…for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

    Ephesians 5:12

You may have noticed that our culture has changed in the last half century. Just look, historically, at what our modern society had in place as standards of behavior just 50 years ago and contrast that with what we now see and are asked to accept as “normal.” The concept of disgraceful seems to have been replaced with an “anything goes” mentality. But in the midst of ungodliness, depravity, and disgraceful behavior, the Word of God has not changed. God has not changed. That is what is so exciting about being a Christian. We are building our lives on a firm foundation, not a faulty one (Matthew 7:24-27). In the eyes of God, disgraceful behavior is still that…disgraceful. 

Paul mentions this kind of behavior as something of which we should not even speak. Contrast that with today’s loud, angry, and demanding crowd, promoting every kind of godlessness possible and insisting that their behavior become the new standard for living. Paul says, of these things, “it is disgraceful even to speak of such things.” And in secret? There was a time when ungodly, sinful, and despicable behavior was kept in secret. There was great shame that came with people living outside of God’s design for humanity. Not anymore. We now see, not only these things being brought out into society but we also see a celebration of such behavior. This is how you know that our culture is in moral decay. The truth of God’s Word is abandoned and replaced with an “anything goes” mentality. 

So what is the issue here? Well, salvation, surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ, and receiving His Spirit to come and live within us is the remedy. But before any of that can take place, there has to be repentance. If you look at our culture today, you will see repentant hearts and unrepentant ones. That’s the issue. All of us are sinners in need of a Savior and for Christians, we have found abundant, eternal life in Christ. For those outside of Christ, salvation is only a prayer away but it requires repentance. Let’s look at a biblical example for what repentance looks like. Consider the life of David.

David committed sins of adultery and murder. At first, he tried to cover it up, wishing that it would just go away. Sin and its consequences never go away. That’s why we must meet our mistakes and failures head on, owning what we have done, and repenting from those things. The grace of God is there for anyone willing to confess, repent, and move forward in spiritual truth and righteousness. But David held out as long as he could before being confronted by a man named Nathan (2 Samuel 12). Once confronted with his sin, David, in tears and with a broken and repentant heart, began to own his transgressions and called on God for forgiveness and mercy. Consider his words from Psalm 51:

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.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. 

      Psalm 51:1-4

If you and I want to see the mercy, grace, and forgiveness of God flow into our lives, it begins with owning our failures and admitting to God that we have indeed sinned and that the primary offended party from our transgression is God Himself, not to mention the people that we might have injured here on earth. But David doesn’t stop with just a cry for God’s mercy and forgiveness. He then demonstrates that he has a repentant heart:

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You. 

  Psalm 51:10-13

David desired to be forgiven by God but he also wanted to return to the relationship that he had with God prior to his moral failure. “Create in me a clean (pure) heart” is David’s first request. That is quickly followed by, “renew a steadfast spirit within me.” He asked that God would “restore the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit.” A clean heart, a renewed spirit, restoration of the joy of salvation, and spiritual sustainability…these are the hallmarks of a person who is broken and desiring fellowship with God once again. This is at the heart of repentance. 

But you might have noticed that after all of that, David desired to be productive again for the kingdom of God. “Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.” He was saying, “God, if you will forgive me, reestablish Your goodness in my heart once again, and renew the fellowship that I once had with You, then I can teach about You and people will be saved because of my teaching and testimony.” That’s a paraphrase but what a tremendous prayer that we find from the heart of David in Psalm 51! And what was the outcome… “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Samuel 12:13). There would be earthly consequences for David’s sin, but David, the man, was restored. 

So why look at David’s life? It is a template for all of us, as believers, in dealing with moral failure and the sin that “so easily entangles us” (1 Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 12:1-2). Repentance is the key! That is why Peter spoke these words to the first century hearers:

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

  Acts 2:38

And the same message goes out today in the 21st century. Recognizing our sin, confessing it to God, repenting from it, and surrendering our lives to Jesus Christ…this is the solution to all of the sin and depravity that is overtaking our culture today. Despair, fear, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and a feeling of worthlessness are all defeated in the presence of God and Christ. With the presence of God living within us, we are more than conquerers through the power of God in our lives! (Romans 8:37, Ephesians 1:19, Ephesians 3:16). 

Disgraceful behavior, such as should not even be mentioned, much less celebrated, is prevalent in our modern culture and, without repentance, those outside of Christ will run that out to its logical conclusion which is spiritual destruction. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Forgiveness, freedom, and a fresh start are available to everyone who will repent and turn to the only One who can impart life into our hearts and souls…the Person of Jesus Christ! 

When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found…

  Psalm 32:3-6a