Prayer - Part 5

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

I do believe that if we are totally honest with ourselves, then this sentence causes us to hiccup slightly. The Greek word that Jesus used here for forgive is aphiēmi [af-eeʹ-ay-mee], and it implies to lay aside, put away or omit. That is all good and well, for we have an expectation that God will just automatically forgive us our transgressions when we ask for forgiveness, and then we are good to go. But within this sentence lies an obligation upon us, and that is to forgive others.

 

“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another,

even as God in Christ forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)

Mark records Jesus telling the disciples: “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25), Luke records: “Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us” (Luke 11:4), when Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray. The Greek word that Jesus used for debtor is ŏphěilětěs [of-i-letʹ-ace], implying one who has not yet made right (amends), whether through an unpaid debt or not yet apologising for an error caused.

Could your prayer life be hindered because you have chosen not to forgive someone?

 

“Humans have become obnoxious to the wrath of God and

thereby readily accept a lifestyle of rebellion to God.”

The New Matthew Henry Commentary

 

Is this really the case? Have those who lead a life outside of God become so complacent that God has no meaning to them? Have we perhaps accepted a mediocre, one foot in---one foot out style of Christianity? Do people even care about a life in heaven?

It is time to issue a stark warning, and that is, watch out for the danger of living in habitual sin. This could be in the form of something as simple as constantly telling white lies or absolute addiction to something. In this case the person goes to God and asks for forgiveness, and no sooner have they received God’s forgiveness than they do it again and just keep repeating the same cycle. The warning is this. You may well find that God thrusts you away from His presence. Disobedience --- rebellion -- is what caused God to do that to the Israelites (2 Kings 17:20) and the Judeans (2 Kings 24:20).

If you find the above applies to you, please reach out to your pastor/minister and ask for help. You need to become accountable to somebody as you work through this habitual sin problem.

There is a theory that is pushed in certain charismatic movements about hyper-grace. Hyper-Grace is a theological perspective which emphasises God's grace to an extreme degree. It teaches that all sins --- past, present, and future --- are already forgiven, meaning that those that follow Jesus do not need to confess or repent regularly. This is a problem, as hyper-grace downplays the importance of repentance and accountability, potentially leading to Christian laziness and the false hope of entering heaven one day. Jesus says that some will ask Him to open the door for them and He will respond with: “I don’t know you or where you come from” (Luke 13:25).

Let yourself be guided by the Holy Spirit in these matters as you strive to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.