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A Roadmap For Repentance - Pt. 2

July 27, 2014 Speaker: Ken Ramey Series: Holy Habits

Topic: Psalm Passage: Psalm 51

Sunday Service

Psalm 51

In Psalm 51, the Spirit of God, through the example of David, explained and illustrated the FOUR STEPS every sinner must take to get back into a right relationship with God.

STEP 1 = CRY FOR MERCY (vv. 1-2)
David’s repentance began with his pleading for God’s mercy and grace. He deserved death twice over for his crimes of adultery and murder and there were no sacrifices prescribed for atoning for these sins before God. So, all David had to offer was a broken and contrite heart.

STEP 2 = CONFESS YOUR SIN (vv. 3-6)
David’s confession to God was complete and thorough. To congress is to agree with God, for God was already well aware of David’s sinful acts as well as the motives of his heart. David agreed that his transgressions were his own fault. He was admitting that he was to blame for his own transgressions. He also agreed that his sin displeased God and that he deserved to be punished for his sin because he had ultimately sinned against God. Finally, David agreed about God’s integrity and what He demands of His people. David acknowledged that He would continue to sin, but he confessed it and sought to become a man of integrity as God desires. When we confess to God, we are agreeing that we are not going to sin again.

STEP 3 = CALL FOR FORGIVENESS (vv. 7-12)
To forgive is to pardon someone or excuse their sin altogether. David asked God for cleansing (v.7), which meant to ‘de-sin.’ He also asked God for healing (v. 8; Psalm 30:5; Psalm 32); for forgetting (v. 9; Psalm 103:12; Isaiah 38:17) and comforting (because he feared losing his position as King), and for restoration of his relationship with God. David counted all of the things that he forfeited as long as he lived in sin (Psalm 32:1).

STEP 4 = COMMIT TO OBEY (vv. 13-19)
David was committing himself to witness (v. 13). He understood what it meant to be a sinner and sought to call other sinners to repent. He also committed himself to worship. David was, in repentance, committing himself to sing as he had never sung before so that others would know about God and how thankful he was for God’s mercy. David was demonstrating a broken and contrite heart, which is the kind of sacrifice that God wants most. (2 Corinthians 7:9).

Thank God for the greatness of His grace, love, and compassion in forgiving you whenever you sin. Confess any known sin and ask Him to cleanse you and restore you (cf. 1 John 1:8-9).

More in Holy Habits

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A Roadmap For Repentance - Pt. 1

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