Create In Me A Clean Heart
Sunday, May 24, 2026
Pastor Jojo Ma
Weekly Bulletin | Song Lyrics | Nicene Creed
Psalm 51
Martin Luther: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said ‘Repent,’ he intended that the entire life of believers should be repentance.”
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have broken rejoice. 9 Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
I. Ask for mercy [vv1-2]
II. Be aware of your sin [vv3-6]
III. Call out for cleansing [vv7-9]
IV. Desire a clean heart [v10]
I. Ask for mercy [vv1-2]
1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
Lk 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Are you deeply aware of your sins, like David was? Do you grieve over your sins and hate them as God hates them? And do you recognize that they are, in fact, your sins? It’s very personal with the Lord.
Ps 32:1-2 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
II. Be aware of your sin [vv3-6]
3-6 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
Ps 32:3-4 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.
1 Jn 1:7-10 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You may be justified in Your words and blameless in Your judgment.
Sin, by its very definition, is against God.
How about you? Sin is personal, and God takes it very personally. Make sure you don’t take God’s grace and Christ’s cross lightly.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, You delight in truth in the inward being, and You teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
III. Call out for cleansing [vv7-9]
7-9 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
1 Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
IV. Desire a clean heart [v10]
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Have you asked God for this kind of miracle in your life as you seek that heart of repentance. Have you asked the Lord to do that which only He can do, and that is to fashion for you a clean heart?
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation.
Sin brings sorrow. Righteousness brings rejoicing.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
16 For You will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; You will not be pleased with a burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
Are you coming to God with the sacrifice of a broken and contrite heart?
I. Ask for mercy [vv1-2]
II. Be aware of your sin [vv3-6]
III. Call out for cleansing [vv7-9]
IV. Desire a clean heart [v10]