How to Confess Your Sins

If you come to God and you say Lord I any cleansing and I need forgiveness and I'm not too sure you can handle it by the sin is more maybe than you can handle or I will if you got the power to to to clean up this mess. This is a major mess. No psalmist says let you purify me between you wash me I will be whiter than snow and fast. But what is confession that pleases the Lord actually look like and what you need to confess your day-to-day sins. If they've already been forgiven. John MacArthur gives you answers today as he shows you how to maintain a thriving relationship with the Lord. John is exploring Psalm 51 it's a step-by-step blueprint for how to confess your sins that's also the title of our message. So open your Bible to Psalm 51 and here's John. I have found in my own life as a Christian, not particularly as a pastor or preacher in my own life before the Lord as a Christian that Psalm 51 is a place where you go very frequently, because once you understand the scope. The intent the content of this Psalm. It provides a pattern for confession for repentance for penitence. You go back to it again and again flow through the marvelous, marvelous truths of this great Psalm if I can deliver enough of it to you to make it a point of contact for your own confession and times of repentance, then it will serve you in a marvelous and blessed way. By way of introduction, the church, the true church.

The church of Jesus Christ is the one and only organization where members meet regularly together to acknowledge themselves as miserable sinners, the true church of Jesus Christ. In a sense, is obsessed with sin. In fact, I believe the more mature Christian is the more mature a church is the more obsessed with sin it is. I don't believe you grow spiritually out of that obsession. I believe you grow spiritually into it. Churches which talk of good things only and never or rarely speak about sin or confess sin are not mature their immature individuals that talk a little about sin talk mostly about good things are not filled with the attitude of confession and repentance are not mature Christians. They are immature, not holy, but usually unholy. This is the mark of maturity. This is the mark of spiritual virtue, this is the mark of godliness. This is the mark of holiness, shallow, insensitive, immature person would never be able to write some 51 it flows out of the life and pan of one who loves God deeply, and hates sin fiercely, even the sin that he sees in his own life.

So any person who really knows God in a deeper way. Genuinely communes with God who is truly filled with the Holy Spirit who spends time in the word of God is deeply troubled about his or her sin and there is a certain obsession about it belongs to confess longs to repent longs to enjoy forgiveness longs to enjoy restoration. Such a man was David not a spiritual novice but spiritually mature.

A man it says after God's own heart. A man who pursued the heart of God who pursued the will of God. A man who hated sin. Even his own sin.

That's the kind of man we want to lead us into confession.

A man who did sin, but hated it a man who was obsessed with his own guilt and wanted deliverance from it. He is the man who can teach us about matters of confession. This Psalm then Psalm 51 which is before us bears the mark of deep guilt bears the mark of severe remorse over sin and it reveals the nature of true penitence, true repentance and true confession. True confession is if it is to be a part of our lives to be carefully understood and software to understand what it means to confess our sins, we come to a Psalm like this in order that we might learn now if were going to properly confess our sins and follow the pattern of David. We have to view confession in three ways we have to look at sin we have to look at God and we have to look at ourselves and that's what he does threefold view. He views his sin properly.

He views his God properly and he views himself prep. Let's first of all, look at his view of sin in the first five verses noting in verse one, be gracious to me. Oh God, stop at that point briefly what that says is the first thing you need to recognize about sin is it deserves judgment it deserves judgment. Sin deserves judgment. If you're going to truly confess your sin to God and be penitent and repentant, you have to acknowledge that you deserve to be judged. And that's what that prayer implies be gracious to me. Oh God simply means don't give me what I deserve.

Don't give me what I deserve. Give me grace overlook what I deserve. Sin deserves judgment by God who is holy and just and righteous sin deserves its wages. Death and hell. David is admitting I know what I deserve. I know what my sin calls for. But God, being gracious to me. Grace means I don't get what I deserve.

Even now, when in Christ. You and I as Christians are forgiven are still our sin still deserves judgment even though we receive full forgiveness in Christ. We don't deserve it.

