A Penitent Looks at the God-man

The separation of God and sinners is vast; and without a reconciliation during one’s life, that separation is eternal. It is the grace of God the Father that brings compelling conviction to the sinner and causes that one to repent (Acts 5:31; 11:18; 17:30). The penitent is not just sorry for his sin and the consequential problems sin causes; rather, there is a deep grief regarding one’s state of estrangement from God and for the whole state of fallen humanity.

King David reigned in Jerusalem from 1011 to 971 B.C. He had known Yahweh’s favor in government administration and in war; but in the matter of adultery with Bathsheba, along with stratagem to kill her husband Uriah the Hittite, David forgot God and grossly sinned.

When Nathan the prophet brought the divine charge against King David (2 Sam 12:7), to whom God made an astounding promise — that one of his descendants would sit on David’s throne, forever (2 Sam 7:8–17) — David felt the weight of his transgressions.

Psalm 51 is David’s penitential confession and request for restoration. The man after God’s own heart was laid bare before his Maker. Instead of running away and hiding (see Adam and Eve) from such probing scrutiny, David sought mercy and grace from the righteous Judge of heaven and earth (Gen 18:25).

When a genuine penitent seeks forgiveness from iniquities, he understands the far greater value of right standing with the holy God he has offended. The grace of salvation is priceless; and David’s God, Yahweh, is the Savior of His people, Israel (Is 43:3, 11; 45:21).

When the people of God sin, we must remember the attributes of God — His lovingkindness, His compassion (Ps 51:1). Our default mode is to avoid the holy God, whose righteous wrath is well known (Rom 1:18). Sinners, however, cannot avoid God’s justice, forever. All must appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor 5:10) — Christ to whom the Father has given authority to judge (Jn 5:22), for all to give an account of their lives. The truth about us reveals a tragedy; and the eternal home for most people is eternal punishment in fiery hell (Eccl 12:5; Mt 25:41, 46; 22:14; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).

For one to be “clean” in God’s presence, one must become familiar with the way of God’s salvation. Jesus Christ is Himself the one way for sinners to be converted (Ps 51:13; Jn 14:6). So, what has God done in sending Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, that makes Him so exclusive? Simply put, the God-man is the divine solution to the plight of man. There is no other way for God and sinners to be reconciled. It is imperative for the penitent to see Jesus. He must look upon the One who has become our salvation. Therefore, we preach the God-man, Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor 1:18, 23; 2:2, 4).

For God to be gracious, to wash, to purify, to deliver sinners, some things were required. Let us consider one’s need for the God-man:

First, the God-man is the eternal Son of God, who was enfleshed to accomplish the work of redemption (Lk 1:68; Jn 1:14), the purchase of blood (1 Cor 6:20; 7:23), whereby He would save His people from their sins (Mt 1:21). He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Lk 19:10); and His name is the only name under heaven, given among men, whereby one must be saved (Acts 4:12).

Second, the reason for Jesus’ humanity was that God works through what is called, “federal headship.” Adam was the representative head of humanity so that when he sinned, all who were “in him” sinned (seminal posterity). Likewise, when Jesus secured righteousness, all who were covenanted “in Him” received His imputed righteousness (2 Cor 5:21).

The consequences of imputed sin or imputed righteousness both result in all people being positioned either in Adam or in Christ. In Adam, all die; but in Christ all are made alive (1 Cor 15:22). Sin is universal (Rom 3:23); but salvation is particular (Jn 10:11, 15; Rom 11:5–6). Those who are being saved, place their trust in the one and only Savior of sinners, the man, Christ Jesus (Titus 1:4; 2:13).

Jesus of Nazareth is no ordinary man. In fact, we need Him to be unique — God who took on flesh (Jn 1:1, 14). The reason is that God made man “upright” (Eccl 7:29) and demands perfection because He Himself is perfect. The natural man, that is, the sons of Adam are imperfect by inheritance, nature, and practice. The man, Jesus, needed to be sinless (2 Cor 5:21; Heb 4:15), in order to qualify to be the Lamb of God (Jn 1:29), the substitutionary sacrifice (Lev 16), the just for the unjust (1 Pet 3:18), who would pay the penalty for sin, not for Himself, but for His chosen people given to Him by God the Father (Jn 17:2, 6, 24). If a man sins at any one point against the Law of God, he has broken the whole law (Jas 2:10). Jesus could not sin because He was/is God, the second Person of the Trinity. He kept the Law and fulfilled all righteousness (Mt 3:15).

When the penitent sinner beholds the wonder of the God-man, he ponders his own deplorable state without running away. Jesus Christ is approachable. He was tempted in every way (Heb 2:18), as every one of us, yet He was without sin (Heb 4:15). Jesus also suffered in such a way that we can truly know that He truly knows our condition in this world.

My dear reader, do you hate your sin? Do you lament the state of humanity in this present evil age? Can you feel the vanity of this perverse generation? Where do you find your salvation?

When we confess our sins, we know that our God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:19). In fact, the God-man, who is the one Mediator between God and man (1 Tim 2:5), has released us from our sins (Heb 8:1; Rev 1:5), by His precious blood (1 Pet 1:19), shed for the remission of our sins (Heb 9:22).

Jesus Christ has made purification for sins (Heb 1:3). He has sat down upon His throne, all the while inviting sinners, “Come to Me, you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11:28). God is calling all men, everywhere to repent from sin and unto Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30). Draw near to God, therefore, my dear reader, knowing you have His assurance that if you do, God will draw near to you (Jas 4:8).

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

January 5, 2025

Psalm 51