You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us.
Those great words are from Psalm 51, David's psalm of confession that we sang earlier,
as God be merciful to me. And the same psalm that we're going to be looking at together
for the next three Sundays. It's going to be a short break from our study through the Gospel of Luke
over these next three weeks to talk together about confession. We'll talk about the nature of sin,
the heart of repentance, and the God of forgiveness as well over the next three weeks.
We're doing this for several reasons. One is that Luke is not the only book in the Bible,
and we don't want you to forget that. That the Old Testament is also God's Word, and sometimes
when you study through a particularly long book of the Bible, it's helpful along the way to
take some breaks and expose your heart to other parts of God's Word. So this will be helpful in
that. Another reason is that this is a time in the church calendar where we often spend some time
considering our sin, our weakness, our need for Jesus' life and death and resurrection for us.
We're preparing to celebrate that at Easter, and so we consider our need for it as we lead up
to that celebration. And to be honest, any time is a good time to consider sin and repentance
and forgiveness because those are to be regular parts of all of our lives as followers of Christ.
One final reason that we're doing this now is that your session, the group of elders that you elected
to lead, to shepherd this flock, has been wrestling for the last year and a half or so
with our hearts before God. He's been showing us more of our own sin, more of his grace and forgiveness
and teaching us what repentance looks like. Most of you know that several years ago, Southwood
experienced a particularly difficult season of church conflict. One of the primary things that made that
such a difficult season for us is that we as church leaders sinned deeply. We as church leaders failed to
love God as we should. We failed to love our neighbor as God commands us to. Your church session failed to
love others and failed to pursue reconciliation in a manner that was biblical and God
dishonoring. As a result of those sins being a group that was called by God to represent him to his people
and to this entire community. Instead, in many ways, we brought dishonor to his name. And as you can imagine,
when godly leadership fails like that, and as we did, there are many people who are impacted by that. Many people
who are hurt by that sin. Some of those dear brothers and sisters that we love are no longer a part of this
congregation. Others of you are sitting right here this morning looking at me and you were hurt by our sin as well.
And so we wanted all of you, whether you were here during that season or not, we wanted all of you to know
that as a group, God has broken and continues to break our hearts over our sin. We've been as a group for some time
in many different ways, confessing our sin to God and clinging to his forgiveness. You've heard previously,
if you've been here several years, you've heard different people confess in different contexts, individuals
confess sin from that season. But this confession is a corporate one from the session of Southwood.
We wanted all of you here during that time or not to know how sorry we are for our sin
and to know that it's a chapter in the story of this church. And if you're a part of it, then a chapter
in your story, it's not our favorite chapter. It's not one that you perhaps hear a lot of discussion
about on a regular basis. And it's not one that defines who we are as a church. But it is a chapter
in our story. And it's one that can show us more of God's glorious grace and faithfulness and teach us
to depend more desperately on Jesus than we naturally do. It's something he's been teaching us.
We want you to have the opportunity to learn that along with us.
It's also our heart in sharing this that anyone who is still confused, hurting, lacking resolution
from this season in the life of the church would hear from us a warm invitation to talk more,
to talk with us personally, that we could be in any way we possibly could a help, a part of the healing
wherever we can. Now I'm sensitive to the fact that that's a weighty thing to throw at you during
a sermon introduction. It's a weighty thing for me to say. It's been a weighty thing for us to
wrestle with. But I want you to know some of our heart. I also want you to understand some of the
context for what we're talking about here in this sermon series right up at the front
as we look to God and His Word to teach us. We want to share with you some of what God's been
teaching us, some of what He's been doing in our hearts. So we'll talk a little bit more about our
confession and what we mean by that a little bit later. But for now let's pray. Let's ask God to teach
us from His Word. Father, it's natural for there to be in our minds questions, confusion, noise in our
heads that might prevent us from hearing well from You that would hinder our hearing of Your Word.
