God’s Forgiveness

The Lord’s Prayer

Matthew 6:12

 

How is it possible that we who have been blessed with eternal forgiveness can be so regularly unforgiving to those around us?

 

If “give us this day our daily bread” emphasizes our physical need for nourishment, “forgive us our debts” underlines our great spiritual need of forgiveness.  In the same way we pray daily for food, practicing forgiveness is also something we must do every day.

 

9 ”This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13

 

Two things that forgiveness is NOT:

 

• Forgiveness is not .

 

• Forgiveness is not .

 

1. The of the Lord’s Prayer

 

The theological heart of this prayer is the gospel.  

 

HERE’S THE GOSPEL:

 

• A holy and righteous God demands a penalty for our sin and then He provides that payment Himself.

 

• Jesus Christ is God the Son, whose perfect obedience and perfect atonement on the cross was what was necessary to . . .

 

.

 

2 Corinthians 5:21

 

We do not earn the righteousness of God in Christ; instead it is given to us freely when we . 

 

John 1:12

 

Romans 4:5

 

Just as He forgives us when we rebel against Him, as citizens of His Kingdom, He expect us to . 

 

Romans 8:28-30

 

Ephesians 2:8-10

 

2. We are sinners of forgiveness

 

Our deepest problem is that we have against a holy God. 

 

“Sin dominates the mind and heart of man. It has contaminated every human being and is the degenerative power that makes man susceptible to disease, illness, and every conceivable form of evil and unhappiness, temporal and eternal. The ultimate effects of sin are death and damnation, and the present effects are misery, dissatisfaction, and guilt. Sin is the common denominator of every crime, every theft, lie, murder, immorality, sickness, pain, and sorrow of mankind. It is also the moral and spiritual disease for which man has no cure.”

-Al Mohler

 

John 3:19

 

3. We have the of forgiveness

 

The only thing that can account for this boldness is . 

 

Romans 8:1

 

Romans 8:33, 34

 

1 John 1:8, 9

 

As Judge, God is eager to forgive sinners and as Father, He is even more eager to keep on .

 

Romans 5:20

 

Proverbs 28:13

 

4. We are also to be motivated to forgive because of .

 

Ephesians 4:32

 

1 John 2:6

 

“There is none so tender to others as they which have received mercy themselves, for they know how gently God has dealt with them.”

-Thomas Manton

To the degree you remember, what Jesus has done for you, to that degree .

 

Matthew 18:21-35

 

 

Daily Meditations

 

Memory verse: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”                                                                               Matthew 6:12

Monday

Read Matthew 6:5-15.  Do you get frustrated or surprised by how frequently you are sinned against?

 

 

Do you ask for help with forgiveness daily?

 

Tuesday                        

Read Matthew 6:5-15.  What weaknesses do you bring to a current difficult relationship?

 

 

Have you exhausted your options to live peaceably, so far as it depends on you?

 

 

Wednesday

Read the parable of the Unforgiving Servant in Matthew 18:23-35. What has your Heavenly Father forgiven you of this week?

 

 

How will meditating on this reality impact the way you treat others?

 

 

 

Thursday

Read Matthew 6:5-15 in another language if you’re able (go to www.biblegateway.com).  What practical steps can you take to bridge the gap between your theology of forgiveness and your practice of it?

 

Why do you think it’s difficult to forgive those who hurt you?

 

 

Friday

Read Matthew 6:5-15 and Ephesians 4:32.  How could extending forgiveness heal a relationship?

 

 

How might it heal the other person? How might it heal you?

 

 

 

Saturday

Is there someone in your life whom you need to forgive? What is keeping you from forgiving that person?

 

Is there someone in your life that you need to ask for forgiveness? What is keeping you from seeking that person out and confessing to them?