| The Lord's Prayer, Part 9: The Fifth Petition, "And forgive us our debts ..." |
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| Written by David Lawrence |
| Monday, September 12 2011 00:00 |
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The fifth petition presents an apparent contradiction when placed alongside the great doctrine of justification by faith. When we read about what Scripture teaches on this glorious aspect of our redemption, we understand that when we place our faith in Christ, we are pardoned of all sin, which would mean sin of the past, sin of the present, and sin of the future. Justification is a once and for all forensic act that declares the guilty innocent of all charges by reason of the perfect obedience and complete satisfaction of Jesus Christ, as His righteousness is imputed to us, and our sin to Him. Why then do we need to pray for forgiveness on an ongoing basis when we are already forgiven on an eternal basis? The answer must lie in the fact that while God declares us forgiven, we continue to sin, as the apostle John clearly teaches. No one can keep God’s holy law completely, and no one can be totally sinless in this life. As Luther said, we are “simul justicia et peccatores” (at the same time both justified and sinners), or as he more colorfully stated it, we are “snow covered dung!” And God is glorified if we acknowledge our sin before Him and as guilty children of a loving Father, come and ask his forgiveness. We thus acknowledge His sovereignty, His relationship to us as Father, and His love that is ever disposed to be willing to forgive. I think of when my own children would say that they were sorry for something they had done. Of course, I had already forgiven them, but it warmed my heart that they were sorry for the wrong they had done and sorry that they had hurt me by their misbehavior. I have a grandson who sometimes misbehaves, and my son has told me of how, once he thought about it, he will come and tenderly say to his dad that he was sorry and sorry that he had hurt him. Thus it is in our wonderful and close relationship with our Father God! |
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