When we come to the Lord to confess our sin, we have to acknowledge that what we ask for his grace. What we ask for his mercy because we deserve judgment, you must recognize it.

You must recognize that any sin you commit is worthy of the judgment of God unto death and eternal hell. David understood it and he pleaded for grace. Secondly, if we are to have a proper view of sin. We realize it deserves judgment. Secondly, we also realized it appeals to love it appeals to love. We have to plead for love.

We have to appeal to the love of God, to overlook our sin and give us grace and so he says be gracious to me. Oh God, according to thy lovingkindness.

According to the greatness of thy compassion. He's pleading for tenderness. He's pleading for kindness. He's pleading for compassion. He's pleading for sympathy. Great sympathy that will flow out of the love of God.

There's no other appeal, we can make, but to God's love third thing and having a proper view of sin, you must recognize that sin produces guilt. Sin produces guilt he feels it. Look what he says in verse one. At the end blot out my transgressions. That's one way to say it. Here's another way wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Here's another way and cleanse me from my sin three ways. He said the same thing blot out my transgressions. That's one word for evil, wash me thoroughly from my iniquity.

That's a second word for evil, cleanse me from my sin. That's 1/3 word for evil, uses all the words for evil and he is implying the comprehensive problem that has foul his life. From what she desperately wants deliverance because it has made him blood guilty he is really guilty before God, the one who sin leave such a deep deep stain is the one who feels that only a total cleansing will suffice. So as you come to confess your sin, you recognize that it deserves judgment, but it requires love and that it alleviates guilt. There's 1/4 element that I see in his view of sin in this equally important to the others. Verse three and four tells us that he realizes that sin must acknowledge full responsibility. True confession realizes I deserve judgment realizes I can appeal only to God's great love realizes that I bear guilt from which I need relief and realizes that I am fully responsible for my sin. Look at verse three for I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Here is the proper attitude of the penitent nobody to blame but me a personal pronoun twice my sin, my transgressions, not your fault. God not the fault of the people around me God. Not the fault of the system, in which I live. God not the fault of demons and Satan, God, my sin, my transgressions, and there is true penitence. If you come to God and you say I know my sin deserves judgment. I appeal to love and I need relief from guilt but God, I mean after all the people around me who made me do this or look at Satan and how powerful or the world system or God, why did you ever let me get into that situation, then there is no true penitence. True penitence embraces the fact that this sin is nobody's fault but mine mine.

Furthermore, in verse four he takes it to its logical conclusion against the V only. I have a sin not only are you not responsible for it.

But I have done it against you. I have defiled you. I have delighted you blasphemed. You done what is evil in your sight you hate sin, you're never responsible for it in no circumstance, would you allow ever brings blame on you for it.

So I've sinned against you when I'm done what is evil in your sight notice universe for so that this is what is driving at you are justified when you speak and blameless when you judge what is he saying he saying look I have done. It is my responsibility and my responsibility alone and totally so that if you react against it with certain words or with certain judgment. You have no blame for such as a holy reaction. That's his he's exonerating God from any culpability when God strikes against him in chastening. This is a true penitent God bears no blame for David sin and therefore God bears no culpability when he strikes out in chastening against the sinner. We cannot blame anyone else for our sin, we cannot blame Satan for our sin, we cannot minimize our own responsibility to any degree and still have an honest confession. When you truly confess and acknowledge your sin, then you say to God, in effect, go ahead and chastening. You have every right to do it and I cannot impugn your holy character.

You've only done what I deserve, that gives glory to God. One final and fifth concept is in David's mind as he assesses sin he looks at sin, true repentance and he he says that the right view of sin, the true view of sin includes the knowledge that fifthly it proceeds from your nature.

It proceeds from your nature verse five behold, I was brought forth in iniquity and in sin my mother conceived me. What's he saying he saying look, I'm a sinner from the start of this is a truthful assessment. David has made about sin. This is exactly were true confession starts.

I deserve judgment .12 by plea for love.

I need deliverance from my guilt.

