As We Forgive Our Debtors
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 1/25/2015 AM |
Text: | Matthew 6:14,15; Lord's Day 51 |
Psalters: | 51, 68, 348, 280 |
- The need.
- The need to forgive arises because of conflicts between humans.
- Therefore conflicts are God-given opportunities (I Cor. 10:31 – 11:1).
- The opportunity to glorify God by trusting Him, depending on the principles He taught and obeying Him.
- The opportunity to be Christ-like (I Cor. 4:16) for conflict shows us our pride and encourages us to depend on Him.
- The opportunity to serve the one with whom we are in conflict.
- The activity God requires of us is to forgive.
- To forgive is costly because when a debt is cancelled, the liability is absorbed by the one forgiving.
- Forgiveness is an act of our will, not a feeling (though it becomes a feeling).
- It is an active process involving conscious choice and a deliberate course of action – not forgetting or avoiding.
- It consists of our making four promises, and doing so for God’s sake.
- Forgiving does not release the sinner from all the consequences of the sin, but it does release them revenge.
- The experience of forgiveness.
- Jesus teaches us to pray this prayer exactly as He gave it to us.
- God gives His children the ability to love and forgive one another.
- Helps for forgiving our debtors.