Only God Can Cleanse Us from Sin

Note from today’s Bible reading: Psalm 32; 51; 86; 122; 2 Samuel 13-14

Following his sin with Bathsheba and his recognition of his guilt, David appealed to God to forgive him. He asked the Lord to “blot out [his] transgressions,” to “wash [him] thoroughly from [his] iniquity and cleanse [him] from [his] sin” (Psalm 51:1-2).

David knew that only God could do this for him. In order to be “whiter than snow,” God would have to cleanse him of his sin.

However, in order to receive this forgiveness, David needed to display humility and an attitude of repentance. He wrote, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). Without this attitude before God, David knew that he could never be cleansed of his iniquity since it was “against [God]” that he had “sinned” (Psalm 51:4).

It is important that we keep this in mind. While some sins are against others (just as David’s was), every sin is against God. Therefore, the only way to have those sins wiped away is to get right with the Lord.

So remember that only God can cleanse us from sin. Others may overlook our sins, but only God can wipe them away. Yet if we want this forgiveness, it first requires us to exercise humility, exhibit godly sorrow over our sin, and then meet the conditions God has given us to have our sins washed away.