In our previous discussion on traumatic grace, we explored the initial step of true repentance: appealing to God’s mercy. We saw how David, exposed in his sin, cried out for God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy. Now, we move to the next two steps of true repentance, as illustrated in Psalm 51, to understand how we must confess the sinfulness of our sin and seek full renewal from God.
Step 2: True Repentance Confesses the Sinfulness of Sin
Psalm 51:3-6, “For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.”
With David’s story in mind, how could he say, “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight”? Because true repentance confesses the sinfulness of sin.
We learn two things about the sinfulness of sin here:
1- All sin is ultimately against God: No matter who gets hurt by our sin, it is ultimately against God. This is what makes sin, “a sin to confess,” rather than “a mistake to fix.”
2- We sin because we are sinners: David says in verse 5, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” We aren’t sinners because we sin; we sin because we are sinners. Our sins reveal that deep down, we are truly wicked.
Imagine going to the doctor because of a persistent cough. The doctor runs tests and says, “You’ve got a case of the coughs.” You’d ask, “But why am I coughing?” If he responded, “Because you are coughing,” you’d be frustrated, wanting to know the root cause. Similarly, we often treat sin superficially, addressing symptoms without acknowledging the deeper problem.
False Repentance
False repentance only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. It fails to recognize that underlying our anger, lust, abuse, lies, or complaints is a deeper issue in our relationship with God.
David shows us that true repentance goes deep, dealing with the sickness of sin, not just its symptoms. This is particularly relevant when we are ignorant of our sin. Our sins might vary in intensity, but we all share the same brokenness.
Sometimes, when people confess sin to us, we might make excuses for them or try to fix the symptom. But if we prematurely close the wound, we prevent true healing. We need people who help us uncover the sickness, not just medicate the symptoms. And we need to be that way for others, helping them deal with the depth of sin and not just what is on the surface.
Step 3: True Repentance Seeks Full Renewal
Verses 7-12 illustrate David’s plea for God’s thorough cleansing:
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.“
David’s cries for action from God—”Purge,” “Wash,” “Let,” “Hide,” “Blot,” “Create,” “Renew,” “Cast,” “Take,” “Restore,” “Uphold”—show that true repentance seeks full renewal.
Rock Of Ages
Augustus Montague Toplady, who wrote “Rock of Ages,” said of his conversion, “Surely this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous.” His hymn reflects a deep understanding of our need for God’s grace:
Not the labors of my hands
Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
False Repentance
False repentance seeks only outward penance. This is a key difference between Roman Catholicism and Evangelical Christianity. In Catholicism, penance involves acts to make payment for sin, which contradicts the complete atonement of Christ. Evangelical Christianity teaches that salvation belongs to the Lord, and only His grace can save us.
This point speaks to us during repentance. True repentance is not a replacement for the cross. It seeks renewal from God alone, on the basis of Christ alone. David’s plea for God’s cleansing shows his total dependence on God. True repentance acknowledges that only God can save and renew us fully. Let’s confess the sinfulness of sin and then pursue a full renewal which comes from God alone.
