Last week, as we looked at the fourth petition, we learned to pray for temporal blessings. This week, with the fifth petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Christ begins to teach us to pray for spiritual blessings. Christ teaches us to pray for forgiveness… “Forgive us our debts” (Matt. 6:12)
What is the meaning of the word ‘debts’
In the parallel passage of the Lord’s Prayer in Luke 11, the word ‘debts’ is not found. Instead, it says, “Forgive us our sins” (Luke 11:4). Therefore, when we use the word ‘debts’ we are asking God to forgive us of our sins.
However, it is helpful to think about our sin as a debt. On account of sin, we are under obligation to suffer punishment according to God’s justice. Hebrews tells us that "without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness" (Heb. 9:22). When the word 'debt ' is used, we are reminded of the truth that we are debtors to God's justice and either we will pay that penalty or that penalty has already been paid for those who trust in Christ for their salvation.
But I’m Saved, do I still need to pray for forgiveness?
A natural question that comes up with the fifth petition is this: If God has already forgiven us all of our sins at conversion (faith and repentance), then why do we need to continually ask for forgiveness? It is important to think of God’s forgiveness in two ways:
No Condemnation
First, there is the removal of condemnation. When we repent of our sins and believe in Christ, God forgives us of our sins. Romans 8:1 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” By grace through faith in Christ, we are justified before God and we are declared not guilty. We are justified for all eternity. The guilt of all sins, past, present, and future, are wholly canceled and we are declared righteous. So as far as judicial punishment is concerned, there is no more condemnation.
Yet, even as justified persons we still sin daily in thought, word, and deed. Sometimes we sin by our actions (sins of commission) and sometimes we sin by not doing what we are supposed to do (sins of omission). Martin Luther explained the current state that Christians are in when he said we are “simultaneously justified, yet a sinner.” This brings us to the second way in which we need to think about God’s forgiveness…and that is as the renewal of fellowship.
Renewal Of Fellowship
Even though we have been pardoned, since we still sin, we must continually ask God for forgiveness. Not because our sin cancels our standing with God as a justified person, but because we have offended our heavenly Father. Sin ultimately hinders our communion with God and causes him to draw the light of His countenance from us. Though sin cannot destroy our union with God, it can absolutely weaken our communion with God. So, we daily confess our sins and cling to God’s promise that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
The Condition
It is interesting to note that the fifth petition has a condition that is attached to it. As we pray to God asking for Him to forgive our sins, we must also remember to forgive those who have sinned against us. William Perkins, in his exposition of the Lord’s Prayer, noted that “Christ adds (this condition) for weightiness…to cross the fraud and hypocrisy off our corrupt hearts, who would have forgiveness of God, and yet would not forgive our brethren, nor yet leave off the practice of sin ourselves.” Our own willingness to forgive others is one of the greatest fruits of our reconciliation with God. In the words of Paul, “ Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32). We are to forgive others, because we ourselves have been forgiven. Let us remember that if we are to come to God’s throne and plead for mercy, we must also show mercy to others.
The Grounds For Forgiveness
God promises to forgive our sins when we confess them to Him. The grounds for this forgiveness is not because of anything that we have done, but because of Christ’s righteousness that has been imputed to us. We have a faithful High Priest (Heb. 8:1) who not only paid the penalty for our sin by His sacrifice, but who even now sits at the right hand of the Father and intercedes for those who are His. In heaven, Christ presents Himself before God on behalf of His people. In this way He guarantees the application of all he procured by His crucifixion and resurrection. When we ask God to forgive us our sins, it is solely on the basis of Christ and not based on our merit. In the words of that great hymn penned by Augustus Toplady,
Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
Comentários