Father, there is sin in all of our hearts that this morning would distract us from hearing and hinder us
from hearing Your Word. And so Father, what we all need is to hear from You. And we ask that You would
speak clearly to us. Speak to our hearts. Holy Spirit, we're in different places. We come from different
weeks. We come from different experiences of our own sin and of Your grace. And we need You to speak to our hearts
through Your Word. We ask that You would do it for Jesus' sake. Amen.
Psalm 51. We'll read the first five verses. This is the Word of God.
Psalm 51.
comes before God. He thinks about His sins. He thinks about His sins, the specific ways in which He has violated God's holy law.
And He uses even several different words for them. You may have noticed in this particular psalm alone. We translate them things like sin, transgressions, iniquities, doing evil.
Here in verse 3.
Here in verse 3. David is what he's talking about the words he's using here. He's confessing these particular thoughts and actions.
And the pictures, the words he's using here. And the pictures, the words he gives are that his sin has built up a great debt for him in the ledger, so to speak, of his account.
Another word references that his sin is dirt that clings to him really tightly and is very difficult to wash off. He's dirty from his sin. And David feels this, doesn't he?
I know my sin. I know my sin. I know my sin. I know my sin. I know my sin is ever before me. This is how I feel before you, God.
He's begun to see his sin for what it really is. But it's important for us to ask, has David just become dirty or indebted because of his mistakes?
Or was he dirty and in debt and so made some mistakes? In other words, is David a sinner because he committed sin?
Or does he commit sin because he is a sinner? He answers these questions clearly in verse 5.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity. And in sin did my mother conceive me. Sinful from birth. Sinful even from conception.
Not only is David a person at conception, he's a sinner. From the moment he was conceived, David says, this is my nature.
I was born self-focused with a heart, mind, and will broken and bent against God.
We call that original sin. That's the theological term. Original sin that all of us descended from Adam, David included, you included, me included.
All of us have a sinful nature. We're not born perfect the way God originally created.
So the question of, am I a sinner because I commit sin? Or do I commit sin because I am a sinner?
Is not just some silly chicken or egg kind of question that really makes no difference.
It matters deeply.
It matters not because David is trying to excuse his sin, to blame it on that old sinful nature,
so it's not really his fault.
That's just the way that I am.
No, that's not the point.
Rather, it matters because we often try to excuse our sin,
our sinful words or actions,
by saying, well, that's really not the way I am.
That's not really me.
I know that sounded very prideful, but I'm not really like that.
I know it looked like I have an anger problem,
but really I'm quite a good person.
That was an aberration.
That's not like me.
I'm a very good person when you get to know me.
Except that we're not.
We're not naturally good people.
But we often function that way, don't we?
To my shame, I have spent a lot of time trying to convince my wife
that I'm a really good husband who just did something totally inexplicable.
When the reality is I'm a broken husband
who just did something inexcusable,
but not entirely unexpected.
I need to deal with my heart,
not merely just clean up my out-of-character actions
that happen occasionally.
In his first inauguration address,
former President Bill Clinton said,
there is nothing wrong with America
that cannot be cured by what is right with America.
That's a nice sentiment.
A nice, hopeful, positive thing to say about your country.
And my point is not at all a social or political one this morning.
But rather, I know I tend to feel that way about myself personally.
That really, if you just get to know me,
there's nothing wrong with Will
that can't be cured by what's right with Will.
Just hang around long enough,
you'll see what a great guy I am.
I'll fix it.
I'll balance the scales.
I'll make up for it.
It was just a little mistake after all,
and I'm good enough to clean it up.
I'm quite sure.
I'll do it differently next time.
That's no problem.
I'm capable of that.
God's Word is reminding us this morning
that that is not the case at all.
We need outside help.
We are so deeply sinful at our core.
When we sin,
that's not so shocking
as it is us being exactly
who we are broken by nature.
David sees the depth of his sin.
