The sweet psalmist prayed to God, ” Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. ” from Psalm 51 a psalm of David.
Never can a man do either of David’s requests but both are, nevertheless, required for fellowship with God and the God-graced life from above. For God to be the initiator and source of our life should be no surprise. He is the beginning and ending of all things. A powerful relief for us, the faithful God meets our broken hearts as we draw nigh to Him.
“If we confess our sins, He is Faithful…”
Thank you Lord, you are always there!
” …and just.”
Thank you Lord, that you are operating justly in all of your actions towards us.
“to forgive us our sins.”
Forgiveness means remission, the taking away of all of my wrong attitudes, my wrong thinking, my rebellions, hatreds, lusts, resentments, warring thoughts etc.
And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Beloved we are made clean!
1Corinthians 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Gill reports on God’s faithfulness:
” …assuring the saints of their confirmation in grace, and of their being preserved blameless to the day of Christ, taken from the faithfulness of God, who is always true to his promises: whatever he has said, he will do it; he will never suffer his faithfulness to fail; and since he has made so many promises concerning the establishment of his people, and their perseverance to grace, they may assure themselves of them; and also from his having called them by his grace, for whom he effectually calls by his grace, he glorifies; and particularly from his having called them.”
When we confess our sins, we have an assurance God is there, his ear is bent low to hear us, he will never not be there. The Bible says he waits to be gracious to us, in Isaiah chapter 30 verse 18. James tells us if we draw nigh unto God, he will draw nigh unto us.
God is also just to forgive.
“By his good works men may be justified in the eyes of his fellow men. However, of far greater import is that justification of man by God, which justification is based on the imputed righteousness of God.” Abraham is is said to have attained unto imputed righteousness, (Genesis 15:6) . and David declares the man to be “blessed” to whom God imputes righteousness without works.” Psalm 32 verse one and two. Chafer
With the judicial imputation of righteousness to saved man because of the judicial imputation of our sin on Christ, God is just to forgive for our rightness of conscience today what was effected in heaven through the cross which Christ bore.
Forgiveness means to cease from feeling resentment against, to give up the claim of requital. To grant release from payment of a debt . Websters
Beloved, we make up with the lover of our soul. We are so thankful and to take advantage of the act of love that was so performed by a crucified Christ for all that was causing the rift, causing the block of fellowship.
Lastly, there is cleansing. Cleansing from all unrighteousness. Not just the unrighteousness which we have confessed, but all of the others. Yes sins of ignorance, blind spots, unconscious acts, poor self-image, wrong thought patterns, attitudes, guilt and defiance. Even the scandals of our soul lose their offense. Cleansing comes through the washing of the water of the word, through which the Spirit applies the precious blood of Christ. A conscience purging is affected and dead works are eliminated. What is left is the pure rapport with a living God who loves us.
In closing, keep short accounts with God, never take for granted that we are in good standing. That precious fellowship comes from God’s side, never to be maintained by mere good works or sincerity. Intimacy with the One whose desire is toward you, is the goal . love ya
