There is Only One Way to Heaven

John 3:1-17

Today’s Scripture passage from this week’s Lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer contains one of the most well-known verses, and familiar passages of the Bible.  In this Scripture we read of the necessity of the new birth, the nature of saving faith, and the heart of God in sending His Son for our salvation.

As we begin, we read that a man named Nicodemus came to see Jesus one evening (vs. 1-2).  Nicodemus was a devout Pharisee who meticulously followed the Old Testament Law and religious rituals.  He was also a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish religious and legal court, which held some power under Roman occupation.  Nicodemus had heard Jesus preach and teach on several occasions, seen some of the miracles, and was interested in learning more, but because his peers within the Pharisees and Sanhedrin, he was afraid to do this publicly, so he came to Jesus at night.

Jesus welcomed Nicodemus and the two conversed.  However, Jesus made it clear right from the start that religious knowledge, moral living, and even respect for Himself was not the same as salvation.  People today, as well as back then, often think they are the same.  They believe that if they go to church, have a passing knowledge of the Bible or other religious writings, live a good moral life, and even hold Jesus in the highest regard, that this will get them to heaven.  As Jesus clearly states in our Scripture today, that is not the case!

Jesus doesn’t waste any time discussing nonessentials.  He comes right to the point immediately, and tells Nicodemus that he must be born again.  He needs salvation if he wants to see the Kingdom of God, to go to heaven (vs. 3).  Nicodemus misunderstood Jesus, thinking that He was somehow talking about physical birth, and how that could be at all possible (vs. 4).  Jesus was not talking about physical birth, but spiritual birth, one produced by the Holy Spirit (vs. 5-6).  He clearly stated that this is necessary for every person, regardless of their religious background.  It was necessary then, and it is necessary today.  People are not born again, or saved, because of who or what they are.  It doesn’t matter what religion one’s parents are, or how devoutly they practice any religious rituals.  One must be born again to get to heaven (vs. 7).

Being “born of water and the Spirit” (vs. 5), is not baptismal regeneration.  One is not born again because they have been baptized.  Any number of heinous criminals and dictators were baptized as babies, and they most probably were not saved.  Water refers to the cleansing work of the Word of God, as we read in Ezekiel 36:25-27 and Ephesians 5:26.  The Spirit refers to the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.  Being born again, or saved, is a supernatural act of God, not achieved by human effort.  When we are born again, we become children of the living God, and rightful heirs to every good thing that He has to offer.

Despite being a religious leader and teacher, Nicodemus still did not understand, and Jesus gently rebuked him (vs. 9-10).  The Old Testament had already promised a new heart and Spirit in those verses from Ezekiel mentioned above, but Nicodemus had missed the meaning of God’s promise.  Jesus then shifted from the new birth to the basis of salvation - that of His own person and work (vs. 13-15).  The Lord used as a reference the picture of when God sent fiery serpents as judgment on the Israelites, and the cure was to look at the image of a serpent Moses put on a pole (Numbers 21:4-9).  Israel was dying from these serpent bites, and God provided only one remedy - to look at the lifted-up serpent.  Those who looked lived.  This was an example of what Jesus would accomplish when He died on the cross.  The people couldn’t use whatever cure they wanted to make up.  They had to use God’s cure.  It is the same with salvation.  We can’t decide what sounds good by today’s modern standards.  We are only saved by God’s way.  Salvation is by faith alone in the finished work of Christ alone.

Next comes one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, verses 16 and 17.  This is not a vague sentiment, but a purposeful, sacrificial love towards undeserving sinners.  God gave, not merely sent, His only begotten Son to die for sinners.  And no matter who you are, if you believe and put your faith in Jesus, you will receive eternal life.  The Gospel is rooted in God’s love, accomplished through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, and received by faith.

The Bible, and Jesus Himself, say that He is the only way of salvation (I John 5:11-12; John 14:6).  If you want to get to heaven, Jesus is the only One who can take you there.  We can trust God, because He has given us exactly what we need most - salvation.  He did not do this because He owed us anything, or because of any inherent good within us.  God saved us for one reason, and that is because of His all-surpassing love.

Works Versus Faith

Romans 4:1-17

Have you ever gotten a flyer in the mail saying to come by a store or showroom and receive a free gift.  Since often these things are not exactly as they seem, we might wonder if there is some catch.  Will we have to make a purchase, or sign up for some subscription, or watch some presentation in order to get the “free gift”, or are they being honest, and no purchase is necessary.  Just show up and get your gift.  People have wondered about that regarding salvation.  Is it really just believe and one is saved, or do we have to do all sorts of works in order to be saved?  All too often various groups have tried to teach that there are certain things one must do in order to be saved.  However, in our Scripture today we will see exactly what God has said in His Word about this matter.