That his sins are not merely outward violations of God's law,
although they are that.
But that the sinful actions flow from a sinful man
with a sinful heart.
Do you see why that difference matters
when we begin to face the depth of our sin,
when we're actually dealing with the things that we've done?
It pushes us to see what truly needs to be repented of,
what needs to be forgiven.
It's not merely a surface issue,
something that is easy to see.
In fact, the iceberg underneath
is probably a much bigger issue.
For instance, in regard to this particular confession
we're communicating to you about today,
it means you don't have a pastor who messed up.
You have a messed up pastor.
And I say that not to be cute or funny,
but rather because it's true.
And because we've got to remember that reality
of who we are, who I am.
We as a church must remember that's true.
If that's true, I need to repent,
not merely of missteps and mistakes I've made,
but of my heart attitudes beyond my actions.
If that's true,
then your session is capable of sinning deeply again.
And you need to be praying
that God would protect us from that.
Because we're not just really great guys
99% of the time who messed up once a few years ago.
But rather broken people.
If that's true, then we are married to sinners.
We work with sinners.
We parent sinners.
We worship with other sinners.
And so we need to expect
that we need God a lot.
We must trust Him more than we trust our pastor.
More than we trust anyone in any of our relationships.
We have to trust Him as wholly reliable.
Our sinful nature is not just active from birth.
It also loves to keep fighting against us, doesn't it?
Even after Jesus rescues us,
it loves to fight back.
So that's the first thing about the nature of sin here.
Sinful actions flow from sinful hearts.
But the other thing that's so important for us to see here
is that our sinful nature that we have
stands in stark contrast to God's holy nature.
And this is the real issue with our sin.
This is the problem.
Look at verse 4.
David says,
Now, stop and think for a second.
Can you make a pretty good list of the people
impacted by David's sin?
Remember the context of this psalm, right?
Who all has been hurt by David's sin?
I mean, you can start with Bathsheba herself
who's been violated deeply.
You can add Uriah who's now dead
as a result of David's sin.
Think about David's family
that is thrown into tumult
and suffers the effects of this for years
and for generations.
The entire nation of Israel
who's looking to their king
to be godly leadership
that points them to follow after God.
And what are they finding from their king?
And yet, with all of that being true,
David says to God,
Against you, you only, have I sinned.
What is he thinking?
Could he really be right?
What he's teaching us is the nature of sin
is that all sin
is first and foremost against God.
And it's against God
in a completely different way
than it is against anyone else.
You see how David looks to God's holy character?
That you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
God's utter righteousness,
his perfect justice are highlighted.
David says he's holy, holy, holy.
And we're not.
And this is the glorious God
against whom our seemingly smallest sin
because of his holiness
is an odious, treasonous offense.
One of my favorite prayers
from the Valley of Vision
includes this section.
Let me never forget
that the heinousness of sin,
how awful it is,
how terrible my sin is,
lies not so much
in the nature of the sin committed
as in the greatness
of the person sinned against.
How bad my sin is,
the level to which
its offense rises
is measured by God's greatness,
his holiness and perfection.
It makes our little white lies
and momentary lusts
and careless words
loom a lot bigger
all of a sudden, doesn't it?
You see, we forget this so easily.
We so easily engage with our sin
merely in terms of others harmed
or in how others are going to think of us.
How badly is it going to reflect on me
when someone knows about this?
If they find out,
what will they think?
And we miss the real issue
that's going on
and even the smallest sin
that our heart is rebelling
against the King,
the one who created us,
the one who loves us,
the one who designed us
and we're rejecting
his good design.
This is probably the aspect
of our sin
that God has most deeply impressed
upon the hearts of the session
in the last several months.
If you're a people pleaser at all
like me,
then when you have sinned
and other people have been deeply hurt,
when people you love deeply
have been impacted by your sin,
it's very difficult to consider
the weight of your sin
without seeing faces
and stories
when you think of how awful
your sin is.
