Definition: Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this incredibly important verse from Romans 4:8: “Blessed [is] the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” Here's a simple explanation: What it means in plain English: This verse is saying that God’s favor – his blessing – is given to those who are protected from making mistakes or sins. It’s like a shield of protection for someone. Let’s unpack it bit by bit: “Blessed [is]…” : This means “fortunate” or “happy.” It's a positive statement about someone. “…the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.” : This is the core of the verse. Let’s break that down further: “Lord” : This refers to God, our creator and ultimate authority. “Impute sin” : This is a tricky word. It means "to assign blame" or “to make a mistake." Basically, it's saying that God won’t give someone a punishment for their mistakes. The bigger picture: This verse is a key part of the story about Abraham and his son Isaac. God promised to bless Abraham and all his descendants with Isaac through a test. Abraham was physically old and frail, but God chose to trust him. When Sarah, Abraham’s wife, became pregnant, God used her to conceive Isaac. This is where the blessing comes in – because God promised to bless Abraham and his family, He felt obligated to bless Isaac as well. Why it's important: It emphasizes that God’s love and grace are unconditional. We are all prone to making mistakes, and we don't deserve God’s perfect forgiveness. But through Jesus Christ, God offers us a way to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. He doesn’t impute sin (assign blame) – He protects us from it. In short: It's a powerful statement about God's protection and the possibility of being saved through faith in Jesus Christ. --- Would you like me to explain any of these concepts further, or perhaps connect this verse to a specific story or concept? For example, would you be interested in: Understanding the context of the story of Abraham and Isaac? Exploring the idea of grace and forgiveness?