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PSALM 51:12

"THE JOY OF SALVATION"

I. WHAT IS MEANT BY SALVATION?
        A. We Christians use the term saved.
                1. Saved from the power of sin.
        vs. 5 a. We often do that which is natural.
                                1. We talk about human nature, and we are referring to
                                   certain characteristics or responses.
                                2. But these reactions often wrong.
                                        a. Human nature to desire to get revenge.
                                        b. Human nature to lie.
                                        c. Human nature to fight.
                        b. Because a wrong attitude is a part of my nature, hard to be free.
                                1. It exerts powerful force and influence over me.
                        c. God saves me from these natural reactions by changing my nature.
                                1. It is not power to control my impulses.
                                2. This is what is meant by term "born again."
                                3. Paul's testimony, "If any man..."
                2. Saved from the consequences of sin.
                        a. Deep bitterness and hatred can cause ulcers.
                        b. Fighting leads to hurt.
                        c. Sin itself leads to death.
                                1. "After death the judgment."
                                2. People say, "God is too good to punish sin."
                                        a. That's what Satan told Eve in the garden but he
                                           was wrong.
                                3. Jesus warned over and over about God's punishment for
                                   the sinner.
        B. The effects of salvation are the changed nature, "a right spirit within me."
                1. This brings peace (peace with God -- peace of God..
                2. This brings joy.
                        a. What joy to know my huge debts have been paid.
                        b. What joy to be restored in fellowship with God.
                        c. What joy to know I have eternal life and the hope of His eternal
                           kingdom.

II. "RESTORE TO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION."
        A. It is possible to be saved and be miserable.
                1. If I allow some sin to master my life.
                        a. Psalm of David when Nathan came to him after his affair with
                           Bathsheba.
                                1. N. "Thou art the man."
                                2. D. "I have sinned against Jehovah."
                                3. N. "Jehovah hath forgiven thy sins."
                        b. David spoke of his transgressions, his iniquity, his sin.
                        c. He asked God to blot out, wash, cleanse (unsin).
                2. David had reverted to his old nature.
                        a. Created in me a clean heart, renew a right spirit.
                        b. Possible for me as a child of God to revert to my old nature
                           to yield to influences of my flesh.
                3. The consequence is loss of the consciousness of the presence of God,
                   loss of the joy, loss of witness for Christ.