If you’ve read any of our previous studies, you know that I talk a lot about your identity in Christ, your foundation in Him, your Relationship with God. I talk about those things so often because without these things, you really have nothing but dead religion. Without these things: without your identity, without your relationship, without your foundation on Jesus Christ, it’s all just empty ritual, empty tradition, and ultimately an empty existence.
I had one person ask me once: Why don’t you teach something more relevant? And I had to respond and say that there is nothing more relevant than the finished work of Jesus Christ, and who you are in Him. I have discussions with people all of the time, who claim to be Christian’s, who say that they are believers, but they have no real relationship with God; they have no foundation, or realization of their identity… and these same people are living defeated lives… they are down all of the time, and they spend more time talking about how the enemy is beating them down rather than the victory that Jesus has won.
And please understand, I am not pointing fingers at those people, I’m not judging or ridiculing them at all – that’s not what Jesus called me to do… my purpose in mentioning their situation, is to highlight an issue that needs to be addressed… the lack of this foundation, identity and relationship in and through Jesus, is hurting people and destroying lives.
So what I want to share with you today, is more on this foundation. So that you will be able to live in the confidence, joy and peace of Jesus Christ every single day.
Now, I study and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that is the Gospel of His Grace – I am what you would call a “Grace guy”; and as a grace guy some people tend to think that I only teach from half of the scriptures, typically the New Testament – of course if you have watched or read any of my other studies, you know that I spend time equally in the Old and the New – the entirety of scripture… and you may be surprised where we are going today… Psalms 51.
You see this idea of foundation, identity and relationship, did not originate with me, it actually was God’s idea, and as we are about to read in Psalm 51, God recognizes that these things are essential as well; as the Holy Spirit of God moves David to write some very interesting and enlightening things. So let’s begin today by reading Psalm 51, and just read verse 5 to start:
“Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.”
Now this is the state, status and position of each person when they enter into this world. Because of the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, each person is born into a fallen state of sin, a state of wrath. But now look at verse 6:
“Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.”
God never desired anyone to be in that state at all. Even more interesting is the fact that to be in such a state of sin is actually contrasted with having truth and wisdom! Stop for a minute and think about that… One state is a fallen state of sin and wrath and death; but God wants us to be in a different state. A state of truth and wisdom, and much more as we will see as we continue reading.
This point is more important than it seems at first, because not everyone knows what God really desires for them. Not everyone knows that even in their state of sin and wrath, God never desires their destruction… in-fact quite the opposite! God desires all good to be on them, and for their complete restoration – and that includes you as well! Even while we are enemies of God, He is not an enemy to us!
Move on with me to verse 7:
“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Now this verse doesn’t make a lot of sense to people today, until the reference is understood. Verse 7 is a reference to Exodus 12:21, where the blood of the Passover lamb is applied to the top and sides of the door to protect the house from the destroyer. But here, notice that David is writing by inspiration of the Spirit of God, and he doesn’t write about the blood of an ordinary lamb, but he is speaking to God – it is to God that he says [You], David says to God You, cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean! [You] wash me, and I will be whiter than snow!
Now that’s a statement! You see, in the Exodus, in the Passover, they applied the blood of the lamb using hyssop (an antibacterial herb) to the top and sides of the door-frame, and it protected them from the destroyer.
But here, David says to God, you cleanse me with hyssop, you wash me, and I will be clean, I will be whiter than snow! Even back then, David through the Spirit had an understanding of God’s real desire here… The Spirit knew God’s plan — and caused David to write about it. And today we can look at it and see Jesus in it. Jesus is the ultimate Lamb… He provided the ultimate blood.
Then David, still writing by inspiration of the Spirit of God mind you, begins to enumerate the many blessings that result from such a cleansing. Look at verses 8 and 9:
“Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.”
Do you know that this is what everyone is looking for… joy and gladness… notice that both come from being cleansed by God. Both joy, and gladness also. Some people are sad all the time. I have even talked to some that think that if you are suffering all of the time you are somehow more righteous or holy. But we see here that the result of being cleansed by God is both joy and happiness, both. Not just joy (which is an inward rejoicing from your spirit), but also gladness (which is an outward happiness, mirth, laughter).
Notice that you will hear these things… the LORD will make it so. The bones that were broken would rejoice, and be made glad. A picture of healing and restoration, even physical healing.
We see in verse 9 that God will hide His face from your sins (He will not see them anymore) all of your iniquities will be blotted out.
Look at verses 10 and 11:
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me”
God will give you a clean heart, not one burdened with the pain of the past. Not one weighed-down with guilt and shame or the mistakes of old. He will also renew a right spirit inside of you. That is a spirit that can commune with Him, one that can fellowship with His Spirit, one that is awake and alive and vibrant… one that is light and free.
And also in verse 10, we see that God will not cast you away from His presence – He will never throw you out, or kick you to the curb. Nor will He withdraw from you in disgust. He will never take His Spirit from you.
And reading all of this, when you realize it is for you, you will most definitely experience verse 12:
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.”
Notice the description here… the joy of your salvation. There is joy that accompanies salvation – though you may not notice it if you look at most people who claim to have it! That should tell you something! And God also upholds you with His free Spirit! And notice that word which we all love… free!
His Spirit, cannot be earned, bought, merited, bartered-for, or obtained any other way. His Spirit is priceless! And therefore is a free gift, given solely because of His Grace and His great love for you!
His Spirit communes and communicates and fellowship with you through your spirit. This is the fellowship of God abiding with you and in you; and it all happens because of Jesus – it’s all possible because of His finished work on the cross.
Once this truth is received. Once you know this personally for you, then (and only then) do we see verse 13:
“Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you.”
You see, the foundation must be laid first; the relationship must be built; the personal identity must be there, before someone can ever teach others. And this isn’t a prideful statement at all… it’s just logical.
Think of your best friend, you know their likes, their dislikes, you know their mannerisms, and how they think. Now let’s say that you wanted to describe your best friend to me – someone who doesn’t know your best friend at all.
It would be easy, because you know your best friend so well. You have that relationship with your best friend, and you know them so well, that it is a simple thing to share that with someone else. And on top of that, you would enjoy talking about them, because they are such a big part of your life!
That’s the idea being communicated in this verse.
That’s all sharing Jesus really is! People use religious words like Ministering, Witnessing, blah blah, all it really is, is sharing your best friend with someone so they can be a part of that relationship too! And it is a wonderful, enjoyable experiencing once all of the religious gunk is washed-away from it!
Today in Jesus Christ, we have the reality of what David through the Spirit was writing about… Jesus has checked every single one of these boxes for us today. He has washed you clean, He has cleansed and forgotten each and every one of your sins and iniquities. He has given you His joy and gladness and restored a right spirit and a clean heart within you. He will never hide Himself from you, and He has caused His Spirit to forever dwell inside of you.
This total joy of salvation is all yours in Christ Jesus today. So I encourage you today, start living this identity now, this very moment; there is no reason at all to wait.
Be blessed.
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