After God’s Own Heart
After God's Own Heart, Blog, Confession, Erik Garthe, Faith, Forgiveness, No Longer Conformed, Prayer, Repentance, Restoration, Sin, Sorrow
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It’s been said, “Forgiveness means there was sin nearby.” When the Bible tells about a person, it presents the good, the bad, and the ugly. King David is a prominent example of this. He is written of as a “man after God’s own heart” and nearby are recorded the details of a great sin of his life.
Psalm 51 contains his confession of that sin and reveals the five steps he took toward forgiveness. They are steps each of us must take if we want forgiveness. First, is the step of faith—“O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.” (v. 1) You must believe in the love and mercy of God. When it comes to sin none of us wants His justice. Second, is the step of confession—“I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.” (v. 3) You must acknowledge your sin to God. The only way to deal with sin is to call it by the right name, and accept the blame for it. Third, is the step of prayer—“Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.” (v. 9) You must ask for cleansing. David did not merely want forgiveness; he went to God and asked for it. Your desire must become a prayer. Fourth, is the step of repentance—“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You.” (vv. 12-13) You must turn to a life of active service for the Lord. A forgiven person is a grateful person; and a grateful person is a serving person. Fifth, is the step of sorrow—“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise.” (v. 17) You must be broken regarding your sins: He wants you to be sorry for them. Has your fellowship with God been disrupted? Have you lost the joy of His salvation? These are the five steps David took to get back in right fellowship with God, and you can take them, too.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
