STS Volume 75 - Lesson 967

CONFESSION OF SIN AND FORGIVENESS

Memory Verse: "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess
my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah" (Psalm 32:5).
Text: Psalms 31, 32 and 51
The subject of confession and forgiveness of sins is central to the commencement, continuation and culmination
of the Christian faith. The fall and depravity of man due to disobedience to divine command not to eat the
forbidden fruit in Eden underpins this discourse. The depraved nature of the first man affected the spiritual gene
of all his offspring, the entire human race. Thus, "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"
(Romans 3:23). Sin is the transgression of God’s commandments which results in spiritual slavery, guilt,
condemnation, alienation and eternal separation from God and burning in hell.
God loves all people and does not want anyone to suffer these grievous consequences of sin on earth and in hell.
Thus, He is "...ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon [Him]" (Psalm 86:5).
But this forgiveness, procured by Christ through His sacrifice on the cross for everyone free of charge, is
provisional (Hebrews 9:22; John 1:29; 3:16; Romans 8:32). Everyone is required to obtain it through
acknowledgment and confession of sins with a penitent heart (Luke 17:3,4; Acts 2:38; 5:31; 20:21; 1 John 1:9).
Thus, the grief and misery of a sinful life, the indispensability of confessing sins to God with a penitent heart,
the possibility and blessedness of receiving forgiveness from Him are the subjects of the penitential psalms for
our text.
REPROACH AND GUILT OF A CONVICTED SINNER (Psalms 31:1-14; 32:3,4; 51:14; 38:1-11; 40:12;
22:1; 102:3,4; Isaiah 1:4-6; Lamentations 1:20; Ezekiel 39:23,24,26)
"Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and
my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine
iniquity, and my bones are consumed. I was a reproach among all mine enemies, but especially among
my neighbours..." (Psalm 31:9-11).
David was a man of high social status, the echelon of society where impunity reigns. But his expressed spiritual,
psychological and physical trauma for committing adultery with Bathsheba showed that no one, no matter how
highly placed, can escape the deadly consequences of their sinful actions and inactions. David was tormented
and weakened by a feeling of social stigma on realisation that he could not cover his evil deeds of adultery and
cold-blooded murder of Uriah, Bathsheba’s husband.
David revealed that "day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought
of summer. Selah" (Psalm 32:4). Aside the heavy weight of His mighty hand upon sinners and backsliders day
and night, "the face of the Lord is against them that do evil" and He is "angry with [them] every day" (1
Peter 3:12; Psalm 7:11). David witnessed Saul’s torments by an evil spirit and miserable end when God’s Spirit
departed from him. While suffering from guilt and loss of inner peace and joy of salvation, the fear of being cast
away by God and of enemies’ assault gripped his heart. His vulnerability without the Holy Spirit dawned on
him. Under God’s displeasure, he knew his service would be unacceptable and fruitless; his teaching and
singing ministry would be bereft of the Spirit’s inspiration and conversion of sinners. Thus, he cried, "Cast me
not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me... Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O
God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness" (Psalm 51:11,14).
David’s pain and troubles in sin provides a bird-eye view into the life of every sinner across all social strata. Sin
is deadly and destructive; it breaks the heart of God and separates the sinner from the Source of all blessings.
Two, it robs of peace and leaves behind guilt and condemnation. Three, it attracts troubles and storms to the
sinner who is likened to "the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt" (Isaiah
57:20). Four, it leads to spiritual famine and dehumanising experiences (Luke 15:14-16).
Five, sin short-circuits the prospects of a once-vibrant life; "The joy of our heart is ceased; our dance is
turned into mourning. The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!"
(Lamentations 5:15,16). Six, sin leads to retrogression (Isaiah 1:4; Jeremiah 7:24; 15:6; Lamentations 1:8).
Seven, it begets unanswered prayers, disconnects and hinders inflow of blessings (Isaiah 59:1-3; Jeremiah
5:25). Eight, the sinner is tormented by fear of retribution because "Evil pursueth sinners..." and pitiably, he
continues to "flee when no man pursueth..." (Proverbs 13:21; Hosea 8:3; Proverbs 28:1). Nine, sin renders
spiritual service worthless and fruitless. Ten, sinners suffer from demonic afflictions, sicknesses and diseases
(John 5:14). Eleven, they experience broken homes, loss of jobs, privileges and opportunities (Proverbs 14:1).
Twelve, a sinful life attracts curse (Zechariah 5:3,4; 9:3,4). Thirteen, eternal torments awaits sinners in hell
(Luke 16:19-24). Truly, a sinner "destroyeth much [personal, family, community and societal] good"
(Ecclesiastes 9:18).
REPENTANCE AND CONFESSION OF SINS TO GOD (Psalms 31:15-20; 32:5; 51:1-19; 38:18; 85:7; 2
Samuel 12:1-16; Nehemiah 1:7; Job 31:33; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 1:9)
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness... blot out my transgressions. Wash me
throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and
my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight..." (Psalm
51:1-4).
True confession is always from a repentant heart. God demands repentance from all sinners in order to enjoy
redemption through Christ (Mark 1:15; Matthew 4:17; Luke 13:3,5; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 17:30). While
repentance is sincere turning away from sin to God, confession is a verbal expression of one’s sinfulness and
guilt to God. It is a heartfelt acknowledgment that one has done what God forbids and declares as sin in His
word; that one is guilty and merits His declared judgment; that one desires mercy and forgiveness on the merit
of the full payment Christ made by His sacrifice on the cross; that one is willing to abandon sin in order to
follow God henceforth.
