our trade and practice to continue in wilful disobedience. To sin is one thing, but to make sin our work is another: 1 John 3:9, ‘He that is born of God doth not commit sin;’ he doth not work sin; and Mat. 7:23, ‘Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.’ That is the character of the reprobate workers of iniquity. So John 8:34, ‘Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.’ Sin is their constant trade: Ps. 139:24, ‘See if there be any wicked way in me.’ None are absolutely freed from sin, but it is not their trade, their way, their work. When a man makes it his study and business to carry on a course of sin, then he is said to do iniquity.

Secondly, Who are those that are said to do no iniquity in God’s account, though they fail often through weakness of the flesh and violence of temptation? Answer—All such as are renewed by grace, and reconciled to God by Christ Jesus; to these God imputeth no sin to condemnation, and in his account they do no iniquity. (Manton, T. (1872). The Complete Works of Thomas Manton (Vol. 6, p. 30). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

Prayer:

Blessed be Your Name, O’God, my God, my righteousness! All my sin was placed on my Savior, Jesus Christ, while He hung on that horrible cross. He who knew no sin, became sin, so that I might be made the righteousness of God in Christ. So effectual is the blood of my Savior that I am received pure and without iniquity before You. In Your ways I will walk and I will delight in the liberty that Jesus has wrought for me. I rejoice in my Savior knowing that Psalm 32:1-2 pertains to me–“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.” Yes! That is me in Christ Jesus! Amen!

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