You immediately think of
his angst
and her tears
and their relationship.
And your sin feels heavy.
And we as a session
focused a lot there
because as I said,
many people we love
were hurt
by our sin.
But it was
only when we
realized this,
the nature of our sin
against God
that the true weight
of it really began
to settle in
when we considered
first and foremost
on a unique level
our sin
was against
the name of Christ
and the glory
of God.
He was the great
one
against whom
we had sinned.
So, Will,
are you saying
you just stopped
caring about
those people
and how they felt
when you realized that?
Is that what
David is saying?
Is that what
this means?
No.
Actually,
understanding
this part of the nature
of sin
increases
the gravity
of my sin
against another person.
Not diminishes it.
Let me see
if I can explain
what I mean.
when I sin
thought
word
deed
whatever it is
it is the law
of God
that I am
first and foremost
violating.
The way
He has created
me to live
reflecting
His image
in true
holiness.
And then
when others
are involved
when they're
impacted
my sin
against someone
else
is always
grievous
first and foremost
because of how
I'm mistreating
the image
of God
in them.
So when you
run someone
down behind
her back
the size
of your sin
the weight
of your sin
the seriousness
of your sin
is measured
not so much
by whether
she finds out
or by how
hurt she is
and how much
damage you've
done
to her
reputation
rather the
severity of it
is measured
by the image
of God
in her
that you
defamed
when you
violated
God's law.
when an elder
neglects
or misleads
one of
Christ's
sheep
a precious
lamb
created
in His
image
and purchased
with the
blood of
His Son
it is
that reality
that makes
the sin
so awful
that
drives us
to desperate
confession
temptation
oh we care
about the
one who's
been hurt
because of
God's
care for
them
you see
you're still
heartbroken
over the
harm you
did to
another
but it's
not just
sad that
they caught
you
or sorry
that they
feel frustrated
with you
but rather
grieved
that you did
violence
to the image
of God
in them
or that you
denigrated
someone
that God
values
and treasures
that's
where our
sin gets
weighty
John Calvin
said what
David meant
in verse 4
against you
and you
only
have I
sinned
is that
God
Himself
was the
holy
and righteous
judge
David was
facing
Calvin
wrote
the voice
of man
could administer
no relief
to him
however much
that man
might be
disposed
to forgive
or to
excuse
or to
flatter
he stood
guilty
before the
one
ultimately
in charge
the one
who created
and owned
him
regardless
of what
men knew
about
or felt
about it
against
you
only
have
I
sinned
I don't
know if
you can
see or
feel it
this morning
but maybe
as you
reflect
you'll
begin
to see
how that
reality
can turn
your stomach
at sins
that you
otherwise
might have
only given
a passing
thought
because
because you
haven't
seen
much
damage
but all
of a
sudden
you
see a
holy
God
against
whom
you
have
sinned
David
knew
well
that he
could not
walk
into the
presence
of this
holy
God
without
a
sacrifice
for his
sins
even
on a
good
day
for
King
David
that the
sacrificial
system
in the
nation
of
Israel
reminded
him
that
by
nature
he
could
not
get
near
the
place
where
God
lived
in the
holiest
part
of the
temple
where
God
had
taken
up
residence
among
his
people
David
couldn't
get
near
there
even
on a
good
day
he
certainly
could
not
approach
without
a
sacrifice
right
much
less
after
adultery
and
murder
and
that's
the
reality
that brings
him
to his
knees
so to
speak
in
this
prayer
of
confession
have
mercy
on
me
oh
God
my
sinfulness
and
my
sins
are
utterly
repugnant
to
your
holiness
you
are
righteous