I accept full responsibility. I can't help it. I can't change myself. Oh God, that's a broken and a contrite heart is. That's the stuff that a broken a contrite heart is made that's work confession starts the proper understanding of sin. Secondly, proper understanding of God have to also understand God look at verse six. Several attributes of God are in David's mind, behold, thou dost desire truth in the innermost being and in the hidden part thou wilt make me know was what since he says God your holy your holy your you're not interested in external ceremonies not interested in religious ritual you're interested in the heart, the innermost being the hidden part your concern about the inside true confession acknowledges God's high standard of holiness.

But God wants holy longings holy motives holy desires a pure inside second attribute of God is God's power and I love this. I just love it. He acknowledges the power of God to do what he can't do that God is powerful enough to change him to cleanse it. Look at verse seven purify me with hyssop that was a Bush used to sprinkle blood and water and purification ceremonies purify me with hyssop, none is this confidence and if you do that I'll be clean. Purify basis, wash me, and if you do that will be whiter than snow. That's right.

In other words got.

I know you are powerful enough to change me to cleanse me to wash me if you come to God and you say Laura, I need cleansing and I need forgiveness and I'm not too sure you can handle it by the sin is more maybe than you can handle or I will if you got the power to to to to clean up this mess. This is a major mess.

I'm not sure you can handle this one. Know the psalmist says look if you purify me, I'll be clean and if you wash me I will be whiter than snow. That's how powerful you are summed out God's power to cleanse and change your sinful habits. David didn't doubt it all third thing about God that he affirms is God's goodness just God's goodness in verse eight. Make me to hear joy and gladness, but the bones which thou hast broken rejoiced. He knew God wanted him happy. God is a good God and God receives pleasure when his children rejoice. That's his goodness that's his goodness. He had received God's chastening for his sin, but he knew that God wanted to relieve the burden. Hebrews 12 says that God chastens us for a while in order that he might give us a peaceable fruit of righteousness. But God is good and he wants his children happy, thankful and joyful rejoicing. David knew that Lord wants you to give me joy. I want you to give me gladness. I want you to make me rejoice. You believe and that's a kind of God. When you go to confess your sin, you go to a holy God. You go to a powerful God who can make you clean. You go to a God who is so good. He wants you to be restored because he wants you to be rejoicing is another attribute of God that David knew about that was God's forgiveness. Verse nine hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. He knew that God was a forgiving God who is a pardoning God like the non-prophet Micah says he is confident that God forgives the true confessor.

He knows that if you confess your sins, God is faithful and just to forgive your sins. He knows that that's not just a New Testament truth.

That's the character of God, for thou, Lord. He says in Psalm 86, five are good and ready to forgive. He knew God was good and wanted him rejoicing and God was ready and eager and able to forgive him.

He also knew that God was faithful God was faithful. Verse 10 create in me a clean heart of God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from thy presence, and do not take the Holy Spirit from me. He's confident in God's faithfulness. If you ask God for something you give it. If he promises he'll be with you. He won't leave if he gives you his spirit he will take him back. Here is his trust in what I love to call the sovereign faithfulness of God. Not only is he faithful to what he promises but he is sovereignly able to cope to complete and accomplish what that faithfulness demands he knew God was faithful that God would give them a clean heart if he asked that God would renew that steadfast spirit and not take away his presence and not remove his spirit.

God made a covenant with them. God had said I want to make you one of my own. I want to give you my spirit were going to have a relationship and if you come to me all reaffirm that relationship. I'll be faithful to you might not always be but when you come back I'll be there. I'll be there.

What is it that we need to understand about God when we come to confess our sins, that God is holy God is powerful but is good.

These forgiving is faithful.

Lastly, the penitent sinner needs to understand something about himself something about himself.

He needs to understand that he is significant to God.

That's right. Significant saving assets right your significant to God he saved you for a purpose you the reason you're alive is so that he can find some purpose for you, use you.

