May 15,
2003
FORGIVE
US OUR SINS, Part I
"And
forgive us our sins. For we also forgive everyone who is indebted
to us" (Luke 11:4, NKJV).
"Jesus
teaches that we can receive forgiveness from God only as we
forgive others. It is the love of God that draws us to Him,
and that love cannot touch our hearts without creating love
for our brethren.
"After
completing the Lord's Prayer, Jesus added: 'If
you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses' (Matthew
6:14, 15). He who is unforgiving cuts off the very channel
through which alone he can receive mercy from God. We should
not think that unless those who have injured us confess the
wrong we are justified in withholding from them our forgiveness.
It is their part, no doubt, to humble their hearts by repentance
and confession; but we are to have a spirit of compassion
toward those who have trespassed against us, whether or not
they confess their faults. However sorely they may have wounded
us, we are not to cherish our grievances and sympathize with
ourselves over our injuries; but as we hope to be pardoned
for our offenses against God we are to pardon all who have
done evil to us.
"But
forgiveness has a broader meaning than many suppose. When
God gives the promise that He 'will abundantly pardon,' He
adds, as if the meaning of that promise exceeded all that
we could comprehend: 'My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither
are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are
higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways,
and My thoughts than your thoughts' (Isaiah 55:7-9). God's
forgiveness is not merely a judicial act by which He sets
us free from condemnation. It is not only forgiveness for
sin, but reclaiming from sin. It is the outflow of redeeming
love than transforms the heart. David had the true conception
of forgiveness when he prayed, 'Create in me a clean heart,
O God; and renew a steadfast spirit within me' (Psalm 51:10.
And again he says, 'As far as the east is from the west, so
far has He removed our transgressions from us' (Psalm 103:12).
"God
in Christ gave Himself for our sins. He suffered the cruel
death of the cross, bore for us the burden of guilt, 'the
just for the unjust,' that He might reveal to us His love
and draw us to Himself. And He says, 'be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ
forgave you' (Ephesians 4:32).--Thoughts From The Mount
Of Blessing, pp., 113, 114.
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