CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

                                             PSALM 51                                           

Pastor Rick Jackson

Everyone needs forgiveness. How do I know that? I know because all have sinned. Since all have sinned all need forgiveness. Forgiveness is not a given. It must be obtained. The alternative to forgiveness is condemnation. Condemnation is a given (Jn. 3:16-19).

I. THE BASICS OF FORGIVENESS

1. Mercy (not being condemned like we deserve) based on love (v. 1)

2. Removal of sin based on the blood (v. 2, Rev. 1:5)

3. Confession precedes forgiveness (to confess means to agree) (v. 3)

(1) The lost must confess Christ as Saviour (Rm. 10:9-13)

(2) The saved confess their sin to God (1 Jn. 1:9)

---The saved already have a relationship with God hence the difference.

II. THE BASICS OF CONFESSION

1. All sin is against a thrice Holy God (v. 4, Is. 6:3, Rev. 4:9)

2. All humans are born sinners (v. 5) ---We aren’t sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. A Cat is not a cat because it meows, it meows because it is a cat; it is the cat’s nature to meow

3. Confession allows God’s desire of fellowship with man (v. 6, Ps. 8:4, Is. 59:2)

III. THE BASICS OF WHAT CONFESSION DOES FOR CHRISTIANS

1. Allows the blood to be applied to the specific area (v. 7, Is. 1:18, passover)

2. Allows joy to return (v. 8)

3. Allows communication to resume (v. 9, Ps. 66:18)

4. Allows God to renew us (not resave us) (v. 10-11)

5. Allows God to restore the joy of salvation to our lives (v. 12)

6. Allows God to use us again (v. 13, I Co. 9:27)

7. Allows us to worship in work and words alike (v. 14-19, Jn. 4:24)