Matthew 6:12 "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors

Matthew 6:12 "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors."

I. Sin

II. And forgive us our debts

III. As we also have forgiven our debtors

I. Sin

A. The Law - sin is not defined by my ideas but by what goes against God's design

1. No other Gods

2. Name

3. Sabbath

4. Parents

5. Murder

6. Adultery

7. Stealing

8. False witnesses

9 & 10. Coveting

B. Modern euphemisms

1. Pluralism and tolerance

2. Termination of pregnancy

3. Affair

4. Shoplifting

5. White lie

C. Romans 3:23

1. All have sinned

2. All fall short

3. Not a license to sin

4. But a cause for grief

II. And forgive us our debts

LSC "We pray in this petition that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins not because of them deny our prayers: for we neither merit nor are worthy of those things for which we pray; but that He would grant us all things through grace, even though we sin daily, and deserve nothing but punishment."

A. The gospel

1. Stands in stark opposition yet in complement to the law

2. Provides the solutions to sin

3. Romans 3:24 - "being justified as a gift of His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

B. Repentance

1. The first word of the Gospel

Mt 3:2 - John the Baptist

Mt 4:17 - Jesus

Luke 24:46,47 - Lukan commission – “He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Acts 2:28 - Peter

2. A turning away from sin (Hebrew)

3. A changing of the mind (Greek)

C. Forgiveness - the direct result of repentance

Luke 24:47 - Repentance for forgiveness of sins

Acts 2:28 - for the forgiveness of your sins

I John 1:9 - He is faithful and just to forgive

III. As we also have forgiven our debtors

"... And certainly we, on our part, will heartily forgive, and gladly do good to those who may sin against us."

A. The unforgiving servant - Mt 18:23-35

$10,000,000 in silver but worth more in buying power vs. one days wages

B. Matthew 6:14, 15 " If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your father will not forgive your transgressions."

1. A conditional promise

2. This is impossible for us - a most difficult word

3. A work accomplished only as we are yielded to the work of the Father in our lives - it is His work and not ours

C. A choice, not a feeling ("What if I don't feel like forgiving?")

1. Grieving the Holy Spirit - Ephesians 4:30-32 – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

2. Settling matters quickly

Ephesians 4:26, 27 – “’In your anger do not sin‘: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Matthew 5:23, 24 - "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”