Forgive
"Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
The Lord's Prayer is the best place to begin understanding what forgiveness means. Jesus did not mean for us simply to keep personal accounts of our wrong-doing in order not to miss anything when we confess our sins; rather, in this statement, he points us to the truth that forgiveness is needed when a relationship is broken, and the forgiveness identifies the cause of the breach honestly, thereby opening the door to healing and reconciliation
Forgiveness is shaped by or helps to shape all our faith practices:
- pray
o most of us cannot forgive others without prayerful preparation
o prayer is the way we talk to God about his forgiveness
o prayer is the way we let go of guilt God has already forgiven - study
o Bible study shows us a more gracious way to live with others
o Bible study teaches us the grace God is ready to give to us
o Bible study gives us material to speak to ourselves about the issues of being forgiven and granting forgiveness - invite
o A common issue with unchurched people is a sense of alienation from church people
o our testimony , including our own forgiveness, is our best invitation to others - encourage
o We all need to be encouraged when we think we are unforgivable
o We can help others when they cannot forgive
o They can help us when we cannot forgive
o Friends support our faith and our commitments - worship
o Failure to forgive impedes our worship experience
o Unwillingness to forgive or to be forgiven is a barrier to worship - serve
o the experience of forgiveness empowers our service to God and people
o Forgiving others strengthens our service to them
o Being forgiven links us in service - give
o Jesus said that an issue of forgiveness needed is an impediment to giving a gift to God
o Our forgiven relationship with God becomes a non-legalistic motivator for giving