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Let’s come here to Psalm 51. Let’s continue on now, let’s come, let’s come to Psalm 51. Now, let’s understand something about Psalm 51. This is when David repented of his affair with Bathsheba, and killing her husband, Uriah the Hittite. What were the circumstances involved? You know the account.

David was on the roof and down below was Uriah the Hittite’s house. And on the roof down below, where he could see, was Bathsheba. And here, what happened. He said, "Well, that looks good." A little bit of pornography, right? "Well, this is interesting. I’m king. I can do what I want. Boy, she’s a good looking woman.

Now, Sadoff _{[transcribers note: unsure of spelling of this name]}, the servant said, the servant went over there and said, "The king would like you to have dinner with him." And Bathsheba, you know, she didn’t have to bathe on the top of the roof. Now could it be that she knew that the king was going to see her. She must have wanted something, otherwise why would she go and have dinner with the king? I wonder if they saw each other in the eyes. Looked at each other in the eyes. And both of them thought, "Wow! This is quite a deal." A lot of people have that today, don’t they? Yes. A little lying, a little stealing, a little gambling, a little drugs, a little pornography, whatever it may be, "God will understand."

You know, David probably figured, "well, God will understand." It must have been at a time when he wasn’t praying and studying the way he ought to. And then Nathan had to come and tell him that, "David, you’re the man. You did this!" Then, you know the penalty that came upon David’s house even after he repented. He had strife and trouble in his household the rest of his life, because he despised the commandment of God.

And he was close to committing the unpardonable sin because he knew better. Because, you see, in his house he had a special place, with a special little tabernacle where the Ark of the Covenant was. And in that section of the house, he had the Levites—Asaph and Nathan and the other Levites there who tended to the, to the ark. And he would go sing and pray before God. And God even promised him that his son would build a temple. And God even promised him that He would build a dynasty for him, rather than he building a house for God. And he would never ever lack for a man to sit on his throne.

So, that’s why it says, "he despised the commandment of God." And God said to him, "You know, I’ve given you the kingdom of Judah and Israel and all the wealth and glory of it and the wives of Saul and so forth, "I’ve put into your hand. And furthermore, if that wouldn’t have been enough, thus and such would I also have done. Why did you do this?"

Now, what I want you to do is think about in your life, and I’ll think about in my life, you see: what is it that I have that I need to change? What is it that you have that you need to change? The secret inward sins that you alone know—and GOD KNOWS! That has to be cleansed from the inside.

Now, let’s pick it up here in verse 1, Psalm 51, KJV—so David finally came to himself and repented and said: "… Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." Which God does.

Psalm 103 says, "our sins are removed from us as far as the east is from the west." And God told David, "Yes, your sin has been put away."

But notice what he said. David knew there was something else that need to be done. And he knew that something was radically wrong with his way of thinking that he would have all of this come about, he would plan it, he would plot it, he would do it, he would connive for the murder of Uriah the Hittite that he would steal his wife, commit adultery with her—and somehow think he was okay.

No! Something went wrong in here, and that’s what needed to be changed. So he says: "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity…" (Psa. 51:2, KJV).

There needs to be cleansing. Whatever your sin are there needs to be a cleansing. "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin" (v 2).

But here’s what you have to do. God is not going to do it without your active participation in repentance to Him. It isn’t going to happen any other way. So you have to go to God. You have to acknowledge it. Just like he did here: "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me" (v 3).

Because, you see, when you really don’t repent and you’re not clean inside, your sin is always there, coming before you—BANG! Coming back BANG! Coming back again and again! God wants that changed. He shows how it can be changed. We’ll see part of it here.

And here’s something you also need to understand and remember—verse four. Every sin against the commandments, though someone else is involved is against God, because He gave the law. He defined what sin is. So David acknowledges that. He says: "Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest" (v 4).

Because God is always right. Never forget that. God is always right!

Now, verse 5—He began to see the depths of his evil human nature. And this is what we need to do. Whatever the sin, whatever the trouble, whatever the problem, whatever the trial, begin to see the depth of it. And a lot of sin comes along and looks good and sounds good and feels good and it’s so right in the eyes of a human being. But remember this, "there is a way that seems right unto a man, and the ends thereof are the ways of death!"

So David began to understand the depths of his human nature. And how that the sin comes from within, just like Jesus said: "From within comes sin, adultery, fornication, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blaspheme, murders, pride—all of that comes from within. And it’s inherent in us. And God has called us to overcome it, though it’s inherent within us, so that we learn the lesson that sin does not pay. We learn the lesson that as eternal beings we must not and will not sin. And we must learn that lesson now while we’re in the flesh.