As we open our Scripture, Paul gives us the example of the Patriarch Abraham for us to look at.  He is the most revered figure in Jewish history, and Paul uses him as an example to prove that faith, and not works, has always been God’s way of salvation, for if Abraham was justified by faith, then no one can claim salvation by keeping the Mosaic Law or any other type of works.

If Abraham, or any of us for that matter, were justified by our works, then we could boast about that (vs. 1-3).  One could brag that they went to church every time the doors were open, never missing a single time.  Another could brag about how much money they gave in the offering.  And another could brag how they never broke a single commandment in the Bible.  However, we cannot boast before God.  Abraham, our spiritual father, believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness (Genesis 15:6).  The word “accounted” in verse 3 in Greek is “logizomai”, and is an accounting term.  God credits righteousness to the believer’s account.  Justification is a legal declaration, not a reward.

As we continue, Paul contrasted two systems - those of works versus faith (vs. 4-5).  They are mutually exclusive.  Works are wages that are owed to you.  You worked for them.  Whereas faith is the righteousness credited to the ungodly without their having to work for it.  God justifies the ungodly, not the morally impressive.  This is the heart of the Gospel, that God saves sinners, not the self-righteous.

Paul then goes on to quote Psalm 32:1-2 where he states that God will forgive the sins of those who come to Him, and not impute, or put them on the account of that person.  Justification has two sides.  On the negative side, God removes the guilt of the sinner.  On the positive side, He imputes or credits the righteousness of Jesus to them.

In the days of the very early Church, there were some who went around teaching that one could not be genuinely saved unless they kept the Mosaic Law, particularly they stressed that of being circumcised.  Paul very clearly answers that argument by referring to when Abraham was justified, and that it was before he was circumcised by several years (vs. 9-12).  The ritual of circumcision was described in Genesis 17.  Abraham believed God and was justified by faith in Genesis 15, which is before chapter 17.  Circumcision did not contribute to his salvation, and we see that rituals cannot save.  Abraham is the father of all who believe - circumcised or not.  There is no religious ceremony, whether it is baptism, communion, or any other, that can justify us.  We should be baptized and receive communion, but they do not save us.

God made a promise to Abraham that he would be the father of many nations, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 17:4-6; Genesis 22:17).  This promise was not by keeping the Law of Moses, which was given over 400 years later.  This promise was given through the righteousness of faith that Abraham had.  If we had to keep the law, whether the Mosaic Law or any list of works that some denominations say we should keep, in order to be saved, then faith is void and God’s promises would be meaningless.  The Law reveals sin, but it cannot remove it.

Paul concludes that the promise is by faith, by grace, and it is certain (vs. 16-17).  If salvation depended on human performance, no one could be certain.  How would we know if we had done enough works?  Would it be one a day, ten a day?  However, because it depends on God’s grace, the promise is secure for both Jewish and Gentile believers.

So as we see through our Scripture today, justification is by faith alone.  Salvation has always been by grace through faith.  It has never been by works, rituals, or keeping the Mosaic Law.  Abraham was justified by faith apart from any works, and all who believe, whether Jewish or Gentile, are saved the same way.

Who to Trust in Uncertain Times

Psalm 33:12-22

All throughout history there has been fighting between people.  We see it between two individuals, between gangs and clans, all the way up to nations.  It has been said that since the beginning of recorded history there has not been any one period of time where there hasn’t been some type of fighting somewhere on earth.  If there was peace in one portion of the world, there was always some type of fighting going on somewhere else, even if it wasn’t officially declared a war.  Though many of us have never experienced a war of any level, some of you may have, and we can all imagine how terrifying and devastating it would be.  Who are you trusting at that time?  Your political leaders?  Your military generals, and the strength of your army?  Your underground bunker, or financial resources in order to make an escape?  Our Scripture today, from the second half of Psalm 33, directs us in whom we should trust when the world is blowing up around us.

As our Scripture opens, the author lets us know that those who trust in the Lord are blessed (vs. 12).  He speaks of the largest possible group, a nation, that if they trust in Yahweh, including following and obeying His Word, they will be blessed.  Perhaps there might have been some time in the past where possibly a nation, the majority of its people, trusted and followed Jesus, but I don’t think that is the case anywhere today. True national blessing is tied to acknowledging and honoring Yahweh as God.  Blessing is not rooted in political strength but in a relationship with God.  His people are His possession - chosen, loved, and protected.

