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Friday, February 11, 2005
When I was younger in my faith, I knew I was supposed to ask God for forgiveness for my sins. I did, too.
But when I was in college, the guy that was discipling me in the faith asked me a question:
"When Christ died, how many of your sins were in the future?"
Seeing as how it was 1986, the answer was obvious to me: "All of 'em."
Then he asked me another very interesting question, "Then why ask God to forgive them, since when he died on the cross they were already forgiven?"
I really didn't have much of an answer. In fact, I didn't even try to fake it. "I dunno. Now that you mention it, it seems strange."
My friend Charles wasn't insinuating that I shouldn't ask God for forgiveness at all. I mean, he knew as well as I did that Christ mentioned it in The Lord's Prayer. He was simply wanting me to get to the core of the issue.
One that is highlighted in the life of King David. In fact, when we think of David we usually either think of his big military victory over Goliath...or we think of his affair with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband. And, we get a picture of why we need to ask for forgiveness from God in Psalm 51.
In fact, if you read the introduction to Psalm 51, it tells you why David wrote this Psalm: After Nathan had confronted him on the sins of murder and adultery.
Note what David asks for in verse 1: "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Thy compassion blot out my transgressions."
David had to appeal to God's grace. See, there was no sacrifice he could offer for murder and adultery. He couldn't walk to the Tabernacle and make a few sacrifices that would give him a temporary covering for his actions. In fact, the only penalty for his particular sins in this instance was death. He had nothing before the Lord in this instance.
He asks for grace because God is compassionate.
In verse 2, he asks for forgiveness: "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me."
David was aware of what his sins were. So was God.
David knew this, and he also knew that his salvation couldn't be lost. In verse 12 he doesn't ask for his salvation to be given back, he simply asks for the JOY of his salvation to be restored. In verse 14, David calls God the "God of my salvation."
So, let's see what we have. David is aware of his sin. So is God. David is saved and can't lose that salvation.
We're usually aware of our sins. I mean, we'd have to be in order to ask forgiveness for them, right? God is aware. We are saved and we can't lose that salvation. All our sins were in the future when Christ was on the cross, hence they've already been forgiven.
Again, why ask for forgiveness?
A clue is foun in verses 16--19 of Psalm 51: "For Thou dost not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; Thou art not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise. By Thy favor do good to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem. Then Thou wilt delight in righteous sacrifices. In burnt offerings and whole burnt offering, then young bulls will be offered on Thine altar."
Did you catch that David realized it wasn't the sacrifices that were important. It was a contrite heart. A broken heart. The admission that God is God and I am not Him. That He alone is holy, and I'm not. And when I confess sin, I admit that understanding this is the cornerstone of our very...
...relationship.
That's what it's about. Relationship.
Forgiveness restores the relationship...which is what God really wants with us. He doesn't delight in us cowering in front of Him...but saying we're sorry allows us to experience the joy of our salvation, knowing that God is forgiving and gracious and compassionate. And eternal life is knowing Him, and experiencing that is in the restoration of relationship.
And, it's the same way in dealing with others. Not only are we to ask God to forgive us...we're supposed to model that same grace and compassion to others. Our realtionship with those that God loves is hindered if we're holding grudges against them.
So, it's about your relationship with God.
And, the obvious application today is to ask is there something between you and God that needs to be confessed in order to enhance the relationship? Is there something between you and someone else that is affecting relationships? If so, what steps are you going to take in order to restore the joy of your salvation?
Brent 3:45 AM
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