Confession, Contrition and Genuine Repentance: Psalm 51
1) Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3) For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4) Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. Psalm 51
This Psalm embodies the confession and repentance of David after his sin with Bathsheba. In this Psalm, David humbles himself before God and takes ownership of his transgression. He unpacks the depth and sincerity of both his sin and the damage it caused to himself, others and his relationship with God.
The early puritans talked about the phenomenon of “Unrepentant Confessors.” These were people who went through the motion of confession but had no remorse or contrition over their sin. It was merely lip service toward God but totally void of sincere repentance. They had no intention of changing or amending their ways.
The modern church has adopted confession without genuine repentance. This falls far short of Psalm 51 and the biblical standard of true repentance. It also falls far short of Paul’s appeal to the gospel as recorded in Acts 26:15-20.
So why is this subject important? Because the puritans were right, most people are “Unrepentant Confessors.”
Making a “decision for Jesus” falls far short of James 4:8-10. Let me quote; “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Isaiah 57:15 gives a definition of the contrition that is involved in true repentance; “15) For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”
The modern church knows nothing about remorse, brokenness or contrition over sin. It has no understanding of true confession and repentance.
That’s why Psalm 51 is so important. In verse 17 David says; “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” David was utterly crushed and broken over the severity of his sin. This Psalm illustrates genuine confession and repentance.
I sincerely doubt that raising a hand after an emotional message about Jesus or indicating a “decision for Christ” accomplishes genuine conversion. It falls utterly and tragically short of 1 Thessalonians 1:5 and Acts 2:37-38. Look these verses up and study them.
Notice the gospel did not come with word only, “but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” When Peter finished preaching on the day of Pentecost, “they were pierced to the heart.”
During times of biblical revival and awakening, there is an awesome awareness of the holiness of God. People begin to weep and cry over their own sinful and lost condition. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is deep and personal. Repentance comes with contrition and brokenness.
David’s heart condition in Psalm 51 becomes the testimony of those converted by the Spirit of God during these times. The change is dramatic, deep and lasting.
So what is missing in modern Christianity? The power and conviction of the Holy Spirit leading to contrition, conviction, genuine confession and thorough repentance is totally absent. Our churches are filled with “unrepentant confessors.” Most modern Christians have never experienced Psalm 51 in their own lives.
I beg you to take time with Psalm 51. View it in light of the gospel and the meaning of confession and repentance toward God. Don’t be ashamed to weep and cry over your sin and cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness. Jesus made a way for the repentant to be converted by the power of the gospel.
As an evangelist, I would rather have one sinner come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit at the solid preaching of the gospel and confess and repent in tears than a hundred people raise their hand saying they are making a decision for Jesus. We need to preach toward conversions and not decisions.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global Sent from my iPhone
1) Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. 2) Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. 3) For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. 4) Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. Psalm 51
This Psalm embodies the confession and repentance of David after his sin with Bathsheba. In this Psalm, David humbles himself before God and takes ownership of his transgression. He unpacks the depth and sincerity of both his sin and the damage it caused to himself, others and his relationship with God.
The early puritans talked about the phenomenon of “Unrepentant Confessors.” These were people who went through the motion of confession but had no remorse or contrition over their sin. It was merely lip service toward God but totally void of sincere repentance. They had no intention of changing or amending their ways.
The modern church has adopted confession without genuine repentance. This falls far short of Psalm 51 and the biblical standard of true repentance. It also falls far short of Paul’s appeal to the gospel as recorded in Acts 26:15-20.
So why is this subject important? Because the puritans were right, most people are “Unrepentant Confessors.”
Making a “decision for Jesus” falls far short of James 4:8-10. Let me quote; “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Isaiah 57:15 gives a definition of the contrition that is involved in true repentance; “15) For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”
The modern church knows nothing about remorse, brokenness or contrition over sin. It has no understanding of true confession and repentance.
That’s why Psalm 51 is so important. In verse 17 David says; “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” David was utterly crushed and broken over the severity of his sin. This Psalm illustrates genuine confession and repentance.
I sincerely doubt that raising a hand after an emotional message about Jesus or indicating a “decision for Christ” accomplishes genuine conversion. It falls utterly and tragically short of 1 Thessalonians 1:5 and Acts 2:37-38. Look these verses up and study them.
Notice the gospel did not come with word only, “but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” When Peter finished preaching on the day of Pentecost, “they were pierced to the heart.”
During times of biblical revival and awakening, there is an awesome awareness of the holiness of God. People begin to weep and cry over their own sinful and lost condition. The conviction of the Holy Spirit is deep and personal. Repentance comes with contrition and brokenness.
David’s heart condition in Psalm 51 becomes the testimony of those converted by the Spirit of God during these times. The change is dramatic, deep and lasting.
So what is missing in modern Christianity? The power and conviction of the Holy Spirit leading to contrition, conviction, genuine confession and thorough repentance is totally absent. Our churches are filled with “unrepentant confessors.” Most modern Christians have never experienced Psalm 51 in their own lives.
I beg you to take time with Psalm 51. View it in light of the gospel and the meaning of confession and repentance toward God. Don’t be ashamed to weep and cry over your sin and cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness. Jesus made a way for the repentant to be converted by the power of the gospel.
As an evangelist, I would rather have one sinner come under the conviction of the Holy Spirit at the solid preaching of the gospel and confess and repent in tears than a hundred people raise their hand saying they are making a decision for Jesus. We need to preach toward conversions and not decisions.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global Sent from my iPhone