And we must have that cleansed from us now! While we have time and opportunity.

Notice what he said: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me" (v 5). Now it wasn’t in an adulterous relation. Sin is a very part of our being, from conception. That’s what he was admitting. And we’ll see that’s the "law of sin and death," if we have time to get to it here.

Now, here’s what God wants. This is why we need this deep repentance. This is repenting with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your being before God. And you see yourself the way God sees you.

Now, here’s the requirement, verse 6: "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts…" You get rid of human nature with truth. You overcome it with truth. And the truth is the Word of God. And the first place that truth begins is acknowledging what you are: your sins, your nature and your secret faults. That you’re honest and truthful with God with that.

"and in the hidden part…" (v 6). That part that know one knows but you and God. That part where all lust and all envy, and jealousy, and greed, and murder, and hate and everything contrary to the Word of God is hidden in the mind. And that needs to be cleansed.

"… and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom" (v 6).

Now, notice verse 7, because this is what has to happen. We’ve got to go before God and do the same as David did here. He said: "Purge me… [Now we’re going to see that’s part of the Feast of Unleavened Bread.] … Purge me with hyssop… [and just like a great scouring pad] … and I shall be clean… [because He wants us to be clean. Jesus said, ‘You are clean through the words which I have spoken.’ So, He wants us clean] … wash me… [We’re going to see how the washing takes place.] … and I shall be whiter than snow" (v 7).

Verse 8: "Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities" (vs 8-9). And now the spiritual work can begin.

So you see, I am sure that there are many who attend the Church of God who have never really come to this level of repentance. And they’re only kidding themselves and playing church. Now, you need to think on that.

Verse 10—here’s the real work: "Create in me a clean heart, O God…"

And after all he did, he really needed to have a clean heart created in him. That’s what God wants to do with every one of us. Create a clean heart in you, in me and in all of God’s people, you see. That’s why we have the Passover and Unleavened Bread.

"… and renew a right spirit within me" (v 10).

And let these things be scrubbed from your brain, as it were.

Now, some people might mock and say, "that’s brainwashing." Well, all these wicked brains out there, they need to be washed.

And he says: "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me" (v 11).

So, he was on the verge of committing the unpardonable sin if he had not repented. And that’s the kind of repentance that we need.

"Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit" (v 12). Just like it says back there, "Get the beam out of your eye."

Then he says here—verse 14: "Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, [that is from murder] thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness."

Now, let’s come down here to—no, let’s continue on, verse 15 "O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth thy praise…. [In other words, let’ God direct your thoughts and your speech.] … For thou desirest not sacrifice; [any kind of sacrifice] else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering" (vs 15-16).

Here’s the sacrifice that God wants. This is the key to the cleansing of your heart and your mind and erasing these hidden, deep, secret sins that you know that you have. That I know that I have. And every human being does.

Verse 17: "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." No, He will honor that.

Now, let’s come to Psalm 119—let’s see how else we are to cleanse our ways. Psalm 119, let’s pick it up here in verse nine.

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?… [young woman, young man, old woman, old man] … by taking heed thereto according to thy word" (Psa. 119:9, KJV).

You can’t do it yourself. You need to be cleansed from within. By the Spirit of God and the World of God.

Now notice verse 10: "With my whole heart have I sought thee…"

And that’s another aspect of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. That we are wholehearted. We’re not divided with leaven and sin away from God. We’re wholehearted toward God, and you see, with this kind of repentance then, there can come the true love of God. The true understanding of His mercy and goodness and grace and kindness and forgiveness all together.

Now let’s come to the New Testament. Let’s come to 2 Corinthians, the sixth chapter—2 Corinthians 6, because—and this is a very, very important section for us to understand, and to realize what we are doing and how God deals with us, and what He expects from us, and what we are to do and how we are to do it.

2 Corinthians 6—all right, here we are, one more page. Now, here in 2 Corinthians, the sixth chapter, let’s pick it up here, let’s pick it up here in verse eleven. Very interesting as he, as he brings this out, and notice what he is saying. And I want you think about it in relationship to your life. I’ll think about it in relationship to my life.

"O you Corinthians! Our mouths have been opened to you, and our hearts have been enlarged Toward you. You are not suppressed by us, but you are restricted in your own hearts…" (2 Cor. 6:11-12, FV).

