THE LORD’S PRAYER
Matthew 6:12
FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS
#6 of 8 in a series on
The Lord's Prayer
I have been pastoring
for 25 years. I have discovered that the biggest problem people have is unforgiveness. I think that they do not realize how
important forgiveness is. Not only did
Jesus teach us to pray "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our
debtors", but the words immediately following the Lord prayer are a real
challenge. Matthew 6:14-15
I want us to consider
some important truths about forgiveness.
FORGIVENESS IS REQUIRED
We need forgiveness, first
of all, in order to have eternal life.
Sin causes separation.
When Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, they were separated
from God's presence. God evicted them!
God told Israel in
Isaiah 59:2, "But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
When Jesus died on the
cross for your sins, He paid the price so that you can be forgiven. When we
trust Christ as Savior, that forgiveness becomes ours. Colossians 2:13-14,
Ephesians 1:7
Not only do we need
forgiveness for eternal life but also we need forgiveness on a daily basis.
Psalms 66:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:19, Ephesians 4:30-31, 1 John 1:8,10
Not only is forgiveness
required for salvation and by believers after salvation, but it is also
required that we forgive. Matthew 18:21-22, Ephesians 4:32
FORGIVENESS IS REQUESTED
Forgiveness is something
that we need to seek.
When one places their
faith in Christ as Savior, they have sought and found forgiveness. In a sense, because they have trusted Christ,
they have asked for forgiveness. Ephesians 2:8-9, Ephesians 1:7
Forgiveness of sin is
also to be requested by us when we as Christians sin against God. Psalms 32:5,
1 John 1:9
There is another sense
in which we need to ask forgiveness. We need to ask forgiveness of each other.
We so appreciate it when
people come to us and say, "I'm sorry, I was wrong." We must realize that it is our responsibility
at times to go to others and say those same words, "I'm sorry, I was
wrong." Matthew 5:22-24, James 5:16
Luke 17:3-4 - "Take
heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he
repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and
seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him."
If I am to forgive my
brother who confesses his sins, should I not also seek the forgiveness from my
brother when I sin against him?
FORGIVENESS IS RELATIVE
Matthew
Any time I come to the
Lord in prayer I must realize that I am just as responsible to forgive as I am
to seek forgiveness.
Sometimes it is hardest
to forgive those you love.
But forgive them we must
do.
When we fail to forgive
we become bitter. Hebrews 12:15
Also, when we fail to
forgive, we do not experience our Lord's healing forgiveness. I am forgiven
relative to the extent that I am willing to forgive.
Matthew
FORGIVENESS IS REPEATED
FORGIVENESS IS REPEATED
BY GOD: 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Psalms 103:10-14
FORGIVENESS IS REPEATED
BY US:
Luke 17:3-6
Just think how many
times you have been forgiven by God.
It's no wonder that you
need to forgive others more than once.
Forgiveness means you
are removing responsibility from that person. They no longer owe you.
Don't bring it up to
them.
Don't bring it up to
others.
Don't bring it up to
yourself.
Don't bring it up to
God.
Forgiveness is not forgetting,
but remembering without anger.
FORGIVENESS IS REQUIRED
FORGIVENESS IS REQUESTED
FORGIVENESS IS RELATIVE
FORGIVENESS IS REPEATED