As we read on, we are told that God sees and knows all (vs. 13-15).  He sees all - nothing is hidden from Him.  He also understands all, knowing every heart.  And He is the Creator and Judge of all.  Nations will rise and fall, but God alone rules.  This should be both comforting and convicting for us, as He knows our motives, our fears, and desires perfectly.  God knows where each of His children are, and what help they need.

Next we read something that everyone should take note of, and that is that no king is saved by his army, and that their military horse or their strength cannot deliver them (vs. 16-17).  No political leader, whether king, president, or prime minister, and the people of their nations, should trust in the size of their armies, nor in military weapons and equipment.  The psalmist reminds us that we are not delivered by any of that, whether it was a historic war horse or today’s most technically equipped fighter jets.  None of that can guarantee a victory.  Strength without God is vain, empty, powerless, and deceptive.  God resists the proud, those who trust in their own power, as the Apostle James tells us (James 4:6).

Our focus now shifts from the nations in general to the faithful remnant.  God has watchful care for those who fear Him (vs. 18-19).  God’s eye is on those who fear Him, who have reverence, and obey and trust His Word.  He will deliver them from death, and sustain them during famine.  This is not a promise of a trouble-free life, but of God’s faithful presence and preservation.  God’s care is personal, intentional, and is rooted in His covenant love.

So, if we shouldn’t put our trust in military leaders, armies, or equipment, who or what should we trust in to protect us in times of war and danger?  Who or what will protect us?  Our psalmist says that the Lord is our help and shield (vs. 20).  In ancient times a shield was necessary against swords and arrows.  Though today’s weapons are far more sophisticated and deadly, He still protects His children and those who trust in His Holy Name (vs. 21-22).

As this portion of Psalm 33 teaches us, God is sovereign.  He rules over nations and individuals.  Trusting in our national or personal strength apart from God is worthless.  In times of war and danger we should remember that God watches over and sustains the people who have put their trust in Him.  His mercy is the foundation of our hope.

In closing, as believers we need to remember to trust in God, rather than the resources of anyone or anything else.  God sees our heart, and He knows where we are, what is happening around us, and what we need.  The people of the world need to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ, and that true blessings come from Him.  When circumstances feel uncertain, wait on the Lord, for He alone is our help and shield.

A Journey by Faith

Genesis 12:1-8

When some people travel, they like to be free, with little planning, just enjoying wherever the road takes them.  That’s not me!  Whenever I travel anywhere, I always like to have my route and destination completely mapped out ahead of time.  Back in the days when using paper maps was common, I studied them carefully, noting which roads to take, and each and every turn I had to make.  Nowadays I check the map online while my daughter, my faithful navigator, puts everything into her GPS on her phone which will tell me where to make my turns.  I don’t know if I would have done so well with what the Lord called Abram (later known as Abraham) to do.  Let’s take a look at what He called Abram to do.

As our Scripture opens, we read of God calling Abram to leave his extended family and the home that he had in the city of Haran.  Right prior to our passage, in the last few verses of chapter 11, we read that Abram’s elderly father had taken the whole extended family out of Ur of the Chaldees and moved northwest to Haran.  Ur was an ancient Sumerian city-state in Mesopotamia (present day Iraq) near the mouth of the Euphrates River and the Persian Gulf. This was a very pagan culture, which worshipped the moon as its chief deity.  Haran was an ancient city in Upper Mesopotamia (present day Turkey), also along the Euphrates River, about 650 miles northwest of Ur.  After living in Haran for a number of years, God called Abram to pack up his belongings, take his wife, and leave (vs. 1).  God did not tell him where he was going to, just that He would show him the land He would give to his descendants.

God commanded Abram to “get out” (vs. 1).  This phrase was not a request or a suggestion.  It was a command.  Go!  Now!  Get up and move!  Abram, at age 75, was told to leave everything that he knew - his land, any business he may have had, his relatives, and his home, and he was obedient.  There were three layers of separation that Abram was called to make - from his country and the familiar culture of Ur and Haran, from his relatives and his family ties, and from his house, his earthly security.  God uprooted him from idolatry and set him apart for His purposes.  Separation unto God always involves separation from something else.

