Are You a Sinner?
Are you a sinner? If you ask most people, you will get a variety of answers. If you tell them that sin is not living up to God’s perfect standard as revealed in the Ten Commandments, most will agree that they do “bad” things from time to time (lying, stealing, lusting, ect...). What unbelievers have a hard time swallowing is that they sin because they are sinners at heart. David understands his sinfulness when he says, “my sin is ever before me” (51:3). He understands that his sin is foremost a sin against God. He understands the magnitude of what he has done; he has broken God’s law and committed great evil (51:4). He does not shy away from this fact calling his actions sin (51:1-2). Brethren, we must see that when we disregard God’s commands it is sin against God. No true believer will ever deny the fact that he commits sin (1 John 1:10).
David not only understands that he has committed sinful acts, but he understands that at heart he was born a sinner (51:5). The nature of man is corrupt, and every thought and intention of the heart is sinful (Ecc 9:3). It takes a work of God in a person's life to regenerate him (Jn 3:3) and give him a new nature (2 Cor 5:17). Being justified by God on the basis of our faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness of our sins and a cleansed conscience.
Once cleansed from past sins, believers must go to God daily confessing their sins for present cleansing (1 Jn 1:9) to maintain our close fellowship with God. David cries out to God for forgiveness, and just like us his sins are forgiven, and he is restored to fellowship with God.