Lord Teach Us to Pray: Forgive Us Our Debts, As We Forgive Our Debtors
/Don’t forget to forgive-it’s a big deal to God
Matthew 6:12-15 KJV
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
The citizens of God’s kingdom are people that have been forgiven through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice. Jesus said that He was the cornerstone, a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. The stone that the builders rejected. Those that fall on the rock will be broken and those that the rock fall on will be ground to powder.
A cornerstone is the beginning of the foundation in ancient buildings. Jesus is the beginning and the end of the foundation of God’s kingdom.
Forgiveness is the foundation on which God built His kingdom. Paul said: 1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. And Jesus’ cross is forgiveness.
Forgiveness- pardon of sin and remission from its penalty, resulting in pardon, liberty and deliverance from the imprisonment of sin.
Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Atonement
Romans 5:11
And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
Atonement - the business of money changers, exchanging equivalent values. In God’s eyes there was equivalent value to pardon the sins of the human race through an exchange—the sacrifice of His sinless Son in place of sinful man; for those that would believe this truth by faith, an exchange occurs, a transaction in the books of heaven at the very moment a sinner’s faith and words of confession clash spiritually with the words of the Lord— “It is finished” Teleo
This word Atonement is also translated reconciliation
2 Corinthians 5:17-18
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Paul believed it and preached it everywhere he went
Acts 26:13-18 NASB
13 at midday, O King, I saw on the way a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining all around me and those who were journeying with me. 14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting. 16 But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’
Colossians 1:13-14 NASB
13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
I used all these scriptures to remind you of the loving plan of God revealed through His Son. The foundation of God’s kingdom is built upon the forgiveness He offers mankind through the sacrifice of His sinless Son.
So why do we as God’s people struggle so much forgiving others after we have received this glorious gift of forgiveness, atonement and reconciliation. People often convince themselves that they’ve forgiven, but many times they still harbor un-forgiveness in their hearts. Saying you have forgiven someone and really forgiving them are two different things. ♥️
Matthew 18:23-35 KJV
23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. ♥️
Un-forgiveness breeds bitterness
Ephesians 4:30-32
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Hebrews 12:14-15
14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Unforgiveness will affect your prayer life: Mark 11:25-26
Mark 11:25-26
25 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. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.
2. Unforgiveness will prevent your worship from being accepted
Matthew 5:23-24
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
3. Jesus forgave until the end and so must we—thief on the cross
Matthew 18:21-22
21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 490 until the end Daniel 9
4. True forgiveness is a work of the Spirit
Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.