Scriptural confession is devoid of pointing accusing fingers or trading of blames (Genesis 3:12). David said, "I
have sinned against the LORD" (2 Samuel 12:13). Daniel identified with the sins of his nation and confessed
them to God (Daniel 9:5). Confession is simply telling God the truth about our sinful lifestyle which He already
knows. Being omniscient, God does not grant forgiveness to those who are not sincere or those who confess
without willingness to part with sins. "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13).
David’s repentance and confession of sins reveal, one, the possibility of backsliding for careless believers; two,
the doctrine of unconditional security of saved souls as false: believers have the responsibility of abiding in
Christ through righteous living, regular intake of God’s word, prayer, watchfulness, fellowship with people of
like precious faith and soul-winning so as not to fall into sin; three, the practice of so-called Christian leaders
asking members to confess sins to them regularly is unscriptural as they not only usurp the divine prerogative to
forgive sins but also give such members license to continue in their evil; four, all backsliders can return to God
and re-establish a living relationship with Him.
RENEWAL AND BLESSEDNESS THROUGH FORGIVENESS (Psalms 31:21-24; 32:1,2,5-11; Romans
4:5-8; Exodus 34:7; 2 Chronicles 7:13,14; Psalms 85:1-3; 103:2,3,8-10; Jeremiah 33:8; 1 John 1:9; Matthew
18:15-17,21,22; Luke 17:3,4)
The psalmist testified that "...thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah" (Psalm 32:5). When God forgives
transgressions of men, He equally covers, blots out and removes their guilt. The Hebrew and Greek words for
forgiveness denote "to cover", "to pardon", "to cancel" and "to send away". Forgiveness is the means by
which our relationship with God is restored (Romans 5:9,10; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 2:13).
God grants forgiveness only on the merit of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and shed blood (Romans 5:11). There is
nothing the natural man can offer to appease God to escape His righteous judgment. Divine justice requires that
sin should be punished; the soul that sins must die or a sinless substitute is required to pay the death penalty so
he can be forgiven. God demonstrated supreme love for man by giving us His Son and making "...his soul an
offering for sin... He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my
righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities" (Isaiah 53:8-11). None else qualifies to be
the sinless substitute as all have sinned. Christ "gave himself a ransom for all" (1 Timothy 2:6), irrespective
of gender, race and status. As our perfect substitute, sacrifice and sin-bearer, He did "taste death for
[everyone]" (Hebrews 9:22; 2:9; Matthew 1:21). It is in Him "we have redemption through his blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Forgiveness is an act of God’s love
by which He overlooks and erases sins confessed to Him from a penitent heart.
David reveals that "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man
unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile" (Psalm 32:1,2). The
blessed adoption and transformation that changes the status of the forgiven and distinguishes them from the
pack of sinful folks amazes Apostle John who said, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed
upon us, that we should be called the sons of God..." (1 John 3:1). Paul the apostle reveals his joy for
obtaining God’s mercy and forgiveness. "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me... Who
was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy..." (1 Timothy 1:12,13).
To engage in religious activities without genuine testimony of salvation is worthless, as that will not get anyone
to heaven.
All who receive God’s forgiveness are truly blessed because they are, one, free from condemnation, guilt and
bondage to sin (Psalm 32:1,2; John 8:32,36; Romans 6:14-23; 8:1); two, granted grace to live a new life of
righteousness, love and obedience (John 1:12; Titus 2:11,12); three, adopted into the family of God as joint-
heirs with Christ and are entitled to all the provisions of heaven; four, separated from the world as peculiar and
holy people (1 John 2:15-17; James 4:4); five, given the Spirit of Christ who assures them of their new status in
Christ and leads them to walk in righteousness; six, empowered to love God, His word and fellow believers in
Christ (1 Peter 1:7,8; 1 John 4:7); seven, submissive to the lordship of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians
6:15; Ephesians 4:23,24; Colossians 3:10); eight, activated by grace to make all necessary restitutions and live
honest lifestyle; nine, inspired to read, study and listen to the word of God, abide in the fellowship of God’s
children and grow in grace; ten, taught to forgive others (Ephesians 4:32; Matthew 18:22); eleven, enabled to
pray regularly; twelve, serviceable in making Christ known to others (John 1:40-42,44,45; 4:28,29); thirteen,
sustained by divine provisions throughout their pilgrimage to heaven (2 Peter 1:3,4); and fourteen, preserved in
holiness to inherit eternal rewards in heaven (1 Peter 1:5; Revelation 22:12).
The privilege of receiving God’s forgiveness is still open to all. And He is willing and ready not just to forgive
but also to cleanse from all unrighteousness and make everyone, who truly repents, righteous.
Question 1: Why is it needless for sinners to continue to bear the consequences of their sins?
Question 2: Highlight the miseries of a sinful life.
Question 3: How important are repentance and confession of sin to obtaining salvation?
Question 4: What can believers learn from David’s repentance and confession of sins to God?
Question 5: Highlight the blessedness of receiving forgiveness from God.