FORGIVING, A CONDITION OF RECEIVING FORGIVENESS

A. "FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS" - Matt. 6:12
  1. This petition to our heavenly Father touches upon man's basic difficulty:
    1. To forgive those who may have wronged us.
    2. It constitutes a real test to our claims to be born again.
  2. Our blessed Lord recognizes this difficulty in human relationship:
    1. And He warns us against an unforgiving attitude toward those who offend against us - Matt. 6:15
    2. "And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." - Mark 11:25
B. FORGIVENESS BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER DEPENDS UPON OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THOSE WHO OFFEND AGAINST US
  1. Even Peter had difficulty to recognize this divine condition to us receiving forgiveness:
    1. "How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times?" "Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." - Matt. 18:21, 22
    2. It will be helpful to the reader of this outline to note the following Bible passages which deal with this important subject - Matt. 6:15; 18:35; Mark 11:25, 26; Luke 6:37; 17:3, 4; 2 Cor. 2:7-10
  2. This petition reveals a twofold guilt on our part:
    1. We have sinned against God; we are guilty of the sin of omission.
    2. We are guilty of the sin of commission because we have sinned against our fellowmen.
  3. It teaches us to compare the wrong others have done toward us with the wrong we have done against our heavenly Father:
    1. This shows the serious nature of sin; it shows that sin works two ways -- against God, and against our fellowmen.
    2. How implicated one is in the midst of sinful men and women! Isa. 6:5
  4. A double guilt requires a double forgiveness:
    1. It includes the forgiveness we seek from God.
    2. And the forgiveness we extend to those who have sinned against us.
    3. Meditate on Mi. 7:18, 19!
    4. Think over the story of the prodigal son, the attitude of his father, and that of his elder brother - Luke 15:11-32
    5. Bring to mind the words of Isa. 38:17
C. THIS PETITION CONSTITUTES A REAL CHALLENGE TO US THIS MORNING
  1. "Forgive us as we forgive":
    1. We ask our heavenly Father to forgive us because we have forgiven from the heart those who trespass against us.
    2. Unless and until we have settled our account with others, we are not prepared to come to God and seek forgiveness from Him.
  2. What this petition leads us to:
    1. It teaches us to have a forgiving attitude toward others every moment of our life -- "seventy times seven."
    2. It makes it impossible for us to hold a grouch against others and yet be in the proper relationship to God.
    3. When such a relationship exists among the brethren, the world will know for sure that we are walking with Jesus.
    4. It all adds up to this, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
      1. He forgave to the end of his last breath - Luke 23:34
      2. He pleads for sinners at the right hand of God, day in and day out, moment by moment. That is a part of his work in the heavenly sanctuary - 1 John 2:1-3; 1 Tim. 2:1-5
  3. How weighty and how solemn is this petition, and how needy we are to be possessed with the forgiving attitude of our loving Saviour:
    1. "Lord teach me how to relate myself to others, so that I may know how to relate myself to thee."
    2. God will hear this prayer, if it is offered in sincerity and truth.


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