FORGIVE AS WE FORGIVE


A. "AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS" - MATTHEW 6:10
  1. In this petition we ask the Lord:
    1. To forgive us our debts because we have forgiven our debtors
    2. Treat us as we treat our fellowmen
  2. This puts a real test to us and our attitude toward people who are indebted to us:
    1. We ask God to treat us as we treat the one who wronged us
    2. Now if we desire for the Lord to forgive us our debts, we must make sure that we have forgiven our debtors - otherwise God will not hear our supplication
B. LET US CONSIDER PRAYERFULLY, THE LARGER IMPLICATION OF THIS PETITION
  1. It cannot be too difficult for us to see that this petition involves the application of the golden rule:
    1. "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them" - Matt. 7:12
    2. While the golden rule applies to human relation, its main principle applies to our relation to God, writes John, "If a man says, I love God and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen" - I John 4:20
    3. It is only reasonable and fair that we do not ask the Lord to treat us differently than we treat our fellowmen - this is, indeed, a hard and difficult petition; too, many repeat it without any thought of its serious implication
  2. The spirit of forgiveness:
    1. Is chiefly a Christian virtue - because it has its source in the heart of Jesus Christ - prayed Jesus, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" - Luke 23:34
    2. Only they who are possessed of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, do not cherish an unforgiving spirit; Examples: We think of the dying Stephen who prayed, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge" - Acts 7:60
C. THE FIFTH PETITION INVOLVES BOTH
  1. The sin of commission:
    1. I like the word "debts" being more correct than the word "trespasses" because the word "debt" implies obligations as well as offenses; Examples: our Lord's parable of the two debtors - Luke 7:41-48; the attitude of a certain debtor toward him that was indebted to him - Matt. 18:23-35
    2. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of the glory of God - regardless of what our position in this life may be - God is no respector of persons - Rom. 3:23; Gal. 3:22; Acts 10:34-35
  2. The son of omission:
    1. Failing in some way to do what God wants us to - missing opportunities of service. This debt is quite common to all of us. Says, Jesus, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants" - Luke 17:10
    2. Therefore, we must view our brothers unfulfilled obligations to us in the same light that we want God to deal with our shortcomings that is, indeed, the application of the golden rule - working both ways
  3. How we should weigh our words when we pray to our heavenly Father:
    1. For He knows our thoughts afar off - Ps. 139:1-11
    2. For He will forgive us on the basis of us forgiving others their sins - please read and compare - Matt. 6:14 with Matt. 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26; Luke 17:3-4
    3. An unforgiving spirit is closely related to the spirit of murder; Examples: Cain and Abel - Gen. 4:3-9; the revenger - Num. 35:19-25
  4. Let us pray:
    1. That we may have grace to forgive others as readily as our heavenly Father forgives us -
    2. Unless we have that forgiving spirit, we will be lost


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