TEXT:  Psa. 51:1-17

INTRODUCTION:

A.      BACKGROUND FOR THIS PSALM( 2 Sam. 11:1-12:23 ).   BATHSHEBA.

B.      DEEP CONTRITION ACKNOWLEDGING SIN, BEGGING FORGIVENESS.

C.      HIS CONVICTION & SORROW EXPRESSED 3 WAYS:

I.      AN INESCAPABLE SENSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY.

A.      DAVID KNEW THAT HIS SINS BELONGED TO HIM( vs. 1-3 ).

B.      HE DIDN'T TRY TO BLAME BATHSHEBA, LIKE ADAM & SAUL TRIED TO

          BLAME OTHERS( Gen. 3:12;  1 Sam. 15:21 ).

C.      WE TOO ARE SINNERS( Rom. 3:23;  1 John 1:10 ).

D.      WE WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE( Heb. 9:27;  2 Cor. 5:10 ).

II.     DAVID REALIZED THE REAL TRAGEDY OF HIS SIN WAS

        THAT IT WAS AGAINSTGOD( vs. 5 ).

A.      WITHOUT THIS SENSE OF TRAGEDY, THERE WILL BE NO REPENTANCE

                   ( 2 Cor. 7:10 ).

          1.       Repentance is necessary for salvation( Acts 17:30 ).

          2.       This is not the same as the sorrow of Judas( Mat. 27:3-5 ).

                   a.       Mat. 27:3.  metamelomai, regret, with no action implied.

                   b.       2 Cor. 7:10.  metanoia, change of mind or purpose implying a change

                                      of action.  This repentance is unto salvation which brings no regret.

B.      JUST FEELING BAD ABOUT ONE'S SINS IS NOT THE SAME KIND OF

          SORROW DAVID FELT, NOR IS IT THE KIND WE SHOULD FEEL. 

          "GODLY SORROW WORKS REPENTANCE."

III.    BY AN EMOTIONAL PLEA FOR COMPLETE CLEANSING.

A.      ONLY GOD CAN FORGIVE( vs. 7-9 ).

          1.       David knew that he must request forgiveness.

          2.       We also must call on God( Rom. 10:13 ).

          3.       This entails obedience to his will( Mat. 7:21; 1 Pet. 3:21 )

          4.       So we are saved when we make our desire for forgiveness known by obeying

                             him( Heb. 5:8-9  Acts 22:16 ).

B.      DAVID DESIRED A NEW HEART( vs. 10-12 ).

          1.       Our actions are a result of our character( Luke 6:43-45 ).

          2.       A heart of unbelief will result in sin ( Heb. 3:12; 1 Pet. 1:5 ).

          3.       God desires a change of heart as well as a change in action.

C.      GOD'S PROMISE TO FORGIVE RESULTED IN 2 ACTIONS IN DAVID:

          1.       He would teach others( vs. 13: Rom. 1:14 ).

          2.       He would worship God( Eph. 5:19-20 ).

IV.   THAT GOD'S PROMISE DEPENDS ON OUR ATTITUDE OF

        HUMILITY AND SORROW IS THE GREAT LESSON FROM

        THIS PSALM( vs. 16-17 ).

A.      SACRIFICE WITHOUT SORROW IS WORTHLESS( Mat. 15:7-9 ).

B.      WHAT GOD WANT IS US, BODY & SPIRIT.

          1.       The inner man( John 4:24 ).

          2.       Obedience from the heart( Heb. 5:8-9 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THE PURPOSE OF SENDING JESUS - TO TAKE CARE OF SIN.

B.      OUR SIN CAN BE REMOVED!