you
are
just
nothing
you
could
do
to
me
would
be
an
overreaction
in
response
to
my
sin
that's
what
David's
saying
in
these
words
God
you
couldn't
possibly
be
unfair
no
matter
what
you
did
to
me
and
this
is
David's
problem
right
God
is
the
only
one
who
can
truly
forgive
him
for
who
he
is
and
what
he's
done
the
one
owed
the
debt
is
the
only
one
who
can
forgive
it
right
we
know
this
if
I
owe
Peter
a
hundred
dollars
you
can't
come
walking
up
to
me
right
now
and
say
don't
worry
about
anymore
let
me
forgive
that
debt
for
you
if
I
punch
James
in the
face
you
can't
come
running
up
here
and
say
well I
forgive
you
for
that
don't
worry
about
it
no
he
must
forgive
the
one
who's
owed
the
debt
must
be
the
one
who
forgives
it
and
when
I
transgress
God's
law
when
I
mar
his
image
when
I
mistreat
someone
or
something
that
he
made
he
is
the
only
one
who
can
forgive
me
and
so
I'm
stuck
David's
stuck
why
what do
we both
know
about
God
God's
just
David
says
it
God
must
punish
sin
even
if
it
carries
to
the
third
or
fourth
generation
in
order
to
see
the
debt
repaid
right
God's
told
him
that
about
himself
when
he
introduced
himself
to
his
people
so
David
has
a
problem
and
you
and
I
have
a
problem
and
God
has
a
solution
we'll
talk
about
it
more
the
next
couple
of
weeks
but
here's
the
heart
of
it
Romans
chapter
3
God
presented
Christ
as a
sacrifice
of
atonement
through
the
shedding
of
his
blood
to
be
received
by
faith
he
did
this
why
was it
that
God
had
to
send
his
son
he
did
this
to
demonstrate
his
righteousness
that
he's
righteous
and
just
because
in
his
forbearance
he left
sins
committed
beforehand
unpunished
and God
can't do
that
forever
he did
it to
demonstrate
his
righteousness
at the
present
time
so as
to be
just
and
the
one
who
justifies
those
who have
faith
in
Jesus
my
sins
rightly
deserve
death
my
blood
deserved
to be
shed
the
just
God
had
to
meet
out
the
death
penalty
that
my
sins
had
deserved
but
Jesus
shed
his
blood
in
my
place
so that
God
could
remain
just
and
punish
sin
and
at the
same
time
and this
is
amazing
the
just
and
holy
God
could
stay
just
and
I
could
stand
before
him
justified
embraced
by
him
how
because
my
sin
had been
given
to
another
a
sinner
by
nature
and
by
action
finds
himself
covered
by the
blood
of
another
by the
sacrifice
of the
son
of
God
covered
in his
shed
blood
and his
perfect
righteousness
God
is both
just
and
the
one
who
justifies
those
who
hide
themselves
in
Jesus
who
have
faith
in
Jesus
so
in
his
day
David
would
place
his
hands
on
a
lamb
confess
his
sins
watch
it
die
in
his
place
as
a
picture
of
the
lamb
of
God
who
would
come
to be
the
full
and
final
sacrifice
for
sins
and
just
as
David
placed
his
hands
on
that
lamb
we
now
lay
hold
of
Jesus
sacrificed
on the
cross
for us
and we
find
as we
do
that
the
only
one
who
can
truly
and
fully
forgive
us
has
already
done
so
he's
forgiven
messed
up
pastors
sinful
sessions
and
struggling
sinners
because
that's
who
he
is
and
that's
how
great
his
love
is
let's
pray
father
that there
is any
hope
for us
is a
miracle
of your
grace
and
kindness
to us
and we
thank you
for it
we are
grateful
that that
hope allows
us to
look at
our sin
honestly
so even
as we
confess
our sin
this morning
even as
we grieve
over it
we look
to you
and we
depend upon
you
and we
even rejoice
through tears
that you
love us
because of
Jesus
we thank you
for that
in his name
amen
as some of our
elders come
forward
and two of our
ruling elders
Skeet Simonis
and Alan Judge
are going to
speak to you
just briefly
this morning
good morning
I am
Skeet Simonis
and I do
serve as one
of your elders
here at
Southwood
and I've
been asked
on behalf
of the
