Continuing our thoughts on our relationship with God and our worship through the words of the Lord’s Prayer.

Matthew 6:9-13.

"9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. "

Forgive and Forgiven.

Matthew 6:14,15

"14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Each person in the world needs urgently the forgiveness offered by God through the death of His Son Jesus Christ. The words "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." are very difficult for most people to actually say because it means that we are admitting that we have done wrong, we have sinned and need forgiveness by God.

Facts about Sin.

Romans 3:23.

"23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"

The original language used in the scripture uses a number of different Greek and Hebrew words, they reflect the different aspects from which sin can be viewed. Some of the meanings are listed:-
1) SIN: - Against God. - Missed the Mark. Missed the targets set by God. Breaks the set rules, codes. -
2) TRESPASS: To enter an area without permission of the owner. To enter illegally.
3) LAWLESS:- Rebellious, will not accept any laws. Not governed by or obedient to any law or rules.
4) DEBT:- Something is owed, a liability, an obligation as the result of some other action or consequence.

Facts about Forgiveness.

In the New Testament there are two main verbs used for forgiveness, charizomal which has the meaning "to deal graciously." and aphiëmi which means "to send away," (used 142 times in the New Testament.). Occassionally the noun aphesis , "remission" is also found.
In Luke 6:37 we have apolyã, "to release."

"37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: "

"25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;"

Ephesians 1:7,8.

"7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;"

We have redemption through Christ, through His blood, our sins are forgiven, covered, removed by God through Jesus the Son of God, this was an act of grace by God, no human work or action was needed.

Romans 8:1.

"1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

Therefore is referring to Romans 7:25. The death of Jesus gave us the way out, there is therefore no more condemnation, punishment or doom to those who are in Christ Jesus, because Jesus Christ took the condemnation and punishment for each of us. It is a gift, we cannot earn it in any way.

Our relationship with God, following our forgiveness, has now changed, He has covered our sin with the blood of Jesus, our relationship is restored, but, we still have our sinful body and so we can still sin, though our salvation is safe, we cannot lose our salvation because our forgiveness is forever.
1 Peter 1 23:

"23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

Hebrews 9:12

"12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."

But by sinning we can affect the relationship with God, this can be restored by asking for forgiveness, with reference to the sinful act. We are all going to fail in some way each day so we all need a daily cleansing with God through His love.
Psalms 66:18

"18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"

Psalm 32:1,2.

"1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."

1 John 1:5-10.

"5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us."

Please note how important it is to receive a daily communication and meet with God, for Him to point out our hidden failings and sins.

As mentioned above the action of forgiving some one can also cause many problems, it is very difficult for Mankind to naturally have a forgiving nature, if someone has hurt us in some way we often want revenge or have resentment against that person, especially if it is a Christian brother or sister.
Hebrews 12:5-7.

"5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son (and daughters), despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son (and daughters) whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons (and daughters); for what son (and daughters)is he/she whom the father chasteneth not?"

1 Thessalonians 5:11-15.

"11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."

1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

"9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God."

Forgiveness on the cross.

Luke 23:33,34.

"33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots."

God can forgive - can you?