The Saved Sinner

1. Psalm 32

I. Sin

A. Forgiveness is a marvelously refreshing thing. “A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1) “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.” (Psalm 51:7-8)

B. God’s perspective determines how people live in this world and the one to come; does God think of a person’s sin or does He see a person’s Savior? “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” (Psalm 32:2) [bvx chashab means to think, plan, esteem, calculate, invent, make a judgment, imagine, or count.]

C. When the joy of salvation spreads, people share what God has done in their lives. “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” (Psalm 51:12-13)

II. Repentance

A. Failure to deal with sin destroys from the inside; the problem will display itself physically, mentally, and spiritually. “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” (Psalm 32:3) [See Nathan’s message in 2 Samuel 12 and the Prodigal Son in Luke 15.] “Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.” (Psalm 31:9-10)

B. God will not let a sinner He loves live in contentment with sin. “For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.” (Psalm 32:4) “For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness.” (Psalm 38:4-5)

C. Repentance demands confession and after that life improves; knowledge of forgiveness revives the soul. “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” (Psalm 32:5) “And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.” (2 Samuel 12:13)

D. Repentant people become people of prayer; He Who saves souls can certainly solve problems. “For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.” (Psalm 32:6) “O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.” (Psalm 34:3-5)

E. When repentant believers turn to God, they find Him a secure refuge rather than an avenging judge. “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.” (Psalm 32:7) “And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:9-10) “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Proverbs 28:1)

III. Confession

A. God instructs those who turn to Him in repentance and then He teaches them so that in turn they can teach other sinners seeking help. “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” (Psalm 32:8)

B. People who refuse to listen to the message of grace oppose themselves like stubborn animals. “Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.” (Psalm 32:9) “A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.” (Proverbs 26:3)

IV. Forgiveness

A. Sorrow and mercy are equally available to people; choose the path of mercy. “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.” (Psalm 32:10) “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19)

B. When people understand how God deals with those whom He saves, they begin to rejoice. “Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” (Psalm 32:11) “The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” (Psalm 64:10)