In verses 2 and 3 we read God’s promises to Abram, which form the core of the Abrahamic Covenant.  God promised to make him a great nation, which implies physical descendants which he currently had none of.  God promised to bless him and make his name great.  This was fulfilled both historically and spiritually.  Abram would be a blessing by becoming a channel of God’s grace.  God promised to protect him and his seed, and through him the world would be blessed, which was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus (Galatians 3:8, 16).  These promises are literal, unconditional, and everlasting.

Abram immediately obeyed the Lord (vs. 4-5).  He obeyed without knowing the destination (Hebrews 11:8).  God told him very little of where he was going, any description of the land, or how long it would take to get there.  He just told Abram to go, and his obedience was credited to him as faith.  Abram did not delay, and he left the comfort and security he had known, choosing faith and trust in God instead, solely relying on His Word.

Abram journeyed south of Haran, down to Shechem, which was in the hill country of Canaan (vs. 6-7).  This location was about 35 miles north of where Jerusalem would later be, a journey of about 45o miles from Haran.  Abram stopped at the plains of Moreh, where there were terebinth trees, a place associated with pagan Canaanite worship.  Here God repeats His promises to Abram, and the patriarch builds an altar to the Lord.

Worship was Abram’s first act in the promised land.  In faith he responded to God’s promise with worship, not in reliance upon himself.  Abram journeyed a bit further south, to a spot between Bethel and Ai, just west of the Jordan River, where he built another altar to God (vs. 8).  Not only were these altars that he built for his worship, but they were also public testimonies to the Canaanites, a witness to the one true God, Yahweh.

Abram was now living as a pilgrim (Hebrews 11:9-10), moving through the land God promised, but not yet possessing it.  His life is a pattern of faith, obedience, worship, and witness.  Obedience to God often requires us leaving our comfort zones.  It may disrupt our routines, our relationships, or our plans.  Faith trusts God’s promises, even when fulfillment seems distant, like it did for Abram.  And like Abram, worship should always be our first response throughout our life, bearing public testimony to God’s Name.  Remember, God’s promises are sure, even when circumstances seem contrary.

Stand on God's Word

Matthew 4:1-11

As humans, we all face temptations every day.  This included our Lord Jesus Christ while on earth, for though He was fully God, He was also fully man.  Satan delights when we give in to temptation and sin, and he would have loved to have seen Jesus give in to temptation, for then He would not have been sinless and able to redeem us.  In our Scripture today we will look at one specific time in particular when Satan came against Jesus with several temptations.  Let’s see how Jesus responded, and came out victorious.

As our Scripture opens, Jesus had just been baptized, and publicly identified as the beloved Son of God, and had been anointed by the Holy Spirit for His earthly ministry.  He was then led by the Spirit into the wilderness.  This was not by accident.  Temptation, in itself, is not a sin.  It is only when we fail and give in does the sin come.  This would be a demonstration of Jesus’ perfect obedience to the Father.

Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days, and was fasting and praying during that time (vs. 2).  By the end of that time He was naturally hungry, and Satan used that as an opportunity to attack.  Satan will often strike when we are physically or emotionally depleted.  He came to Jesus, tempting Him to change some of the stones into bread (vs. 3).  This temptation was to use divine power independently of the Father’s will.  Satan suggested a shortcut, to satisfy a legitimate need in an illegitimate way.

The Savior responded by coming against His adversary with Scripture (vs. 4).  He didn’t use His own power or wit.  Jesus confronted the devil with God’s Word, and only God’s Word.  He quoted Deuteronomy 8:3.  Obedience to God is more important than physical satisfaction.

Satan wasn’t going to give up, so he came at Jesus with another temptation (vs. 5-6).  Since Jesus had used the Bible, Satan tried to also use it in this temptation (Psalm 91:11-12).  He tempted Jesus to throw Himself from the Temple and command angels to catch Him.  However, he misused Scripture, trying to force God’s hand, demanding miraculous proof.  That is the sin of presumption, testing God rather than trusting Him.  Jesus responded again with Scripture, quoting Deuteronomy 6:16.  Scripture interprets Scripture.  One verse never contradicts another.

Satan often uses half-truths instead of outright lies.  He likes promoting just enough truth about God to appear Biblical, while denying the power of the Gospel to save and transform.  We see this frequently done by false teachers and preachers.  They like to twist Bible verses around and quoting it to suit their ungodly teachings, but never using the Scripture to teach salvation.  Faith does not manipulate God or His Word, but rather submits to Him.