Isn’t that something! And that was their attitude toward tithing that he’s talking about here. Isn’t that something! That also applies with sin, right? If we carry sins in hearts and minds we are restricted in our hearts. We don’t want to be wholehearted toward God in the things that we do. We are afraid because we still have these sins. And, instead of repenting, you think, "Well, I can work it out." Listen, the only way you’re going to work out sin is if you go to God. You’re never going to work your way out of sin yourself. If you think you can, then you’re actually denying the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. To work your way out you have to come to God in repentance first!

Now notice, verse 14: "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and lawlessness have in common?…. [And haven’t we seen that happen with the Church of God that went out to the Protestants and said, "Oh, how do you worship Jesus?’ Not understanding that they had a false Jesus—their lawlessness was the ‘spirit of antichrist.’] … And what fellowship does light have with darkness?"

Now you need to have these things just like Paul was talking about here. A clear definition. And of the hidden, secret sins in our minds, we need to have a clear definition to get rid of them To have them cleansed and purged!

"And what union does Christ have with Belial? Or what part does a believer have with an unbeliever? And what agreement is there between a temple of God …. [and we are the temple of God, right? Yes!] … and idols? For you are a temple of the living God, exactly as God said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people’ (vs 15-16).

"‘Therefore, [verse 17] come out from the midst of them and be separate,’ [that’s repentance] says the Lord, ‘and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you; And I shall be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty" (vs 17-18).

Now, chapter seven and verse one: He tells us how to do it.

"Now then, beloved, since we have these promises, we should purge ourselves… [So, we have our part to do. God has His part to do.] … from every defilement of the flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1, FV).

Now, let’s come to 1 Corinthians five, see how this ties in with the Feast of Unleavened Bread, of purging and cleansing. Now, let’s pick it up here in verse six: Know you not, it says:

"Your glorying is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? (1 Cor. 5:6, FV).

We must have a renewing of our minds by the Spirit of God and cleansing and the washing of the water of the Word. That is what cleanses and purges!

"Therefore, purge out the old leaven… [that is, the sin—not only unleaven your homes and everything like that] … so that you may become a new lump, even as you are unleavened" (v 7).

Because, you see, putting leaven out of your homes and then not putting sin out of your lives is futile. You haven’t learned anything. And sooner or later you’ll come to the place—like some of the Churches of God have done in their sin—and say, "Well, you don’t have to eat unleavened bread during the days of Unleavened Bread… (which is an oxymoron and total absolute stupidity when you think of it.) … so we have on the table for those who want leavened bread. We have cake and we have rolls and we have all these good things. And for you who want unleavened bread, it’s over here." Now, that is uniting with unbelievers.

Now, let’s go on: " … so that you may become a new lump, even as you are unleavened For Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. For this reason, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (vs 7-8).

We’re to purge it out as Paul said.

Let’s see how we do it. We’ve already covered repentance. Now, let’s come to 1 John, the first chapter.

Then He’s offered the way to Christ, through repentance.

Let’s pick it up here in 1 John 1—very important section here, every important section. Let’s pick it up here in verse six—1 John 1:6, FV: "If we proclaim that we have fellowship with Him… [and that’s what we’re doing if we’re coming to Church, yet living in sin—whatever the sin may be.] … but we are walking in the darkness…" [which, you are ‘walking in darkness’ if you’re living in sin].

And if you’re letting these secret sins

obsess you,

possess you!

motivate you!

use you!

you’re walking in darkness!.

Now, that’s a promise. And part of your repentance and part of your prayer in going before God to be cleansed inside, to get rid and purge out the leaven that is within, you see, you claim this promise that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Verse 8: "If we say that we do not have sin… [in other words, just because it’s hidden and no one knows it, and you proclaim: ‘Well, I don’t have sin.’] … we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. I few confess our own sins…" We confess them to the Father, confess them to Jesus Christ.

And as we saw in the "Keys to Answered Prayer": every single day. And God will help you to understand the depths of human nature. Just like David had to come to see. And there is a progressively deeper repentance that you experience as you recognize and understand sin in your life more—and repent of it. And then you come to repenting of, of your vanity and your, the very motivation of your being as a carnal human being. And then you realize the great love of God.

"… if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His Word is not in us" (vs 9-10).

