Time for the next look at God. And to do that we’re going to use the next petition of the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. (Matthew 6.12)
Let’s start with a quote that someone famous is supposed to have said on his deathbed: ‘God will forgive me. It’s his job.’ Now, if it were just this person who thinks in this way, who would care? But, sadly, there are many who agree with him. They may never actually say what he said, but it is an assumption that they have about life. It’s God’s job to forgive - which, of course, He will always do. And what is even sadder is that many of these people are Christians. Again, they may not say anything like this out loud, but it is an attitude of their hearts, an assumption about life. And that is so very dangerous.
The fact of the matter is that God doesn’t need to forgive anyone. He didn’t need to provide forgiveness by sending His Son. There is no need in Him to do any of that. And it certainly is not ‘His job’. Those who have adopted this assumption probably think that since He is ‘the God of love’ He will always forgive our miscues. That can be a fatal mistake.
It helps to remember those times when God did not forgive. Consider what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) or Egypt when Moses confronted Pharaoh. (Exodus 7-12) God didn’t forgive their sins. But some will think that since they were pagans, God wasn’t obligated to forgive them. Well, here, consider Korah and those who sided with him in his rebellion against Moses. What happened to these who were covenant people of God, (aka ‘church folk’)? The earth opened and swallowed them alive for their sins. (Numbers 16) And just to bring this home, consider Ananias and Sapphira, two Christians who were struck dead for their sins. (Acts 5) (And no, they didn’t end up in heaven.)
Yes, our God is a loving God and quite the patient God. But woe to any who take his forgiveness for granted. God doesn’t always forgive.
And that leads to something that isn’t taught very much these days. God has conditions when it comes to things like His forgiveness. There’s a little word in the petition that we are looking at that you really do need to notice. It’s the word ‘as’. ‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.’
What’s that about? It appears that our request for forgiveness is depends on something that we are to do, on our being forgiving of others. Failure on our part to satisfy that condition will result in our not being forgiven. God’s forgiveness is conditional.
I find it interesting that Jesus comments on this petition but only this petition and none of the others.
Let’s start with a quote that someone famous is supposed to have said on his deathbed: ‘God will forgive me. It’s his job.’ Now, if it were just this person who thinks in this way, who would care? But, sadly, there are many who agree with him. They may never actually say what he said, but it is an assumption that they have about life. It’s God’s job to forgive - which, of course, He will always do. And what is even sadder is that many of these people are Christians. Again, they may not say anything like this out loud, but it is an attitude of their hearts, an assumption about life. And that is so very dangerous.
The fact of the matter is that God doesn’t need to forgive anyone. He didn’t need to provide forgiveness by sending His Son. There is no need in Him to do any of that. And it certainly is not ‘His job’. Those who have adopted this assumption probably think that since He is ‘the God of love’ He will always forgive our miscues. That can be a fatal mistake.
It helps to remember those times when God did not forgive. Consider what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) or Egypt when Moses confronted Pharaoh. (Exodus 7-12) God didn’t forgive their sins. But some will think that since they were pagans, God wasn’t obligated to forgive them. Well, here, consider Korah and those who sided with him in his rebellion against Moses. What happened to these who were covenant people of God, (aka ‘church folk’)? The earth opened and swallowed them alive for their sins. (Numbers 16) And just to bring this home, consider Ananias and Sapphira, two Christians who were struck dead for their sins. (Acts 5) (And no, they didn’t end up in heaven.)
Yes, our God is a loving God and quite the patient God. But woe to any who take his forgiveness for granted. God doesn’t always forgive.
And that leads to something that isn’t taught very much these days. God has conditions when it comes to things like His forgiveness. There’s a little word in the petition that we are looking at that you really do need to notice. It’s the word ‘as’. ‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.’
What’s that about? It appears that our request for forgiveness is depends on something that we are to do, on our being forgiving of others. Failure on our part to satisfy that condition will result in our not being forgiven. God’s forgiveness is conditional.
I find it interesting that Jesus comments on this petition but only this petition and none of the others.
For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14–15
There is a condition that we must satisfy if we are to expect our sins to be forgiven.
Elsewhere, Jesus tells His disciples a parable to make clear the necessity of satisfying this condition. It’s commonly titled ‘The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant’ and it’s found at the end of Matthew 18. You should read it. As you do, notice two things. The forgiveness that was once granted was revoked because of the failure to forgive another. God can change His mind about forgiving someone. Also notice the fate of the one who was no longer forgiven.
Elsewhere, Jesus tells His disciples a parable to make clear the necessity of satisfying this condition. It’s commonly titled ‘The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant’ and it’s found at the end of Matthew 18. You should read it. As you do, notice two things. The forgiveness that was once granted was revoked because of the failure to forgive another. God can change His mind about forgiving someone. Also notice the fate of the one who was no longer forgiven.
And because he was angry, his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured until he could pay everything that was owed. Matthew 18:34
It is not God’s job to forgive. When He does forgive, it is because those who are being forgiven have satisfied the required conditions.
Now, it is also important to stress that the God whom we worship is eager to forgive. Why else would He send His Son? He is the God who said to His prophet,
Now, it is also important to stress that the God whom we worship is eager to forgive. Why else would He send His Son? He is the God who said to His prophet,
Tell them, ‘As I live - this is the declaration of the Lord GOD - I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live. Repent, repent of your evil ways! Why will you die, house of Israel?’ Ezekiel 33:11
Our God does not want to condemn. He really does want to forgive. And yet, a careful look at the Scriptures shows that He has expectations of us, conditions for us to meet, if we are to be forgiven. This is an aspect of the character of the God whom we worship. But it is an aspect of who God is that is not mentioned very much these days. It really does need to be known and understood if we are going to be able to live well to the honor of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment