Forgiveness
Matthew 6:11-12 “Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors,”
As Christians we are in need of so much help from God. And God is more than willing to give it.
But He has said that our sins block His blessings to us.
Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear.”
So when we ask for God to “give us”, we should also pray “forgive us”.
We are kept day by day, in Christ. And we need to keep the channel of blessing open.
“Forgive us our debts”. God created us as responsible creatures. Therefore, as Christians, we are to use our faculties of mind (we are to think what God wants us to), our heart (we are to love God above all else), and our wills (we are to will to do God’s Will).
Our sins here, are seen as debts: unpaid duties or failures to do God’s Will.
- Christ Jesus made full payment of our debts at Calvary: on the Cross our sins and guilt was canceled.
But in the practical working of the Holy Spirit within us, we can stifle the Spirit, by our sins, which we do not take to Jesus and confess.
This causes us to feel far from the Lord, for with every sin, unconfessed, a little of the light of God is overcast.
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
When we confess our sins, He forgives us in practical cleansing. We do not feel them, or the darkness from them. We feel as though light has been given to our souls.
We are cleansed. The burden removed, and a settled peace comes within us.
We can draw near Him again with joy and a clear conscience; because He has forgiven us.
Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
His Word to us is always: “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
If we are ever feeling burdened by coming to Christ, sin has come between us.
Confess it, and get the peace that He has for you. Continual cleansing by His blood, as we walk in the light He shines for our path.
1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 