A Good God Teaches Sinners His Way of Salvation

Psalm 25:8-15

There are different ways people look for salvation. Firstly, there’s prescription. If you want to be healed from illness, there are certain things you must do. You must have a generally healthy life style - you must eat right, you must exercise, you must take your supplements. And when you’re sick with some great illness - you must go regularly to your doctor for treatment. You must take your medication. You must dress your wounds. So that’s prescription. If you don’t do it, you can’t save yourself. Secondly, there’s deliverance. There’s a fire in your building. You can’t go down, because the fire has engulfed the floors below you. What’s the way to escape? The elevators aren’t working. You can’t take the stairs. But the fire fighter shows up at your window. He breaks the glass. And he tells you to put on a harness and to jump. He instructs you - just jump and I’ll catch you. You have a harness. What do you do? Logically, you jump to save your life. There’s no salvation apart from listening to the fire fighter. Just trust him and follow his instructions. And he will do the saving.

Today, we speak about saving the soul - not so much the body. And even then, most people of the world rely on prescription. If I do good, I’ll be able to save my soul. Or even if I don’t do as good but sin, I’ll just offer up a prayer and that higher being will forgive me. And very often, that prayer will be accompanied with some vow to do this or that to make up; or it would be accompanied by some kind of sacrifice. Maybe I’ll deny myself something or make myself uncomfortable, pay penance, etc. But Christianity doesn’t rely on prescription to be saved. There’s nothing we can really do except to trust. Christianity teaches deliverance as the means of salvation from our sin. That’s what this Psalm teaches - God saves by delivering us from our sins. How does he do it? Firstly, God teaches sinners to walk in his way. Secondly, God’s way of salvation is good.

Firstly, God teaches sinners to walk in his way. Verse 8 tells us, “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.” The marvelous thing about this verse is that God doesn’t treat sinners the way we’d expect a judge to - he doesn’t condemn them, but he teaches them his way. Why? It’s because of his character. God’s unchanging character is good and upright. He’s good. That means there’s no evil in him. Luke 18:19 says that there’s no one good except God alone. And in the Bible, goodness is illustrated as light. 1 John 1:5 says, “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all.” So there’s no evil in God because God is good - he’s the definition of good. He always acts in accordance to what is right, true, and good. It’s his nature to be good. And he can’t contradict that nature. We also see that he’s upright. This means all his works are right. Because God is good, he does good. Good refers to his character, while upright refers to his actions - he hasn’t committed any crime or sin. He’s good and sinless. Deuteronomy 32:4 says that all his works are perfect and just, because he’s a God of truth and without sin - just and upright is he. Now, this portrayal was so different from the gods in other ancient civilizations. The Roman gods had affairs with one another, killed each other, tricked each other. If you died in those days, you’d be cremated with coins on your eyes, to bribe the underworld boatman to take you to the afterlife. Or your god was so angry he could only be appeased by human child sacrifice. But the living and true God is good and upright.

And he’s unchanging in his goodness. His name is the LORD, in Hebrew it’s Jehovah, meaning the one who is. In the ancient world, people gave names to their gods. They were represented by idols. But the only living and true God was named the LORD - the one who is. God never changes. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. The problem with a god who changes is that he’s not constant. He can be angry one day, and be kind the next day. But God’s goodness and righteousness change not. The Bible says in James 1:17 that every good and perfect gift is from above and comes from the Father of lights. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. This assures us that he’s always good and always does right.

On the other hand, we’re not. We’re sinners. The Bible says, “There is none good but One, that is, God.” Meaning, if only God is good, then no man’s good. The Bible says further, “There is none righteous or upright, no, not one. There is none that understands or seeks after God. They’re all turned away and unprofitable. There is none that does good, no, not one.” In contrast to God who’s good and righteous, the Bible says 3 times in each case that man is not good, no, not one; and man is not righteous, no, not one. Man is not good, nor does he do good enough. Man has no way of saving himself. He can’t rely on prescription. He can’t do enough. So while God is unchangeably good and upright, man is unchangeably sinful and unrighteous. But the wonderful truth here is God teaches sinners. He shows them his way of deliverance. Because that’s the only way. Yes, we know in other parts of Scripture, that God judges sinners. And why shouldn’t he judge all sinners? We’re all guilty.

But yet there are sinners he will show and teach this deliverance to. But which ones? There’s a qualification as to which kinds of sinners he teaches. He teaches the meek. Verse 9 says, “The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.” Meaning, the proud aren’t taught. If you think you’re a pretty good person or haven’t done anything wrong, and need no savior, because you have a prescription to be saved, then God can’t instruct you to be delivered. But when you can acknowledge your sin, then the good and upright God can teach you. And we see this clearer in verses 11-12 - “For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” The one who is meek, the one who fears God - that’s the one that God pardons. That’s the one that God teaches. Meekness is the quality that characterizes someone who is humble. The one who acknowledges their sin. And toward such a person’s sin, God will forgive. Isn’t it marvelous that the qualification for God’s salvation is not that you be something great or do some great work but that it is rather that you humble yourself? That’s why the Bible says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Once, a teenage girl came to a pastor for counseling. Her mother accompanied. The girl was withdrawn and would hardly do anything. Finally, he got her to talk, and she began to speak about what a wretched person she was. Almost immediately, her mother interrupted her to correct her and say what a good girl she was. The pastor told the mother to be quiet. He said, “If she tells me what a wicked person she is, I believe her, let her speak.” And that acknowledgment gave the girl hope. You see, she thought her condition was so bad that there was no hope for her. But everyone she spoke to only tried to tell her that she wasn’t so bad. But when the pastor acknowledged what she said, she found hope. Why? It’s because she knew then that God was able to teach her, to forgive her. Why does God teach sinners? It’s because he’s a good and upright God. But he teaches only sinners who are meek - those who fear him. And what does he teach them? His ways. We see several times. Verse 8 - “therefore will he teach sinners in the way.” Verse 9 - “and the meek will he teach his way.” Verse 10 - “All the paths (or ways) of the LORD are mercy and truth.” Verse 12 - “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” God will teach is way. Now, why do sinners need to know God’s way? It’s because all other ways lead to sin and misery. Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” But God’s ways are good. They lead to life.

