Romans 4:7-8 says:

7 Blessed are those

    whose transgressions are forgiven,

    whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the one

    whose sin the Lord will never count against them

See also Psalm 32:1-2.

True blessedness is not riches or fame or any of those things we hype or celebrate - well-paying jobs, nice home in a great city, expensive cars etc. Everyone can have all that and still feel empty deep within, struggle with guilt and lack of true joy. Without mentioning names, I am sure you have heard of tales of renown men and women who felt such weight and took their own lives. There must be something more.  

What then is true blessedness?

True blessedness is being at peace with God the creator having been forgiven of your sins and your guilt taken away. All men have the problem of sin, no matter how much we try to deny that. Sin created a wall between us and God and unless the wall is removed and the relationship is restored, we are not going to be at peace deep down. True blessedness is therefore having peace with God because your sins have been forgiven. It may not mean material riches, but such a fellow has eternal riches that money cannot buy. Such a fellow can truly rest in peace upon transition. It is not everyone that dies that truly rests in peace. This peace doesn’t answer that general wish people write in obituaries. Remember the story of the rich man who died without experiencing this blessedness while alive. The bible records he was in torment when he transited from this earthly realm. People don’t want to hear about hell, but the bible records there is such a place.

There is something more about this blessedness: it is the fact that not only is forgiveness granted, but you also have righteousness imputed to you in exchange for your sinful state. While your sins were imputed on Jesus who is more than capable to bear them, and in exchange, you were given his righteousness, which gives you a right standing before God. This is not normal and commonplace. In fact, there is no legal system all over the world where this kind of exchange is allowed but our God designed his system this way and no one can question him. What manner of blessedness of this!

We have all sinned and deserve the punishment of sin. Romans 3:23. The Bible confirms the wages of sin is death. Not just a physical death but death here signifies eternal separation from God. The first man, Adam, who sinned did not die physically after he fell into sin but lost his walk with God. Don’t let anyone deceive you that you were not created by God and that you are not accountable to him with your life or that it all ends in death and can ignore anything about this God-creator. You lose nothing aligning with him to obtain this blessing of all blessings.

The Psalmist, realizing this amazing status, speaks of the blessedness. He was prophesying of the exchange that is to take place when Jesus would come to take our place on the cross so we can be exempted from the wages of sin - death. Romans 3:23 says “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” He was talking about what Apostle Paul will confirm in 2 Corinthians 5:21 that God made Jesus who knew no sin to become sin for us and then credited the righteousness of Jesus to our account so that we can be as if we had never sinned. This is called justification, and it is the hallmark of a blessed life. Anyone can have riches. Hardwork or stealing can produce riches but only God offers forgiveness. 

How to become truly blessed?

Once you recognize and admit your sinful state and you now know you need the help of a saviour to take your place, you become truly blessed by putting your faith in God and once that’s settled, your sins are forgiven. You need a saviour because there is nothing you can do good enough to earn that forgiveness and righteousness. Now, who’s that saviour? It is Jesus because the bible declares categorically that Jesus is the only saviour for mankind. Acts 4:12. 

11 Jesus is

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’[a]

12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

There's no forgiveness of sins through water-washing, candles, ointment or through charitable or religious practices or through some creed or traditional practices or even by striving as some are wont to. Forgiveness and pardon is obtained through the blood of Jesus and it is available freely for anyone who is interested. This is real blessedness. Romans 4:9. Take it.