The devil tried a third time with a temptation of offering the kingdoms of the world to Jesus (vs. 8-9).  Jesus will ultimately receive all the kingdoms of the earth, but Satan promised to give them to Him right then, without the cross, but only if He would worship him.  Again, Jesus responded with Scripture, quoting Deuteronomy 6:13 and 10:20.   This is the temptation of compromise: gain without suffering, glory without obedience.  The devil flashes newer, bigger, and seemingly better things of this world in front of us, trying to lure us into thinking we must have it, which leads to the worship of the god of this world, who is Satan (II Corinthians 4:4).  Worship belongs to God alone - no compromise, no negotiation.  Christ’s authority is absolute.  When Satan left, angels came to minister to Jesus (vs. 11).  God’s provision comes in God’s time.

Why was Jesus tempted?  By being tempted, He showed us that He was human, like us.  And by overcoming temptation, Jesus showed His ability to carry out His Father’s will.  Through His perfect obedience, Jesus will rescue us from the devil.  Jesus’ rejection of the devil’s temptations also provides us the perfect model for enduring temptations, which is using God’s Word against the devil.

Satan hates the Bible, which is why he tries so hard to destroy it.  He was repelled by the Word of God as he tempted Jesus.  It is our sword against him (Ephesians 6:17).  We can’t simply wave our Bible in the air, hoping to scare the devil away, and we can never defeat him in our own strength.  If we try he will surely give us a beat down.  To effectively defeat his lies, we need a good working knowledge of God’s Word, so that we can fight deception with truth, whatever the situation may be.  Stand firmly upon God’s written Word, as our Lord did when the devil tempted Him to yield to his deception.

One Brought Death, One Brought Life

Romans 5:12-21

If you look back on your life, can you see where one decision or one act of yours changed the whole trajectory of your life, maybe for good, or maybe for worse?  Perhaps that one thing you did also affected not only your life, but the life of someone else, or perhaps several people.  It might also have affected your family, maybe for several generations to come.  In our Scripture today we will see how one person’s single decision to do something affected not just himself, but everyone from that time forward.  Let’s look at what God’s Word can teach us from St. Paul’s letter to the church in Rome.

In this Scripture passage from Romans Paul explains why salvation must be by grace, and why the Lord Jesus’ work is fully sufficient.  We will see that Adam’s sin brought death, condemnation, and ruin to mankind, but Christ’s obedience brings righteousness, justification, and life.  His work does not merely undo Adam’s fall, it surpasses it.

As Paul begins, we learn that sin entered into the world through our first father, Adam, and death was the direct result of sin (vs. 12).  This death is both a physical and spiritual death.  Since each one of us is a descendant of Adam, not only will we each one day physically die, we have all inherited original sin, and are sinners ourselves.

Both sin and death reigned even when there was no written law to break (vs. 13-14).  People do not die just because they personally violate the Mosaic Law.  They die because they are from Adam’s race, and his guilt is imputed to them.  Adam was a type, or figure of Him who was to come, which is speaking of the Lord Jesus.  He is a type of Christ, not in character, but in function.  Both act as representative heads whose actions affect all who belong to them.

As we see, Adam’s offense brought death to all.  However, Jesus’ grace brings life (vs. 15).  Paul emphasizes here that Christ’s work is not merely equal to Adam’s fall.  It is much superior, as the apostle tells us that the Savior’s work was “much more”!  His obedience overwhelmed Adam’s disobedience.  We also read that God’s gift by His grace “abounded to many”.  I am thankful that the “many” includes me, and that God's love has transferred me into the territory of His marvelous, infinite, matchless grace! No matter what life may bring, nothing can remove us from the realm of God’s grace.

When we read the account of Adam’s sin in Genesis, we see that it took just one act of disobedience to bring sin and condemnation into the world (vs. 16).  Likewise, Jesus’ one act of obedience to God, specifically His death on the cross, brings justification.  Justification is not earned. It is a gift, based on His obedience, not ours.  Adam’s sin caused death to reign, but Jesus’ righteousness causes those who believe in Him to reign (vs. 17).  This includes victory over sin’s dominion, a restored relationship with God, and eternal life.

Paul repeats that it was just one man’s one offense that brought sin and judgment upon all mankind (vs. 18).  We might wonder why that is so.  When we look in nature we see examples - just one tiny microscopic spore of a fungus can multiply and grow to millions of times larger, infecting a much larger area.  One tiny speck of mold in a tiny corner of a loaf of bread, and very soon the whole loaf is moldy.  One speck on one orange in a bag of oranges, and soon the whole bag has gone bad.  One tiny growth of mold within the walls of a house, if left alone, very soon the whole house has mold.  One single act of disobedience by Adam and sin grew so all people are sinners and stand condemned before God.  However, the good news is that the one act of sinless Jesus provides eternal life to all who accept Him as Savior (vs. 19).

