Title: Guaranteed Forgiveness / Matthew 6:12, 14-15
According to one psychiatrist, most of the work done in psychiatry is directly related to forgiveness. Many patients feel guilty about their problems. So they want forgiveness. This conclusion is like a human figure who needs to be forgiven by God.
I. What kind of forgiveness is it?
One could speak of forgiveness given after a child who disobeyed God was called righteous. And we can speak of another forgiveness as being part of God's family before we receive this forgiveness.
Forgiveness here is not asking for forgiveness in the sense of asking for forgiveness when you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. This request (prayer) includes the forgiveness we receive when we accept Christ, who died as a one-time sacrifice for our past, present and future sins. However, if the forgiveness mentioned here refers to such forgiveness, we may not be guaranteed of true salvation before God. We cannot say like Paul, 'We are convinced of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus' (Philippians 1:6). We cannot say, like Jeremiah, "I will remember their sins no more, saith the Lord." It cannot be said, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us."
The forgiveness the Lord speaks of here does not refer to the forgiveness we received when we were first saved. He forgives the sins committed afterward, the sins committed repeatedly, and the sins that have broken our relationship with God.
II. Forgiveness for Believers
We need to distinguish between two types of forgiveness. Unfortunately, there are believers who feel as if sin is eradicated from the Christian life. And there are those who mistakenly believe that this forgiveness is no longer necessary. The Lord instructed all His disciples to be forgiven.
Being a sinner does not end when a person becomes a Christian. Of course, God planted a new character in him. A new character is not a sin. That new character will continue to lead him into a holy life. But Christians still have a sinful nature that will never be eradicated from this world. You will find that the old nature continues to drag him into suffering and at every moment is severing communion with God. What can a Christian do in this environment? The Bible teaches that in order to return to the Lord, he must confess his sins over and over again and ask for forgiveness and forgiveness. Without this, the joy of salvation would be lost to him. But continuing to seek forgiveness will increase the joy of dependent fellowship with God.
Moreover, this forgiveness includes our attitude towards others. If we do not forgive those who have wronged us, we will never experience God's forgiveness for us. “If you forgive men, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you” (Matthew 6:14-15).
This is not because God is waiting for us to learn His forgiveness by forgiving others. We cannot learn the love of God. This is because we will not have a right relationship with others and will not be able to ask God for forgiveness. God does not draw anything. When others forgive us half, that doesn't mean that God forgives us half of our sins.
Sin is like debt. The debt must be paid off. Otherwise, you should be punished accordingly. If the person who has forgiven debts does not forgive others, the person who forgave them will not escape the wrath of the forgiver. (Matthew 18:21-25) Therefore, as a forgiven sinner, believers have the duty to forgive the sins of others. Of course, forgiving others is not a condition for being forgiven. In praying this prayer, there should be no hesitation before God.
III. assurance
We cannot think of any other prayer the Lord has taught us without the assurance of forgiveness. If you confess your sins and ask for forgiveness when you come to God through Jesus Christ, the results are certain. How can you be sure of that?
How can we be sure that the death of Jesus Christ was the sacrifice for our sins? Because God has spoken. “For by one sacrifice he has perfected forever those who have been sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14). How do we know that if we believe in Jesus Christ we will never be lost? Because God has spoken. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). How can confession guarantee that God forgives our sins? Because God has spoken. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
There is no greater promise than this. This is certain because forgiveness is based on God's faithfulness and justice. In what ways is God faithful? His promise is faithful. God has promised to forgive. God does not break his word. He is righteous to forgive us. The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins. He forgave us on the basis of God's justice. Forgive me completely. It is because of God's faithfulness and righteousness behind this promise that he washes us from our sins and forgives us every hour of each day.
IV. forgive me in advance
God has confirmed this perfect forgiveness to us in advance. Why did you do that? Did He not accurately protect us from sin? Obviously it is. “My children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous” (1 John 2:1). Protecting us from the scourge is a promise that God forgives us.
God has given you a word in advance for every sin that may come upon you. Do not forget that there is nothing in you that will surprise God. God already knows who you are. When you were a sinner, Christ died for you (Romans 5:8), and you have already forgiven with His great love. As long as we receive it and believe it, that forgiveness will come upon us.
V. Sinners
Forgive us our sins” the prayer said:
1. Confession of one's sins
2. Prayers offered by those who are urged to repent.
3. It is a prayer confessing that only God the Father has the authority to forgive sins (Even if it is a sin committed against ourselves or our neighbor, it is a sin against God. Therefore, God's forgiveness is needed)
4. This is a prayer that can be offered by those who have faith that any sins can be forgiven in Jesus Christ.
5. It is a prayer that can only be prayed if there is no hesitation in the presence of God when praying this prayer. (It is our duty to forgive the sins of others.)