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The cancel culture talk today is often a hidden attempt to cancel sin.
If there is no sin, then we can do anything, anywhere, anytime, and with anyone with no penalty – exactly what those in rebellion to God’s holiness desire. Unfortunately, we can’t cancel God’s holiness. We can only try to talk ourselves into believing that sin doesn’t exist, it is okay to do this or that, and make light of our actions by thinking, “God will forgive us.”
In Psalm 32, King David describes his attempt to cancel sin. As we listen to his words, we realize it didn’t go well with him, and the same will happen to us if we try to cancel sin in our own efforts.
Psalm 32 has a simple message – it’s better to confess quickly, magnify, not diminish the consequences of sin, and be forgiven!
First, David begins Psalm 32 with a message of hope . . .
Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered (v. 1).
Second, David describes sin . . .
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit (vv. 2-3).
Transgression means crossing the line; sin means missing the mark; iniquity means twisted; and deceit means deception. This isn’t the way to live, with these signatory descriptions defining our lives.
Third, David explains what happened to him when he tried to cancel sin.
For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer (vv. 3-4).
Ninety percent of disease, anxiety, and fear have roots in sin. We are made in the image of God, and rebelling against God is rejecting our very nature – no wonder we get resultant gender, sexual, and psychological dystopia.
Fourth, David reveals that sin can be canceled!!! By God, not us.
Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone (v. 5, NLT).
Fifth, a warning from King David . . .
Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment (v. 6).
Repentance is always an invitation from God, brought to us by the conviction of the Spirit. We accept or reject. But David writes that we could run out of time.
Finally, David gives the results of canceling sin the wrong and the right ways.
Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord. So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! (vv. 10-11, NLT)
Let’s cancel sin God’s way.