The sermon’s tone was not condemning. Instead Scott Guffin urged Alabama Baptists to open their hearts by shifting their focus inward and asking God to “pardon us for our sin.” The topic was the first letter of the theme of the annual meeting, “PRAY,” and was the first of four theme interpretations of the Nov. 17–18 annual meeting of the Alabama Baptist State Convention held at Eastern Shore Baptist Church, Daphne.
With soft-spoken humility and sincerity, Guffin, pastor of Liberty Park Baptist Church, Birmingham, paired lessons from Psalm 51:1–9 with biblical truths for participants to hold fast to in their daily striving for Christlikeness.
Just as David cried out to God in verses 1–3, “we need to confront our own sin,” Guffin said. He challenged listeners not to avoid the sin by covering up, justifying, ignoring or comparing them with one another.
Instead focus on the truth that “it’s only in the light of God’s holiness that I understand the depth of my own sinfulness,” Guffin said.
Understanding must come before a believer can confess his or her sins, a lesson that is often difficult to enact in one’s own life, Guffin noted. In verses 3–4, David acknowledged his sins and outwardly confessed them to God.
“God promises to answer our sincere and repentant confession with His complete and utter forgiveness,” Guffin declared.
“So why is it that we don’t make a big deal about God’s forgiveness? … I have come to feel that we cease to be impressed with everything, even the grace and forgiveness of God.
“It’s only in the light of the richness of Christ’s sacrifice that I can grasp the amazing worth of God’s forgiveness,” he said.
After understanding and confessing one’s sins, believers must communicate God’s forgiveness to others.
“Every transgressor who is out there needs to know God’s ways,” Guffin said. “It’s our job to tell it.
“Let’s don’t ever lose sight that we are in the midst of a world that is lost and dying,” he urged. “God’s people who are called by His name need to humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways. Then you will hear from Him.”
Guffin closed with a prayer asking God to “forgive our sin, heal our land and pardon us for our sin.”
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