Forgive Us Our Debts

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Psalm 51; Lord's Day 51
Psalters: 409, 365, 142, 83
  1. To appreciate forgiveness we must truly understand the reality and depth of that for which we are forgiven.
    1. When we request forgiveness it is because we are aware of what we have done to our Father.
      1. Luke 11:4 speaks of "sins," i.e., any human activity which misses the mark of God's glory.
      2. Matthew 6:12 speaks of "debts," because every sin incurs guilt and makes us worthy of punishment.
    2. This petition must be in the spirit of a confession, not an abstract, general notion of sin.
    3. True apology consists of the admission of sin unaccompanied by excuses, reasons, or "buts."
  2. The request to be forgiven is our asking God to wipe out so they cannot be seen anymore (Psalm 51:4).
    1. Only God can forgive, because all sin is essentially against Him.
      1. The only way God can erase sin is by its debt being paid; God cannot just forget sin, but He must forgive it.
      2. Only the Son of God could bear God's eternal and infinite wrath (II Cor. 5: 19) and do so in perfect loving obedience.
    2. Forgiveness also includes the positive blessing of righteousness.
    3. This petition every child of God wants to pray and must pray.
  3. The wonder of being forgiven.
    1. Through the means of prayer God gives His grace and Spirit, which is the application of the atonement.
      1. He assures sinners of forgiveness and right relationship: "thy sins are forgiven thee" (Matt. 9:2,5).
      2. Then we know the gospel of free, sovereign grace.
    2. “Being justified by faith we have peace with God" (Rom. 5:1). "There is ... no condemnation to them .. in Christ" (Rom. 8:1).
    3. O the bliss of this glorious thought: that not the part, but the whole of my sins are nailed to the cross.