God is in the business of total, irreversible redemption.

In the category of necessary redemption, David was at the top of the list. He lusted for Bathsheba, slept with her, and arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. Upon being confronted, David immediately repented and asked for complete, utter forgiveness.

Liz Curtis Higgs shares that we can ask God for total, not partial or gray, forgiveness.

“You know, when I ask God for forgiveness, I’ll be happy with gray. ‘If You just get enough of this dark off Lord that I’m pale gray, that would be an improvement.’

David seeks full redemption through confession and repentance.

“Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness, let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity.
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:7-10

After David repents, and the son he and Bathsheba conceives is struck ill and dies, David returns to Bathsheba and comforts her. Out of this union, she gave birth to a second son. They named him Solomon, which means “peace.” Liz points to the underlying message of redemption here.

“What a story God gives us. He could not paint a more beautiful depiction of what His redemption looks like. And He doesn’t do it through mostly nice people doing the not-so-nice thing. He takes amazingly godly people who do the worst possible things. And forgives.”

What if we don’t think God could ever forgive us?

Liz has heard one common thread from many Christian women at her different speaking events.

But Liz, I killed a baby. I had an abortion. Surely there can be no forgiveness for that.

God forgave an adulterous, an adulterer, and a murder all in one. This is sure proof to us that God’s forgiveness is bigger than we can possibly imagine but we have to be bold and ask for that forgiveness just like David did.

Liz encourages us to read Psalm 51 out loud and think of, in our mind, the worst thing we’ve ever done. Then imagine God’s grace raining down on you, through the cross, through the shed blood of Christ. That’s not just a picture, but a truth.

“The grace of God is real. His redemption is something we can stand on and depend on. It’s not on our worthiness ever but [on] the goodness of God.”

Liz shares other stories of biblical redemption in her book,  .

Key Scriptures: Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 11-12

Featured Songs: Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) by Chris Tomlin; Victor’s Crown by Darlene Zschech; In Jesus’ Name by Darlene Zschech

Highlight : The power of confession

Redemption stories : David and Bathsheba