session
to come
and speak
to you
for a few
minutes
I'd like
to begin
my remarks
by reading
a statement
from your
Southwood
session
a few
years ago
our church
endured a
season of
conflict
that impacted
many people
both in our
own congregation
and in the
broader Huntsville
community
during this
season in
particular
we corporately
as church
leaders
failed to
love
as God
has called
us to
and sinned
against the
name of
God
the church
in general
and many
brothers and
sisters
we care for
deeply
rather than
focusing on
the glory
of God
and our
own sin
we focused
on our
own agendas
and others
sin
in our
zeal for
being right
and defending
ourselves
in our
positions
we neglected
to love
well
spoke
harshly
to some
overlooked
the concern
of others
and so
wounded
many
we are
sorrowful
over our
sins
and in
particular
we grieve
the dishonor
they cause
to the
name
of
Christ
and then
the pain
they cause
to others
we desire
to humbly
repent
to
and be a
part of
healing
for anyone
still struggling
with the
consequences
of our
sin
we acknowledge
that we do
not know
all the ways
that our
sin hurt
and continues
to hurt
some
but the
heart of
our session
is to
listen to
to learn
from
and to
aid
in the
healing
process
for everyone
we can
we are
grateful
for God's
continued
mercy
upon us
and upon
Southwood
as well
as for
his faithfulness
to work
through
and in
spite of
us
to see
his
kingdom
advance
you may
be asking
yourself
so why
is the
session
doing
this
our
answer
is that
God
has moved
in the
hearts
of the
elders
who
currently
serve
on the
session
and
convicted
us
of the
need
to
repent
even
though
it's
been
about
five
years
since
so many
left
our
church
as a
result
of
conflict
we know
that there
are some
here at
Southwood
and some
in other
places
who are still
struggling
with the
consequences
of our
sin
as a
result
as Will
mentioned
earlier
we began
to discuss
this about
a year
and a half
ago
since that
time
God
has used
our
discussions
his word
prayer
fasting
and his
Holy Spirit
to bring
us to
this
conclusion
but before
we communicated
anything
publicly
we wanted
God to
deal with
our own
hearts
as
individuals
on the
session
although that
certainly is an
ongoing process
we feel like
we have reached
the point
to publicly
confess our
sin
and humbly
we ask
the forgiveness
of those
who we've
sinned
against
you also
may be asking
yourself
why communicate
about this
publicly
it is typically
appropriate
that the
repentance
over sin
be as public
as the sin
committed
our corporate
sin
impacted
not only
the congregation
of Southwood
but also
the broader
Huntsville
community
we want
others to
know
of the
repentance
that God
has worked
in our own
hearts
and for
him to
be praised
because of
that work
we also
want those
who are
impacted
by our
sin
to know
that we
desire
healing
and
reconciliation
so as I
read in the
statement
from the
session
we as
your church
leaders
fail to
love
as God
has called
us to
love
thus we
sinned
against
God
himself
the church
in general
and our
brothers and
sisters
who are
in our
church
please
understand
that we
are
repenting
over our
attitudes
and our
actions
we are
not trying
to make
any kind
of statement
for or
against
either side
on any
issue
in the
conflict
that our
church
experienced
we are
seeking to
follow God's
leading
as we
trust him
to continue
to bring
healing
in our
own
hearts
and in
the hearts
of those
who we
love
and care
for
so we
wanted to
share our
heart as a
session with
you the
members of
our congregation
first
since our
church split
is part of
the story
of God's
work here
at Southwood
this week
we will begin
meeting with
some of those
who were here