Now, chapter two and verse one: "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. [Because, you see, sin can be eliminated, in a progressive way. If you follow what we have covered here.] … And yet, if anyone does sin, [because we have the law of sin and death in us and we do the things that we don’t want to do, even though we want to do good—but we still have to repent of that, don’t we.] … we have an Advocate with the Father; Jesus Christ the Righteous. And He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for our sins only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1 John 2:1-2, FV).

So in God’s time, in God’s plan, He’s going to open the way of salvation for them.

Now, let’s see how this is done. Let’s come to Ephesians, the fifth chapter—which I said earlier, so here we are finally getting to it—Ephesians, the fifth chapter. Okay, let’s pick it up here, Ephesians, the fifth chapter. Now, let’s pick it up here in verse 25, because it’s talking about a husband and a wife relationship. But it is talking about the mystery between Christ and the Church. So here’s the parallel:

""Husbands, love your own wives, in the same way that Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; [and we read about that, didn’t we, on the Sabbath before Passover.] … So that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it with the washing of the water by the Word" (Eph. 5:25, FV).

So, it’s a progress.

It is something that you do.

It is a process.

It is a cleansing.

It is repentance

And forgiveness

And cleansing

It is repentance

And forgiveness

And purging

And then you come to have the mind of Christ! "… with the washing of the water by the Word." Now that means combining with the Holy Spirit which is like water that comes as rivers of living water for those who are converted, you see. And then the Word of God combined. Because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. And the Holy Spirit will bring you the understanding of the Word of God, and this cleanses. And this does what God wants us to do to get these things out of our lives.

Now, let’s go one step further. Let’s come to Hebrews the ninth chapter, and let’s see that God wants these erased. That there is no more remebrance of it in your mind by having the Holy Spirit cleanse you and replace it with the Word of God.

The thoughts of God

The attitude of God

The love of God

The hope of God

The faith of God

To replace all of that carnality that is within.

Now, let’s come here to Hebrews the tenth chapter, let’s see what it says here. This is the covenant that we are in. This is the covenant that we renewed on Passover night.

Verse 16: "‘This is the covenant that I will establish with them after those days,’ says the Lord: ‘I will give My laws into their hearts, and I will inscribe them in their minds…" (Heb. 10:16, FV).

Now, compare that with Jeremiah 17:1, that sin has been inscribed with the point of an iron—with a diamond at the end of it. Now, in order to have that kind of heart converted, you need this. Now, notice what will happen. Here is the cleansing that takes place.

"… ‘And their sins and lawlessness I will not remember ever again’" (v 17).

So, if God removes them, let them also erase it from your mind. Because removing them before Him through forgiveness and confession of sin is the first step. Now, it has to be removed from your mind, so that you can forget it. Ask God forgiveness of it.

Think in your life, how many of you are still affected because of child abuse, or sexual abuse or because people were hateful and mean to you. And it’s, it’s affected you.

Repent of it

Let God cleanse it

Don’t continue to pollute every day with the sins of the past, and the memories of the past

Purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump and that it is purged out through Jesus Christ and the love of God.

Now, let’s continue on here—verse 18: "Now where remission of these is, it is no longer necessary to offer sacrifices for sin. Therefore, brethren, having confidence to enter into the true holiest by the blood of Jesus…" (vs 18-19).

You have the help of the soverign of the universe to help you with His Spirit, with His Word, to cleanse you. Just like David had said, "Wash me, purge me, cleanse my heart. Use hyssop. You want true in the inward parts. And in the secret parts you will make me to know wisdom. Keep me from my secret sins."

Amazing, isn’t it?

"By a new and living way, which He consecrated for us through the veil (that is, His flesh)…" (v 20).

Now, let’s come back here to Hebrews 9—Hebrews 9. Another thing we need to understand—Hebrews 9. Let’s come here to verse 13—nope, let’s come back here to verse 11.

Hebrews 9:11, FV—and follow this through: "But Christ Himself has become High Priest of the coming good things, through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not make by human hands (that is, not of this present physical creation). Not by the blood of goats and calves, but by the means of His own blood, He entered once for all into the holiest, having by Himself secured everlasting redemption for us. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are defiled, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh" (vs 11-13).

Now, he’s making a comparison here between the temple service and now the spiritual temple service with Christ as our High Priest and Mediator and God the Father.

Verse 14: "To a far greater degree, the blood of Christ, Who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, shall purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

So you must have your conscience purged and cleaned. You must have it taken from you, you see—all that sin taken from you.

Now, how do your do that?

What is your part?