As we close this Scripture passage we see that grace is not threatened by sin (vs. 20-21).  It is not limited by sin.  Grace overflows beyond sin’s reach.  Sin reigned in death, but now grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life for those who come to Jesus in faith.  You don’t have to earn God’s favor.  It is Jesus’ obedience, not yours, that secures your salvation.  If you have accepted Him as Savior then sin is no longer your master, death is no longer your terror, and condemnation is no longer your destiny.  God’s grace is stronger than your failures.

Have Mercy on Me

Psalm 51

We’ve all sinned, done some things that were against God’s commands, things that grieved Him.  Did you ever try to cover up a sin that you knew was terribly wrong, or pretend that it never happened?  Our psalm for this week was written about just such an event, and the repentance, cleansing, and restoration that followed.

The superscription for this psalm gives us the context, as King David wrote this after having been confronted by the prophet Nathan following having committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, one of David’s elite soldiers (I Samuel 11 - 12:15).  When they found out that she was pregnant, David ordered his general, Joab, to put Uriah in the thickest part of the battle, and then retreat, essentially ordering his execution.  So David committed two grave sins - adultery and murder.  Then David married Bathsheba, and acted for over a year as if nothing had happened.  However, God knew, and when David was not repenting on his own, He sent Nathan to confront him.

The king could have had Nathan killed for daring to confront his sin, but David knew he had done wickedly in the sight of God, and immediately repented and cried out to God for forgiveness (vs. 1-2).  He knew that he could not fix this, and he cried for God’s mercy, which is undeserved. Forgiveness is grounded in who God is, not who we are.

David made a full confession of his sins (vs. 3-4).  He didn’t try to hide it any longer, make excuses, or give a partial confession.  He was aware of the gravity of his sin, and took responsibility.  He also acknowledged that his offense was against God.  Whenever we sin, our sins are against God and His holiness.  This does not deny the harm done to others.  Rather, it recognizes that all sin is ultimately rebellion against God.

He confessed not only his acts of sin, but also that he, like all of us, had a sinful nature (vs. 5-6).  God desires that we are truthful to both Him and ourselves.  The Lord wants integrity, not outward religiosity.

Our psalm continues with a picture of sacrificial imagery (vs. 7).  Hyssop was a plant used to sprinkle water and the blood of sacrifice, which is an image of cleansing.  David was asking for cleansing through atonement. Even though I really dislike winter and snow, snow can be a picture of our forgiveness.  Jesus provided a way for us to be cleansed of our sins, and our hearts to be made whiter than snow.  Only He can cleanse the sinner, and He does so thoroughly.  There is only one way to deal with our sin problem, and that is the Precious Blood of Jesus.

In verse 10 David prayed that God would “Create in me a clean heart.”  The word “create” in Hebrew is “bara”, which is the same verb used in Genesis 1 when God created the heavens and the earth.  David was asking for a divine act of re-creation.  He wanted God to make him into a new man.  David prayed that God not cast him away, nor take His Holy Spirit from him (vs. 11).  This was not about losing his salvation, as we cannot lose our salvation.  This was about losing the empowering presence of God for service, such as what happened with the previous king, Saul.

David prayed that the joy of the Lord that he once felt would return (vs. 12).  Sometimes we struggle with self-forgiveness because we find it difficult to accept God’s forgiveness.  Guilt can be so strong that it overshadows God’s gift of forgiveness.  Often our personal disappointment prevents us from forgiving ourselves, especially when we see the results of our sin.  However, David knew that when God forgives, we are truly forgiven, and we can move on in our life by further service to Him (vs. 13).

Rituals alone cannot fix sin (vs. 16-17).  God wants heart-level repentance rather than just an outward show.  Repentance involves full confession, and a true confession will acknowledge our guilt.  It involves recognizing that the sin was against God, even though other people may be hurt, as well.  When we repent, we take full responsibility for our sin.  There can be no blaming others or making excuses with God.  It is not complete without full honesty.  Repentance means changing one's mind about sin.

It was at David’s lowest point that he had a revelation of God’s love and mercy.  God does not abandon us in our times of crisis, for He has promised to save us, even in our darkest time.  Psalm 51 is a gift to every believer who has ever failed, which is all of us.  It shows that no sin is too deep for God’s mercy, and no heart is too broken for God to restore.  David’s darkest moment became the occasion for one of Scripture’s brightest testimonies of grace.