during the
conflict and
who are no
longer part of
our congregation
we want you to
know that we
are eager to
speak with
anyone about
the nature of
our sin
the pain it
caused to
others
and our
desire for
reconciliation
so please
contact us
with your
questions and
feedback
feel free
to call
any one
of your
elders
or send
us an
email
our
email
addresses
are
listed on
the
Southwood
tower
and several
of your
elders are
seated down
here in
the front
rows
and we
would be
glad to
talk with
you about
this
after
today's
service
now my
brother
Alan Judge
will pray
for us
before I
pray I'm
going to
pray I
want you
to pray
with me
but I
want to
address a
couple of
things
one there
are many
sitting here
who have
no idea
really what
we're even
talking about
or
you know
this is
you came
since that
time
and only
have vague
references
of it
and
there are
others
who are
sitting here
saying I
didn't do
anything wrong
why would I
confess or why
would I be a
part of this
as I pray I
want to
encourage you
if you're
sitting here
this morning
and you
know that
you have
been wronged
and you
know
that you
feel in
your heart
that you
didn't do
anything
to justify
that wrong
but because
of that
you have
allowed
yourself
you have
justified
in your
own mind
of treating
someone
not like
you should
treat them
of not
loving
them
I'm
treating
them
the way
you think
the wrong
deserves
to be
treated
then this
confession
is for
you too
so as
I pray
pray with
me
oh most
merciful
loving
God
our
Lord
Savior
and Father
we have
sinned
against
you
and done
what is
evil
in your
sight
we
who
were
dead
in our
sin
who
formerly
lived
in the
lusts
of our
flesh
indulging
the
desires
of the
flesh
and of
the
mind
who
were
by
nature
children
of
wrath
but
you
oh
merciful
God
because
of
your
great
love
with
which
you
loved
us
even
when
we
were
dead
in
our
transgressions
made
us
alive
together
with
Christ
and
raised
us
up
with
him
seated
us
with
him
in
the
heavenly
places
in
Christ
Jesus
all
of
this
being
a
gift
of
God
for
by
grace
we
have
been
saved
so
that
we
have
no
reason
to
boast
in
anything
that
we
have
done
indeed
our
only
boast
is
in
the
life
death
and
resurrection
of
Christ
Jesus
the
author
and
finisher
of
our
faith
having
been
thus
called
and
saved
by
the
grace
because
of
the
great
love
of
God
toward
us
sinners
we
have
been
called
to set
our
mind
on
things
above
and
not
on
earthly
things
to
die
to
ourselves
to
be
alive
to
Christ
and
thus
live
in
the
same
grace
and
love
toward
one
another
that
we
have
been
shown
we
have
been
called
to
put
aside
anger
wrath
malice
slander
and
abusive
speech
from
our
mouths
and
put
on
a
heart
of
compassion
kindness
humility
gentleness
and
patience
bearing
with
one
another
and
forgiving
each
other
just
as
the
Lord
in
Christ
forgave
us
and
beyond
these
things
we
are
to
put
on
love
which
is
the
perfect
bond
of
unity
oh
Lord
we
have
failed
in
every
regard
to
do
what
you
have
called
us
to
do
but
most
importantly
we
have
failed
to
put
on
love
even
though
Jesus
told
us
that
the
law
and
the
prophets
are
summed
up
in
this
that
we
are
to
love
God
and
love
our
neighbor
and
then
demonstrated
for
us
that
we
show
our
love
for
God
by
loving
our
neighbor
yet
we
have
failed
we
have
sinned
against
you
oh
dear
Lord
hear
us
have
mercy
on
us
and
forgive
us
save
us
from
ourselves
again
and
even
despite
our
failures
glorify
your
name
give
us
the
grace
to
love
and
fully
surrender
to
you
that
you
would
love
through
us
with
the
same
love
with
which
you
have
loved
us
we
pray
this
knowing
your
faithful
in
Christ's
name
amen
thank
for more
information
visit us
online
at
southwood.org
I
go
I
not
어
I
have
seen
me