Let’s come back here to 2 Corinthians 10, because you have something that you need to do—and here’s how you do it, by the power of God’s Holy Spirit. And this is what we need to do every day. When that sin comes along to try and resurrect itself back in your mind, you do what we’re going to cover here.

Verse 3, 2 Corinthians 10: "For although we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh…. [that is, to overcome sin and Satan and all that] …For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the overthrowing of strongholds, Casting down vain imaginations, [and that’s right where we started, wasn’t it? That every imagination of the heart of man was only evil continually. So, to have those secret things cleansed we ‘cast down vain imaginations.’] … and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 20:3-5, FV).

That’s how we overcome these secret sins. That’s how we let these things in the past, that still haunt us today, be cleansed. And ask God for perfect forgetfulness. That it is God.

Ask Him to cleanse it.

Take it from you.

If you have a sin that is nagging you, after you, is bogging you, take some prayer, take some time in fasting and ask God to cleanse you:

to purify your mind,

to purify your heart,

to cleanse your heart,

to give you the right thoughts.

And that then, you fill the Word of God into your mind. And ask God to help you love Him with all your heart, and with all your mind, and all your soul and all your being! And God will hear.

God will answer.

God will delight in that.

God will unleaven you from that.

Through Christ that can be taken away forever, and removed forever.

And then you can have peace with God.

Then you can have the joy that David talked about.

When the true repentance comes, you see.

Now, notice: "And have a readiness… [On the alert! Ready to take care of it when it pops up its ugly head.] … to avenge all disobedience, whenever your obedience has been fulfilled.

So, that’s something brethren. Now, let’s come here to Colossians, the first chapter—Colossians, the first chapter. And this is what Jesus has done for us. Colossians, the first chapter. Let’s see how it is. Let’s pick it up here in verse 12—nope, can never do that—verse 11.

"Being strengthened with all power…" (Col. 1:11, FV). Now, that’s what we want. We want God to strengthen us in mind, in heart, in purpose, in love, in faith, all of the things of the fruits of the Holy Spirit—then, which then, unleaven us spiritually, don’t they? That’s why we are to eat unleavened bread. We are to put it in.

We’ll talk about that more on the Sabbath.

"… according to the might of His glory, unto all endurance and long-suffering with joy; Giving thanks to the Father, Who has make us qualified for the share of the inheritance of the saints in the light; Who has personally rescued us from the power of darkness…" (v 11-13).

Ask God to rescue you from that.

Ask God to give you the strength to overcome,

to blot it out,

to purge it out

and replace it with the righteousness of Christ.

Replace it with the love of God.

Replace it with the grace of God

with the mind of Christ,

with the Words of God.

And let your mind be cleansed!

Now, let’s come over here to, let’s come over here to verse 24. "Now, Paul is writing here, he says: "Now, I am rejoicing in my sufferings for you, and I am filling up in my flesh that which is behind of the tribulations of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church. Of which I became a servant, according to the administration of God that was given to me for you in order to complete the Word of God; Even the mystery that has been hidden from ages and from generations, but has now been revealed to His saints; To whom God did will to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory…" (vs 24-27).

And that’s the hope! It’s in Christ. It’s through Christ.

Now, he says, verse 28: "Whom we preach, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, so that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus."

And that’s what God wants. And so we’ll talk about perfection next time—on the Sabbath during Unleavened Bread. But remember this—one last thing in closing:

That because we have eaten the bread of the Passover, and drunk the wine, which symbolized the blood of Jesus Christ, we are to live by Him!

(End Sermon)

1. Leviticus 23:4-8

2. Genesis 6:5, 11-12

3. Jeremiah 10:23-24

4. Jeremiah 17:1-5-10

5. Psalm 39:4-6, 8

6. John 15;1-3

7. Romans 3:23-25, 27

8. Romans 8:2

9. 2 Corinthians 7:10

10. Matthew 23:24-26

11. Psalm 19:7-13

12. Psalm 51:1-17

13. Psalm 119:9-10

14. 2 Corinthians 6:11-12, 14

15. 1 John 1:6-10

16. Ephesians 5:25

17. Hebrews 10:16-20

18. Hebrews 9:11-13

19. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

20. Colossians 1:11-13, 24-28

All Scriptures from the New Testament from The New Testament in its Original Order, A Faithful Version by Fred R. Coulter

All Scriptures from the Old Testament from the King James Version

Scriptural References not quoted:

1 Corinthians 5:7

Romans 6

Jeremiah 17:1

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