Week 6 | Pray Like This | Forgive
SUMMARY
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus tells us to pray “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” He goes on to say that God will forgive us our sins when we forgive others. This challenging teaching needs to consider what sin is and how God’s forgiveness enables us to forgive others.
This message holds profound significance for several reasons. Firstly, it challenges our understanding of forgiveness from God’s perspective, urging us to confront any misconceptions that may hinder our relationship with Him and restrict our freedom. Often, we carry unnecessary guilt and struggle to extend forgiveness to ourselves, let alone to others, due to a lack of clarity about God’s forgiveness.
Breaking down this verse into two parts, we explore what it truly means to ask for forgiveness of our sins and how we can practically implement forgiveness in our interactions with others. The concept of sin, although archaic to some, offers a profound diagnosis of human nature. It signifies a failure to fulfill a goal, particularly the goal of loving God and others by treating them with the respect they deserve. Our inability to meet these goals results in a separation from God and incurs a debt that needs addressing.
Historically, forgiveness was sought through sacrificial offerings, symbolizing the transfer of debt to another entity. However, Jesus transformed this narrative by becoming the ultimate sacrifice, absorbing the debt of sin for all humanity through his death on the cross. His act of atonement emphasized God’s unconditional love and mercy, not contingent on human performance but on faith in Jesus’ sacrifice.
Furthermore, Jesus challenges us to extend the same forgiveness we receive from God to others. He illustrates this through the parable of the unforgiving servant, emphasizing the importance of releasing resentment and extending mercy to those who wrong us. Failure to forgive others not only contradicts the essence of God’s forgiveness but also reflects a self-righteous mindset that inhibits genuine reconciliation.
Through understanding the depth of God’s forgiveness towards us, we cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility, enabling us to forgive others freely. Forgiveness becomes an expression of our faith and recognition of God’s grace in our lives. As C.S. Lewis aptly stated, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.”
Discussion Questions:
• How does our understanding of forgiveness from God’s perspective influence our ability to forgive ourselves and others?
• In what ways do misconceptions about forgiveness hinder our relationship with God and our freedom?
• Read Leviticus 4:27-31. What is the significance of this in light of the cross? What parallels can we draw between the sacrificial system of forgiveness in ancient times and Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross?
- Read Matthew 18:21-35. How does the parable of the unforgiving servant challenge our approach to forgiveness in our daily lives?
- Why is it essential to recognize forgiveness as an act of the will rather than an impulse of emotions?
- Reflecting on personal experiences, how has experiencing God’s forgiveness impacted your ability to forgive others?