The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
March 15, 2026
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      • Psalms 32:1NASB95

  • There Is Power In The Blood
  • Are You Washed in the Blood?
  • Doxology
  • God Is Good All The Time
  • Complete In Thee
  • Rock of Ages
  • ILLUST: Apology vs Confession
    The backstory to Psalm 51 - in 2 Samuel 11 and 12
    You should read it - if you don’t know it, this is how you learn
    David - in his palace, sees Bathsheba on the rooftop next door; desires her, gets her, has her, and she gets pregnant
    David - calls for her husband, Uriah, who is battling in war, brings him home…
    Uriah is loyal to David, returns to battle
    David ensures that Uriah is killed, and he takes Bathsheba as wife
    Adultery, Deception, Murder - This is the man after God’s own heart
    Nathan, the prophet, gets to confront David, tells a parable of a wealthy man having everything taking from someone who has little - YOU ARE THE MAN
    David has sinned, he’s confronted with that - NOW WHAT??
    How does he respond at this point?
    READ Psalm 51:1-15
    Today - Looking at Repentance, Confession, Seeking Forgiveness

    The Seven A’s of Confession

    Confess = same the same thing, speak the truth
    Let’s take Psalm 51, how David approaches God, and how we apply that every day, as people who still sin
    Mowing the weeds - this is what most people do
    The weed not pulled out by the root just gets stronger
    Not resolving a conflict successfully, then time passes, issue never resolved
    Our first and main step in dealing with our sin, our “errors in judgment” is to seek restoration, right relationship with God
    And as we restore and repair that relationship, we will also seek to repair and restore other relationships around us
    This outline is in the bulletin, keep it, use it, share it…
    Scenario - you have sinned, hurt or offended someone…

    1) ADDRESS Everyone Involved

    There can be work to do here, addressing those affected by your actions, even associates involved
    First, though, seek forgiveness from God - Sin is truly against God, all sin is
    Psalm 51:4 NASB95
    Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
    If your issue is your thoughts, your thought life, confess that to God
    AND GOD FORGIVES
    1 John 1:9 NASB95
    If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
    Addressing everyone involved also means NOT addressing others not involved - they don’t need to know - and if people ask, tell them it does not concern them
    GOSSIP destroys people
    Unrepentant sin destroys people

    2) AVOID “If, But, Maybe”

    This is how NOT to ‘apologize’ - “Sorry if you were offended,” or “Sorry you are so sensitive”
    Matthew 7:1-5 - get the beam out of your own eye
    No excuses, not the time to bring up someone ELSE’s sin (“Well, what about when you….?”) NO
    AND - Stop and think for a moment
    This is NOT when you say WHY you sinned
    “Sorry I yelled at you, BUT I was really angry”
    “Sorry I said that about you, BUT what you said hurt my feelings”
    (You can tell someone your feelings were hurt, and you do not get the license to sin in return - it’s called doing the right thing)
    “Sorry I gossiped about you, BUT…”
    Try this, try stopping saying the word BUT like this- it negates what you just said
    Actually, try avoiding even saying “Sorry”

    3) ADMIT Specifically

    “Sorry, I was ___________” is not enough
    Use Biblical terms - sin of the flesh, lied, stole, etc.
    David is a good example
    We must confess openly the wrong committed
    “I was wrong when I yelled at you this morning, when I said……”
    “I was wrong, I sinned…”
    This is a mature action
    TRUTH - Sin is costly, expensive - not always a quick way to “get out of jail”
    Must understand and own what you have done

    4) ACKNOWLEDGE the Hurt

    Understanding how the other is actually affected
    Taking your eyes off yourself for the sake of repenting
    Philippians 2:3 NASB95
    Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;
    This is not “beating yourself up” - it is true selflessness

    5) ACCEPT the Consequences

    Sometimes unavoidable
    Sometimes covered by grace
    Sin can cost more and take you farther than you ever intended
    (e.g. commit a crime, may go to jail, even if you are a Christian)
    (When it comes to relationships, damage may be done, there will be work to be done)
    May lose position, reputation

    6) ALTER your Behavior

    The goal is accountability (should want this)
    Not merely “just trust me”
    Repentance is change, changed behavior
    Make the change, can’t worry about perception, though that is understandable
    Do whatever is needed to protect self from sinning
    1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB95
    No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.
    (Internet, job, situations that anger, company you keep)
    Be willing to make the change you need to, even if inconvenient, even if drastic

    7) ASK for Forgiveness

    Verses 2, 3, 7
    NOT just “I’m sorry”
    “Will you forgive me?”
    “Please forgive me”
    “Jesus has forgiven me, I ask you to do the same”
    “I want to be clean”
    There are four major aspects of forgiveness, for another time
    Forgiveness is a transaction, it is not an emotion
    It may take time for someone to forgive you - you may need to exercise patience
    (Deep breath - OK, points for us)
    POINT #1
    Acknowledging sin, changing behavior, begging forgiveness
    Leads to cleansing
    This is the work of the Holy Spirit
    “Create in me a clean heart”
    God changes hearts
    POINT #2
    You may need to repent and ask someone to forgive you
    Follow these steps, they are the Biblical solution to relationship challenges
    Can you admit your sin?
    Can you ask for forgiveness?
    BIGGER: Can you forgive someone who follows this and asks you?
    POINT #3
    Not necessarily BIG, MAJOR sins
    (yes, all sin is sin, I get that)
    Try this with “lesser” offenses
    Example
    “I was wrong when I said that, I may have come across as quick to judge
    I understand that you could be upset with me for that
    Will you forgive me?
    NOTICE - I did not say - I didn’t mean what I said, I was just upset
    (No excuses)
    Yes, this takes practice, work, patience
    Gossip example
    You hurt the person you gossip about
    You need to address that person, AND EVERYone you gossiped to!
    And change…
    (ASIDE - there are people I cannot share things with, knowing they struggle with gossip)
    ?? Practical consequence, someone sins against me, and asks forgiveness, I will forgive, and I may take a while to trust that person - yes, it happens
    LAST POINT
    God can still use you, when you repent, and ask forgiveness
    David had a willingness to be clean, a willingness to serve
    A willingness to be covered by grace
    See verses 12-13
    God forgave you, people forgive you, that is comforting
    2 Corinthians 1:4 NASB95
    who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
    God forgives you, people forgive you - and then you can teach others how this works
    SERIOUSLY? David, the adulterer, murderer, is going to teach others?
    YES
    Though, consequences occur in his life as a result (Read about it)
    SO, WHEN YOU SIN:
    David sinned - and he did not want his relationship with God to be darkened
    That is the first concern - being in close connection with God
    You will still make mistakes - don’t let them linger, and darken your connection with God
    And when you follow God’s way of dealing with mistakes
    He will use you
    Your relationships grow stronger (not nec. easier)
    And you will be a powerful witness
    Sinners will be converted
    Here we are, a bunch of people who have made mistakes
    God wants to use you
    He desires to grow His kingdom
    When we are right with Him, that’s what happens!

      • Psalm 51:4NASB95

      • 1 John 1:9NASB95

      • Philippians 2:3NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 10:13NASB95

      • 2 Corinthians 1:4NASB95

  • Cleanse Me
  • At The Cross (Love Ran Red)

      • Psalms 51:14NASB95

The Church in Noble - Cornerstone
cornerstone@wabash.net
618-723-2779
https://cccnoble.faithlifesites.com
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