The Results of Repentance

(Psalm 51:10-12)

Logan Peters

Thesis: Repentance leads to the purification of the heart, acceptance from God, and reason to rejoice.

Purpose: To encourage the need for repentance and continued growth afterward.

Introduction:

1) Psalm 51 is a psalm of David in which he begs and pleads with God for forgiveness for his transgressions.

2) David lusted after Bathsheba and committed fornication, which led to Bathsheba becoming pregnant, and David killing Uriah (2 Sam. 10-12).

3) This psalm is David pleading to God to blot out his iniquities and forgive him of his downfalls.

4) Repentance is an important part of one’s faith and is necessary for those who desire to become Christians and those who have stumbled in their Christian walk.

5) If one is to repent of his transgressions, what is its result?

6) Like David, we must repent and seek God’s forgiveness no matter the sin.

7) Not only that, but we can receive blessings from that repentance.

8) A sincere penitent heart can receive the following blessings from repentance: purification, acceptance, and rejoicing.

Discussion:

I. Repentance Will Result in Purification (Psa. 51:10).

A. David desired to be purified from the sin he had committed, and the Christian should have the same sorrow as David that leads to repentance (2 Cor 7:10).

1. What is purification?

a. Purification is the cleansing of contaminants from the soul.

b. This purification from sin was received when one obeyed the Gospel and was baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16).

c. Even after obtaining salvation, one must purify himself of sin if he has sinned against God (2 Cor. 7:1; James 4:8).

2. One can take the attitude of David when it comes to repenting and seeking purification from sin.

a. One must go to God in complete humility, understanding the severity of sin and that purification does not occur when a sincere, penitent heart is not found in the one that has sinned.

b. The penitent one can approach the throne of grace boldly, knowing that he can receive mercy (Heb. 4:16).

B. The Christian can have forgiveness but must continue pressing towards the goal.

1. The Christian can take comfort in knowing when he stumbles, he can seek God and ask for forgiveness, and God is just to forgive His child of his sins (1 John 1:7-10).

a. An important key to repentance is that one must not give up and give in to sin, becoming rebellious as those in Isaiah 59:1, 2.

b. We do not want to continue in sin (Rom. 8:1), but we must not continue living in sin that grace may abound (Rom. 6:1-5).

2. There is a case, however, where one can begin to live in sin and not seek after repentance (Jam. 1:12-16).

a. Without an acknowledgment of sin and seeking forgiveness from God with a penitent heart, there can be no purification.

b. As shown by the example of David, there is a sincere desire for purification and forgiveness, with full intentions of continuing to walk in the light as a faithful child of God.

II. Repentance Will Result in Acceptance (Psa. 51:11).

A. David did not want to be taken away from the presence of God.

1. It is worthy to consider that David remembered God casting away Saul as king of Israel due to his transgression against God (1 Sam. 13:9-14).

a. David still wanted to be the ruler of Israel and the one after God’s own heart.

b. A close relationship with God was important to David as well.

2. David was inspired as stated by Jesus (Matt. 22:43), and he begged God to not take that inspiration from him and that he could continue serving God.

a. God accepted David’s plea for forgiveness because he continued to write Psalms as inspired by the Holy Spirit.

b. The acceptance of David allowed him to continue doing the will of God and continue being closely tied to Him.

B. We can have acceptance of God once again if we are sincere in our repentance.

1. This quality of God is relevant in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32).

2. This parable reveals the process by which one returns to God.

a. After suffering from the consequences, the son turns his back on the father after realizing what he has given up.

b. The son returns to the father with sincerity of repentance, and the father welcomes him back with open arms.

3. Even when we transgress against God, we can return to Him.

a. How beautiful is it that God welcomes his child back who has a penitent heart, and desires to make himself right with God?

b. Being dead in our sins, we are alive again (Luke 15:24).

III. Repentance Will Result in Rejoicing (Psa. 51:12).

A. It is joyous to be welcomed back into the family of God.

1. With his broken and contrite heart (Psa. 51:17), David begs for God to restore the joy of salvation to him.

a. David indicates that there is joy in being a child of God, and there is reason to rejoice when a straying child returns to God.

b. Jesus spoke to His disciples about their joy being full while keeping His commandments (John 15:10, 11).

2. Not only that, but David also requests a spirit of obedience from God so that he may be upheld and continue keeping God’s commands.

a. God desires that His children remain obedient (Micah 6:8).

b. Returning to obedience to God is cause for rejoicing.

B. The heavens rejoice when one repents and turns back to God (Luke 15:7).

1. When we go to God with a penitent heart, desiring forgiveness, and being willing to truly change, there is reason to rejoice.

a. A soul realizes how vain life is and that he has left the true, living God for temporary pleasure.

b. To have the same pricked heart as David and go to God, putting away pride and confessing to Him creates a beautiful reunion with God.

2. There is rejoicing in heaven and on earth when a brother or sister comes back to God.

a. Christians should rejoice and forgive when their brother or sister repent (Col. 3:12, 13).

b. Let us forgive our brothers and sisters just as God shows mercy and is willing to forgive (1 John 1:9).

c. Let us rejoice and be glad that our brother or sister was lost and is found (Luke 15:24).

Conclusion:

1) What a wonderful thing it is that God is willing to forgive the one with a broken and contrite heart!

2) David offers a beautiful example of repentance.

3) Our repentance leads to purification, acceptance, and rejoicing.

4) The question is this: are you ready to come back to God?

5) Have you counted the cost and now realize you need to make a change in your life?

6) If you have already obeyed the Gospel and now need to make things right between you and God, He offers forgiveness to the erring child.

7) No matter your situation, today is the day to make yourself right with God.

8) He begs and pleads with you to come to Him, and the hosts of heaven are waiting to rejoice for the child that comes home!