Purify (Moral Restoration I)
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· 3 viewsThe story of restoration is central to the story of God. God restores His people after the great flood. God restores His promise through Abraham. God restores His nation through Moses. God restores His promise through Joshua. God restores His dominion through David. Our God is a God of restoration. In this message, we focus on God's desire to create in us a clean heart and how that drives us even in the midst of our failures.
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Theme Summary
Theme Summary
The story of restoration is central to the story of God. God restores His people after the great flood. God restores His promise through Abraham. God restores His nation through Moses. God restores His promise through Joshua. God restores His dominion through David. Our God is a God of restoration. In Part 1, use an anecdote of the Lutheran liturgy song "Create In Me" from my childhood to speak of the centrality of restoration themes to our faith. Expand to talk about how God WANTS to restore you and for you not to live the same life. In Part 2, address the perhaps anachronistic story of the adulteress in John 8. First, address that the anachronistic aspect of the story doesn't necessarily mean it didn't happen, but that it may have happened in pieces and parts (being a composite of different situations) or it may have happened exactly as written and simply not been included in some of the earliest manuscripts that we have (to date) uncovered. Then transition to speak to the heart it reveals (ensuring to show cross-references to other scriptures to reinforce the anachronistic element not invalidating it) and how Christ desires for us truth (which leads to repentance) and restoration (which leads to a transformed life).
Lutheran Liturgy
Lutheran Liturgy
Liturgy during the offertory
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Sung after giving the offering in ELCA order of worship
1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you—you alone—I have sinned and done this evil in your sight. So you are right when you pass sentence; you are blameless when you judge. 5 Indeed, I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 6 Surely you desire integrity in the inner self, and you teach me wisdom deep within. 7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt. 10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore the joy of your salvation to me, and sustain me by giving me a willing spirit.
A Psalm of renewal even in the face of undeserving sin
Observation 1: Characterizes Sin as “Rebellion”
1 Be gracious to me, God, according to your faithful love; according to your abundant compassion, blot out my rebellion. 2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I am conscious of my rebellion, and my sin is always before me.
“Sin” = separation from God
Sin is known —> Rebellion implies intent
OUR Rebellion —> Asking GOD not to turn away because we already have
9 Turn your face away from my sins and blot out all my guilt.
11 Do not banish me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Observation 2: Forgiveness and Innocence are Separate, but Vital, Elements of Grace
2 Completely wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin.
Forgiveness —> I “did a thing” and deserve an outcome
Innocence —> I wish to be not guilt
Can only come if one is “made new”
7 Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
10 God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
The realities of “rebellion” and the difference between “forgiveness” and “innocence” at crucial to understanding God’s desire for our life.
We live in a state of Rebellion which drives us towards reasonably deserving punishment, banishment, and isolation.
To overcome this state of rebellion, we must (1) ask for forgiveness for what has occured, and (2) have a desire for innocence.
Many desire partial grace… forgiveness without purification or purification without having to ask for forgiveness.
Both speak to the heart of the requestor.
Both are required to address rebellion in it’s totality!
Read Psalms 51:1-12 and consider the importance of both (1) forgiveness for what has been done, and (2) a desire for purification.
1) What situations have you been in where someone committed an act against you, wanted to “just move on” like nothing had happened, but didn’t really seek forgiveness for what had been done? How’d that make you feel?
2) What situations have you been in where someone committed an act against you, asked for forgiveness, but then showed no desire or effort towards fixing the underlying behavior that caused the offense in the first place? How’d that make you feel?
3) How do individuals sometimes treat God which shows they only want part of the “renewal” equation (forgiveness + purification)? How do you think that makes God feel?
Prodigal Son’s Reflection of Renewal
Prodigal Son’s Reflection of Renewal
The story of the Prodigal Son has a few vital elements of renewal packed into one simple anecdote...
17 When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired workers have more than enough food, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. 21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father told his servants, ‘Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Then bring the fattened calf and slaughter it, and let’s celebrate with a feast, 24 because this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.
Rebellion
18 I’ll get up, go to my father, and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I’m no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired workers.” ’
21 The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. I’m no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Acknowledges that...
HE was the transgressor!
HE left what was ‘contentment’!
Forgiveness —> “I HAVE sinned...”
Purification —>
Restore me “like one of your workers”
There was a request for purification, but it came with an experience-limited mindset. Being fully restored wouldn’t be “just” but he could still receive some amount of restoration in his affiliation with the household, even if only a servant!
The Father Gave Total Restoration!!!
The Father didn’t “purify” his status to the limited standard of man; he totally purified him.
Moral of the story: God’s providence is to totally purify us which only comes by making us anew!
Sometimes I wonder if the reason why we have a hard time understanding the totality of how God purifies is because of how limited our human concept of restoration can be.
We love to hold grudges and maintain “a long memory” of past wrongs. What of grace? What of redemption?
While we are limited by our flawed human tendencies towards selfishness and entitlement, God sees the glory He built into our DNA. It is for this reason that He pursues in us a total restoration of the heart, mind, and soul making us… truly… new creations.
Read part of the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:17-24 and consider the way the son attempts to reconcile and the radical form of restoration pursued by the father.
1) Does the father’s response seem a little… unrealistic? Do you have any real-world examples of similar stories? Was the “father” character in your story quite as forgiving?
2) Do you ever catch yourself hesitant, or maybe scared, to ask for “full purification” for your sins? Does the idea of totally leaving past mistakes behind… well… intimidate you a little bit?
3) Given that God seeks to purify us so completely, how should we be driven to restore ourselves to others when we have been wronged?
Purification to Purpose
Purification to Purpose
Godly purification doesn’t stop at “status”
13 Then I will teach the rebellious your ways, and sinners will return to you.
The objective of Godly purification is to “go”, not simply to stand still and admire your new status.
We should not shy away from addressing our flaws, because God’s work beyond those flaws is a testimony to His greatness.
In some ways, it is a true indicator of our desire for true purification: are we willing to set our pride aside so that God can be glorified in how He redeemed us?
A purification of this magnitude shouldn’t be kept secret.
Seek forgiveness, desire purification, and use what God freely gives to pursue glorification.