Otherwise you could just take you to heaven and what is that purpose will go back to verse 12 restore to me the joy of thy salvation and sustained me with a willing spirit. Lord, make me like you want me spirit is willing to do your will, full of the joy of my salvation is what happens when you get cleanse.

Why then I will teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners will be converted to the number one Lord I got to take a look at myself because I'm important for the sake of sinners. That's .1 for the sake of sinners. I have to teach them your ways, and I have to see them converted to you. And I can't do that unless I have the joy of my salvation and a willing and obedient spirit.

Lord you have to do your work in me so that I'm useful for sinners, God wants you to confess your sin, your friend, for the sake of sinners, so that you can be useful to sinners.

Secondly, not only for the sake of sinners, but are you ready for this for the sake of God himself. Say for the sake of God what you mean by that.

Look at verse 14 deliver me from blood building is so God, thou God of my salvation. Why then my time will not only teach transgressors and convert sinners, but then my time will joyfully sing of thy righteousness was just me and I can worship then I can adore you and I can praise you and I can glorify you. So he says in verse 15 O Lord, open my lips that my mouth may declare thy praise thy praise for you.

You don't delight in sacrifice or I would give it that's just external you're not pleased with the burnt offering. That's just on the outside what you want is a broken spirit broken a contrite heart of God. You will despise in the second point is, as I got to get my life right so my relationship to you is right so I can praise you and so that you will receive me and you will delight in me and you responded to me and I'll be giving you what I want. And our fellowship will be sweet. So we might say. Confess your sin for the sinners sake and for God sake. And thirdly, for the sake of the saints wears that verse 18 to 19. Here he begins to intercede by thy favor do good design build the walls of Jerusalem is praying is praying here then then you will delight in righteous sacrifice is not just external and then burnt offering and whole burnt offering will please you and then young bulls will really be offered on your altar. In other words, revive your people build your city. Build your nation Lord restored all the walls of Jerusalem. Zion your people, the righteous sacrifice is all God bring a revival. That's what is this is a comprehensive view God's plan for the confession of sin. That's John MacArthur, Chancellor of the Masters University and seminary. Today's lesson on grace to you showed you how to confess your sins John. We spent a lot of time looking at the crushing nature of sin because the Bible does. Sin is horrible and powerful and we need to never let our guard down against it. But the thing we can't lose sight of is this, with the exception of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Sin is forgivable in all of its categories, no matter how extreme, and John. I know you would say that God rejoices in saving people who are engaged in even the most destructive kinds of sin there.

That's absolutely right, and what you say to someone in it. All sin is destructive. All sin damns people to hell all sin is forgivable. So how do you present the gospel. Let me just to give you some simple things to start with, you call the center to understand the need for repentance and the cost of repentance.

That's where you start, you start by saying your sin or whatever your sin as you might be homosexual but that's not the only that's not the only sin so you you start by saying you must repent of your sin and count the cost of that repentance and the Bible says the cost of that repentance is to turn from your sin and cry out to God for forgiveness. The next thing is you explain to people that forgiveness is available through faith in Jesus Christ. And at that point you talk about the gospel and how Christ lived the righteous life died.

Substitutionary death rose from the grave. Having paid in full. The penalty for the sins of all who would believe you give them the gospel, and at that point you say you need to repent and believe the gospel.

And then I would add this and you need to do it now.

You need to do it right now. It's not something you want to think about it something you want to do now and when you have given them both.

The call to repentance and explain to them the gospel and use the Bible to explain the gospel then you encourage them to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and I said this a few weeks ago when I was preaching you tell them with joy. If you repent and believe the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. You will receive forgiveness and eternal life. You tell them that with joy and then you tell them that they in believing become a part of the redeemed church and they'll be gathered together with other believers in Christ both in time and eternity in make them know how important life in the church is that's right. And thank you John for reminding us of the great truths in the gospel and of course friend is there anything more important than knowing the full and accurate gospel and responding to it. With that in mind, let me encourage you to get John's classic book called the gospel according to Jesus. John spells out misconceptions about the gospel.

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