Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Rattling Confessions

In our world today, we have this aversion to any kind message that strikes us as judgmental: that maybe the way we want to live, the decisions we are making aren’t the best ones for us.

Have you ever been driving on the road, and for whatever reason, you drift far enough off the main road that you hit what is called a rumble strip?

Rumble strips are loud.

They shake the car.

They maybe upset your kids or other passengers.

But most importantly: they keep you alive by making you focus your attention on the path you should be taking.

Confessing that we believe in the forgiveness of sins as well as the resurrection and life everlasting is a bit like a rumble strip.

We’re jolted awake by the knowledge that we have sins that need forgiveness, but at the same time, we’re focused on our road home.

Confessing the Apostles’ Creed is a chance to follow that sign home.

David’s downward Spiral of Sin

There are seven penitential psalms that David prays in scripture (6, 32, 40, 102, 130, 143).

Davids prayer of repentance is raw and exposed in Psalm 51.

Nathan the prophet had confronted David with his sins.

David had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had covered it up by having her husband Uriah killed and taking her as his wife (thus making it appear as if the child was the pre-mature bi-product of their marriage.

Nathan attempting to expose David’s sin tells him a story of a rich and a poor man.

The rich man had many flocks and herds but the poor many had only one little ewe lamb.

Now there was a traveler who came to him however, the rich man was unwilling to slaughter one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest so, he took the poor mans one lamb from him and had it slaughtered and prepared for the guests.

Davids initial reaction to Nathan’s story was on of outrage and anger, proclaiming that the man who would do such a thing deserves to die.

David exclaimed that such a man must pay for his actions.

Little did David know that Nathan was talking about him and what he had done by taking Bathsheba for his own selfish purposes.

Davids’ response to Nathan upon realizing what he had done was “I have sinned,” and then we suppose hie slipped away to a quiet place to pray along the lines recorded in our text today from the book of Psalms.

Nathan’s response then was “The Lord has put away your sin,” you shall not die.

What?

The outrage.

Uriah is dead.

Bathsheba is raped.

The baby will die.

And Nathan say’s, “The Lord will put away your sin.”

Just as easy as that?

David had committed adultery, he had ordered murder, he had lied about it, he “despised the word of the Lord” by his actions and the Lord will truly “put away his sin?”

What kind of righteous judge would do such a thing?

What about child molesters, many people I have shared this story with, when it comes to child molesters there is no forgiveness for such a thing.

The apostle Paul shares our outrage and explained how God could be both righteous and one who justifies murderers and rapists and liars and, yes, even child molesters.

In other words, the outrage that we feel when God seems to simply pass over David’s sin would be good outrage if God were simply sweeping David’s sin under the rug.

He is not.

God sees from the time of David down the centuries to the death of his Son, Jesus Christ, who would die in David’s place, so that David’s faith in God’s mercy and God’s future redeeming work unites David with Christ

The Difference between an Apology and a Confession

In the wake of numerous public confessions by fallen politicians, sports figures, and business executives, in her book The Art of the Public Grovel, Susan Wise Bauer offers a helpful distinction: "An apology is an expression of regret: I am sorry.

A confession is an admission of fault: I am sorry because I did wrong.

I sinned."

Apology addresses an audience.

Confession implies an inner change … that will be manifested in outward action.

Big Idea: Forgiven people are committed to being changed by God.

When looking at Confession we learn three important Elements from David’s prayer

1.

We must Admit our Sins

What should our motivation be in our confession?

*The Holiness of God shapes our attitude in prayer

1)The seriousness of it (vv.1-3)

Notice that David uses four words to describe his sin which shows that he is not trying to escape or evade his sin.

This leads to an attitude of confession that is genuine repentance.

Transgressions: refers to rebellion or deliberately crossing over the line.

Iniquity: suggests a perverseness or twistedness.

Sin: is falling short of God’s standard or missing the target God has set for us.

Evil: v.4 refers to the ugliness or repulsive nature of sin against God.

Repentance is not motivated by a desire to escape paying the cost of our sin, or the fear of punishment and consequences of our sins.

How should we see confession?

We do not rationalize our sins, David was awakened to the reality of his sin.

Upon Nathan confronting David with his sin the immediate response was a feeling of guilt before God.

Jesus once and for all paid the price for our forgiveness by providing a way for our righteousness to be possible.

We can add nothing to the purchase and provision that he has already provided for us in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We now share in this hope and in this forgiveness by faith alone.

However, in view of the Holiness of God and the evil of sin, we must daily go before the throne of God by prayer and confession.

“Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”

(Matthew 6:11-12) Daily forgiveness for bread because his is sufficient to meet all our needs according to his riches in glory; daily prayer of forgiveness, because it is fully bought and purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer “Cheap Grace”

When we fail to see the seriousness of our sin we cheapen the Grace of God.

(Dietrich Bonhoeffer).

If we teach forgiveness and fail to require repentance, communion, and confession, we cheapen the price that was paid for our freedom.

Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all he has to obtain such a treasure.

It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods to possess.

It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.

It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.

Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his son.

2)The essence of it (v.4)

Note: David turns to his hope, the one who he has sinned against.

Here is where David comes to the issue that makes sin such a serious matter with God.

It is the creature thumbing his nose at his Creator.

All sin is directed against God.

It is nothing less than saying we wish God were not God ant that his laws would disappear or do not apply to us.

While it is true that David sinned against Bathsheba, Uriah, and the nation of Israel as a whole, but it is God who defines the proper behavior towards others.

Any sin against others is ultimately, then, a sin against the God who set the boundaries and laws in the first place.

Possibly the reason that we do not take sin so seriously is that we fail to see it as a direct affront to God himself.

We fail to see the very essence of our sin.

Notice in 2 Samuel 12:13 Davids first response was “I have sinned against the Lord,” his immediate response was to go pray for mercy and healing.

I wonder if this is our first response when we sin against God? Do we say in our hearts, “I have sinned against God,” let me go and pray for mercy and healing.

3)The Origin of it (v.5)

Note: Now David goes back to the origin of original sin.

The sin that David committed was not a freak abnormal occurence for humanity.

Look at Isaiah, he also was painfully aware of his fallen state before God.

The very element of David’s life from conception was tainted with sin.

It was not a matter of if David would fall into sin, David was acting on the total depravity of His human nature from the beginning.

2. We must own our Sins

*We Honor God when we accept His verdict

Note: By accepting his sin David was agreeing with God about it.

Prior to his confession he was was in a state of dispute or denial with God about his sin.

David also recognizes that God’s standard for his behavior is right.

Does God truly know what is Best?

We live in a world and culture that does not want to take responsibility for anything.