That’s the second point. God’s way of salvation is good. Verse 10 tells us that all the LORD’s ways show mercy and truth to those who keep his covenant and testimonies. What does it mean that God’s ways are mercy and truth? It means that God is always merciful, he always upholds the truth. What’s mercy? Mercy is God not giving to us what we deserve. What do we deserve for our sins? What do sinners deserve? Judgment. But what are they offered? Mercy. God’s way is the way of mercy. God is not waiting for failure; he’s not wanting us to fall; he’s not hungering to punish. God’s merciful. Those are his ways. But God is not a pushover either. God also upholds truth - what is right, what is wrong. Those are God’s ways.

At the Old Supreme Court near City Hall, there’s Lady Justice. She holds a scale in one hand, and a sword in another. She’s often blindfolded. She’s weighing the evidence - the truth. She dispenses justice. But there’s a coldness to Lady Justice. But not God. God’s not cold - he’s not just getting a job done. Yes, truth must be upheld. But God’s also perfectly and infinitely merciful. So how does he give mercy to sinners who’ve broken his laws, when he has to uphold truth to punish them? How to punish sinners and give mercy to them at the same time? It seems impossible! How do you show mercy to the very ones you must execute truth and justice against because of their sins? A judge that dismisses a case without punishing the crime is not just. How does God show mercy and uphold truth? There’s a solution. Jesus on the cross. God sent Jesus to take the punishment for sinners. Truth is upheld. Jesus was righteous - he kept God’s covenant and testimonies. He never sinned. And therefore, if he takes the punishment for our sins, God can show mercy on us. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Therefore, those who claim him as their savior receive mercy, because he’s taken their punishment.

So whoever trusts in Christ is forgiven. Forgiveness is found in him. Verse 11 - “For thy name’s sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.” Because of what God does, sinners can ask God to pardon their iniquity. This is God’s way. He’s long-suffering, loving, patient; while he does punish - he’s slow to punish. But whoever asks him to forgive them in Christ, he will do it. We learn here, that we should pray for pardon. The word pardon means to forgive or spare. Spare me! Pardon me! From what? My iniquities. This person acknowledged their sins. These were not other people’s iniquities, but my iniquities. And the word “iniquities” doesn’t only refer to a person’s faults or wrongdoings - his actions; rather it refers to his sinfulness. He wasn’t asking God to forgive him of his wrong actions, although that would be part of his attitude; he went deeper - he asked God to forgive his proneness to sin.

Folks, it’s one thing to admit your faults - it’s another thing to admit your faultiness. Everyone’s prepared to admit their faults. But not everyone - their faultiness. But we’re broken; sinful. That’s why we sin - it’s who we are. But God forgives us, when we ask him to pardon us for his sake. This is proof of that meekness and humility. People are often sorry because they’re found out. They feel bad because it’s hurt others. But a person is pardoned because he knows his sin is against God. Please, for your honor, for your sake, not for mine - pardon my great sinfulness. This is a person who hungers and thirsts after righteousness. There’s nothing he can do, there’s no prescription he can do; he can only plead for deliverance. The weight of sin is so great, there’s no relief aside from God’s forgiveness. That’s why he calls on God. This is proof of someone who understands God’s mercy, his commitment to the truth. And God forgives such a person. Some who know they have sin, don’t feel it’s God they’ve offended; they only see the inconvenience or the shame of their wrongdoing. They’ll try harder to be better. But the one who has true understanding, knows he can’t get better, because his sinfulness is so great, that what he needs is forgiveness.

And what is the result of that mercy and forgiveness in Christ? There’s prosperity. Verse 13 - “His soul shall dwell at ease…” The word ease means prosperity. But this prosperity is a spiritual one. His soul shall dwell in prosperity. He’s saved, spiritually blessed. It’s not earthly prosperity. What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul? Many people are not at ease because of unforgiven sin. The Bible says, “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is forgiven.” This prosperity is also because of peace with God. Verse 14 says, “The secret, meaning secret or confiding friendship of the Lord is with them that fear him.” Wow! We were sinners; enemies. God didn't need to show mercy. He’d be right to uphold judgment. But his ways are to show mercy. And we’re shown God’s way of salvation, and forgiven when we repent. That’s why we’re now friends with God. And we trust God. Verse 15 says, “mine eyes are ever toward the Lord.” This is the spiritual prosperity of the saved sinner - he looks to the Lord.

Our salvation is not by following a prescription. We are not good, no, not one. We’re not righteous, no, not one. We can’t save ourselves. We must be delivered. And how are we delivered? By knowing the way of salvation. God has given us a savior. And how can we have access to that savior? By repenting of our sin. By being meek. By fearing God. Verse 12 says, “What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.” When we trust not in our ways, we will have a deliverer.

1. God Teaches Sinners His Way

A. God is good and upright

B. God teaches meek sinners

C. God teaches them his way

2. God’s Way Is Good

A. Mercy and truth found in Christ

B. Forgiveness is found in Christ

C. Spiritual prosperity is found in Christ