“FINDING FREEDOM FROM YOUR PAST SINS” Psalm 51
FBCF – 2/12/23
Jon Daniels
INTRO – Freedom is a word that we hold near & dear to our hearts. Many times, the word brings up patriotic feelings of love for our country & gratitude for the men & women who have fought to preserve our freedom as United States citizens. Would those who have served or are serving in the military please stand?
Freedom is also a word that we hold near & dear to our hearts as Christ-followers, too. Look at these verses:
- Galatians 5:1 – “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (NIV)
- John 8:32 – “…you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (NKJV)
- John 8:36 – “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
- 2 Corinthians 3:17 – “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”
- Psalm 118:5 – “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”
Jesus came to set us free – from the slavery of the Law – from the strength of temptation – from the sentence of death – from Satan’s accusations – from the sins of our past. Today: “Finding Freedom from Your Past Sins.”
Your past sins could be something that you did a year ago, 5 yrs ago, 25 yrs ago. Or it could be something you did this morning, or yesterday, or sometime this week. Could be something that you’ve been hiding for some time. But whenever it happened, it’s time to stop dragging that piece of baggage around with you. Today, you can absolutely find freedom from any & all of your past sins.
EXPLANATION – Psalm 51 (p. 474)
This Psalm is David’s response when the prophet, Nathan, confronted him about his sin w/ Bathsheba & the murder of her husband, Uriah. It’s one of the 7 Psalms that are known as the “Penitential Psalms” – those that express regret for wrongdoing & sin. Example from Psalm 32:
- Psalm 32:3-5 – “When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.”
The sad, sordid story of David’s tragic fall is found in 2 Samuel 11. Let me give you a brief outline of the events:
- David was somewhere he wasn’t supposed to be – v. 1
- He saw something he wasn’t supposed to see – v. 2
- He desired something he wasn’t supposed to desire – v. 3
- He did some things he wasn’t supposed to do – v. 4ff
o Adultery w/ Bathsheba
o Scheming to try to cover up his sin
o Arranging to have Uriah killed
o Lied & spun the story to fit his situation
Thought he had covered it all up. But there are 2 grim statements that are made:
- V. 27b – “…But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.” Just as David’s sins were in full view of God & displeased Him, so our sins are in full view of God & have displeased Him.
- 2 Samuel 12:1a – “And the Lord sent Nathan to David.” And just as God sent Nathan to David, maybe He has sent me to you today to tell you…
APPLICATION – Freedom from our past sins is available to every Christ-follower.
3 simple, but serious prayers to gain freedom from your past sins:
#1: “I DID IT.” – v. 1-6
PRAYER OF CONFESSION: No more excuses. No more coverups. No more hiding. It’s time to confess.
- NOT, “I did it, BUT…” – It was his/her fault…It was a moment of weakness…I didn’t mean to…Everybody is doing it…It’s not as bad as what others have done…
- None of that. Just confess it. Agree w/ God & His Word that what you have done is sin.
Confess it – Own it like David did in v. 2-3 – 3 words we see in these verses – iniquity, transgression, & sin:
- “iniquity” – a deep-rooted deliberate choice to sin & no plan to repent.
- “transgression” – a willful sin. Not a slip & fall, but a decision to deliberately disobey, go down that path, & commit the sin
- “sin” – It’s the result – The general term that means to “miss the mark.” It is anything we do that “falls short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Confess it specifically – “…my transgressions…my iniquity…my sin!”
Confess its seriousness – v. 4 – Every sin hurts you & others (David sinned against Uriah, against Bathsheba, & against the people in his kingdom)…Every sin brings death in some form (Uriah died, the baby born to David & Bathsheba died, Absalom would die)…Every sin is ultimately treason against God. Don’t try to minimize its seriousness.
#2: “I NEED YOUR FORGIVENESS.” – v. 7-12
PRAYER OF CLEANSING: When we read these verses, we can see what happens when God pours out His GRACE & brings His cleansing to our sinful hearts:
- V. 7 – A purging & washing happens – The ONLY thing that will purge & wash our sins away is the precious blood of Jesus. THAT’S WHY HE DIED FOR YOU & ME!
- V. 8 – Joy & gladness comes as healing happens – The weight & heaviness of sin makes us feel like our bones have been broken - & they have! Only God can set those bones back in the right place, & He will when we confess our sins to Him.
- V. 9 – The blotting out of our sins from God’s record book happens – He remembers them no more (Hebrews 8:12). They’re cast as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). He throws them into the depths of the deepest sea imaginable (Micah 7:19)
- V. 10 – A creation of a fresh new heart & the renewal of a right spirit happens – We can’t change ourselves or create that new heart. Only God can do that, & HE WILL when we confess our sin to Him.
- V. 11 – The restoration of the Spirit’s presence in our lives happens – Our sin kicks us out of the presence of God. Our sin grieves the Holy Spirit & quenches the Holy Spirit. Confession changes all that & restores the Spirit’s presence in our lives.
- V. 12 – The beautiful restoration of true joy happens – Sin makes you miserable. It seeps into & infiltrates & infects every area of your life. Confession brings the joy back into our hearts.
The path to freedom from your past sins starts w/ confession & continues w/ cleansing.
#3: “I WANT TO LIVE FOR YOU AGAIN.” – v. 13-19
PRAYER OF CONSECRATION: A prayer that says, “I’m not going back, but I’m moving forward in my walk w/ Christ.”
What does that look like?
- Witness – v. 13 – The testimony of a changed person who has been forgiven is a testimony that people will listen to.
- Worship – Look at these expressions of worship:
o V. 14b – “…my tongue will sing aloud…”
o V. 15b – “…my mouth will declare your praise…”
o The most passionate worshipers of God are those who know they are the most broken & unworthy recipients of God’s GRACE & forgiveness. They simply MUST worship God!
- Walls – v. 18b – “…build up the walls of Jerusalem…” – Walls around the cities were absolutely necessary for protection from enemy attacks.
o Proverbs 25:28 – “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a person who lacks self-control.” (NIV)
o You need to rebuild up the walls around your life.
CONCLUSION – It’s time to let go of the baggage of your past sins. It’s time to get serious about sin. It’s time to pray.
Some of you may need to pray to ask Jesus to save you today.
Others need to pray the 3 prayers of this message:
- I did it.
- I need your forgiveness.
- I want to live for you again.
