4.12.2005
As We Also Have Forgiven Our Debtors
Okay, it's back. For those of you who have no idea, this is a continuation of a series on the Lord's Prayer that I was doing. The first post is here. The rest can be found in the sidebar.
Mt 6: 12 "as we also have forgiven our debtors"
This is another phrase that has given me some trouble in the past. The men in our previous church got into a big discussion regarding what the requirements for forgiveness are. One of the brothers believed that he was not required to forgive someone if they never asked for forgiveness or admitted their guilt. When someone brought up this phrase, the brother said that it only supported his view more. The reasoning was that God only forgives our sins when we ask for His forgiveness (the fact that this man was adamantly opposed to Limited Atonement now seems a little contradictory). If we do not ask, then God does not forgive, and that is how we are to operate as well.
I honestly don't have a solid defense against this, but Matthew 6:14-15 (right after the prayer) seems to work:
That way of thinking (not forgiving if someone has not asked) just seems wrong to me. It gets harder when you deal with specifics and individual situations where people refuse to admit guilt and seek forgiveness, but it just doesn't jive with me.
So when I am praying, I try to think of people whom might have offended or hurt me, and I ask God to grant me the ability to forgive them. I find myself unable to grant forgiveness in the way that God does, and yet He has told me to forgive others.
Okay, it's back. For those of you who have no idea, this is a continuation of a series on the Lord's Prayer that I was doing. The first post is here. The rest can be found in the sidebar.
Mt 6: 12 "as we also have forgiven our debtors"
This is another phrase that has given me some trouble in the past. The men in our previous church got into a big discussion regarding what the requirements for forgiveness are. One of the brothers believed that he was not required to forgive someone if they never asked for forgiveness or admitted their guilt. When someone brought up this phrase, the brother said that it only supported his view more. The reasoning was that God only forgives our sins when we ask for His forgiveness (the fact that this man was adamantly opposed to Limited Atonement now seems a little contradictory). If we do not ask, then God does not forgive, and that is how we are to operate as well.
I honestly don't have a solid defense against this, but Matthew 6:14-15 (right after the prayer) seems to work:
14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
That way of thinking (not forgiving if someone has not asked) just seems wrong to me. It gets harder when you deal with specifics and individual situations where people refuse to admit guilt and seek forgiveness, but it just doesn't jive with me.
So when I am praying, I try to think of people whom might have offended or hurt me, and I ask God to grant me the ability to forgive them. I find myself unable to grant forgiveness in the way that God does, and yet He has told me to forgive others.
“O God, command what you wouldst, and grant what thou dost command.”~ Augustine
