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«...forgive us our tresspasses, as we forgive those that tresspass against us.»
Matthew 6, vers 12
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to Contents of Sermons]How often have we repeated the Lord's prayer, as a matter of duty or tradition, maybe without even meaning what we say. Have you ever considered what these words Jesus spoke really mean and what consequences they may have for our lives?
What are tresspasses?
Let's first of all make it clear what the expression
tresspass means. According to a German dictionary it means: to step
outside the legal limits, to commit something worthy of punishment
This is the only place in the New Testament where the word tresspass is
used in the plural.
Tresspasses are nothing less than failure in life, causing a burden of
guilt that often cannot be shaken off. This burden can vary in its weight.
A couple of stones in a rucksack: bad words, insulting language, things
that over a period of time can become quite unpleasant. And we just stand
there, dumbfounded, when this burden becomes too great for us. Sometimes
we think, it might help if we just keep quiet about that load that's on
our back.
But Jesus said in Matthew 10:26 «There is nothing that is hidden that
shall not be revealed»
The question isn't what we have done, whether on one occasion we didn't
tell the truth, or whether we've misued thousands of marks, or evaded
paying tax. Tresspasses are like financial debts. When someone is in debt
financially and he can't pay up, his marriage partner or even his adult
children are implicated and made liable. But when it comes to things like
murder and adultery - these debts can never be satisfactorily repaid.
Man's most serious tresspass is the one that the first man commited, the
tresspass of disobedience towards God. There's nothing anyone on earth can
do to put that tresspass right.
What is forgiveness?
A burden needs to be lifted, guilt needs to be
pardoned. Through the guilt of tresspasses man's fellowship with God was
broken. A person on his own is not able to fee himself from this burden,
any more than a person who falls into water is able to drag himself out by
taking hold of his own hair.
God saw man in his lost state. He could well have said: But everything was
so perfect after I had created it. Man has himself to blame; he can just
go on and destroy himself for all I care! But God, because He loved
mankind so much, devised a wonderful plan of salvation for him. He sent
His only son to come to our assistance.
John 3:16 «For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten
son, that all who believe in Him may not perish, but have everlasting
life.»
God came to us in person with the free offer of grace, forgiveness and
release from the guilt of our tresspasses. God paid the very highest price
for us. It cost Him the life of His only begotten son, Jesus Christ.
In 1 John 1:9 I read: «If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.»
Isn't that wonderful? If we confess our sins to God, or in other words, if
we are deeply sorry before God for our sins, then He forgives us. He
changes us and sanctifies us, so that we can be free not to sin or do
wrong any more in the future.
But do I also have to forgive?
In Matthew 6:12 we don't just ask for forgiveness,
but we ourselves attach this request to a condition:
«...as we forgive those who tresspass against us.»
Jesus adds in verses 14 and 15: «If you forgive men their trespasses,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men
their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your
tresspasses.»
God puts the forgiveness of our sins together with obedience. He wants us
to turn away from our hardheartedness, and to learn from Him to deal with
our fellow men in the same way as He has dealt with us.
Just one example from my own life. After I received Jesus into my heart, I
went to several people against whom I had sinned earlier. I tried to put
things right and asked for forgiveness. In doing this I received deep
peace in my heart and the knowledge that God had really taken the burden
of my guilt away.
There's one incident I always like to tell about. It took place when I was
doing my first period of Bible school practicall training in Sängerwald
in the district of Hof in Germany. In that town there was an elderly
sister who looked after me. She did my washing and cooked for me. At first
she was very enthusiastic about me, because I always ate everything she
cooked for me. But as the work in the church became more important to me,
I began to skip meal-times. Twice she spoke to me about this, but then
after that said nothing more.
Suddenly I noticed that my relationship to her had distinctly
deteriorated. I became afraid of her und started to avoid her completely.
But as I prayed to God in my quiet time, He laid it on my heart, that
something had to be done urgently to put this relationship right again.
Then in the church service, I read Mark 11:25: «But when you stand
praying, forgive!» and I felt a convicted in my heart. So I went to her
and I apologised even for things that I didn't actually know I had done.
After that I was more careful to observe the meal-times, and to keep my
room tidy etc. And to our great joy God healed our relationship. I didn't
particularly feel guilty towards her, but God requires of us, even when it
costs us something, to exercise the courage, strength and even humility to
reach out in reconciliation to others as he reached out to us, earnestly
endeavouring to restore the relationship, without insisting on our own
rights and innocence.
When we forgive, we must forgive from the heart, we must forgive
completely, without harbouring any negative feelings. We must remove every
kind of bitterness and grudge from our hearts. When a person is bitter, he
makes room for the devil in his life. The devil sows seeds of anger and
hatred, that can have fatal consequences for you. If you forgive someone
who really ought to be asking you to forgive him, you'll see God renewing
that relationship. Spiritual problems often have a direct effect on our
bodies. Through forgiveness, therefore, God doesn't just heal
relationships, but He also heals certain physical sicknesses.
How often must I forgive?
This question soon crops up. How often should I
forgive a person this or that? The Apostle Peter also struggled with this
question - Matthew 18:21-22: «Then Peter came to him (Jesus) and said,
Lord, how often may my brother sin against me and I must forgive him. Is
seven times enough? Jesus said unto him, not seven times do I say unto
you, but seventy times seven.»
In another place Jesus says: Luke 17:3-4 «Take heed to yourselves. If
your brother sins against you, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him.
And if he transgress against you seven times in a day, and seven times in
a day comes back to you saying, I repent; then you must forgive him.»
It's easy to forgive someone we only see twice a year. In a much closer
relationship, like that in marriage, you have to forgive one another many
times. And remember, the Bible doesn't speak of suppressing, but of
forgiving.
God knows very well that other people's sins hurt us. Our sins also hurt God. God knows that each one of us (and there are no exceptions) is a sinner In my opinion a believer is also a sinner. Only he is a PARDONNED sinner! That's why Jesus is not demanding here that we be perfect, because that's an ideal that just doesn't exist. Instead he wants us to forgive one another, just as He has forgiven us. With His help, He wants us to develop a "lifestyle of forgiving" in our lives.
Conclusion
God wants to renew His relationship to you. He wants to answer your prayers. He wants to free you from those sleepless nights. He wants to make you well. Learn humility, because God bore your guilt on Calvary and forgave you long ago. You don't need to do anything else, but take hold of his outstretched hand and allow His grace to flow into your life. And won't you then also want to forgive the sins and unkindnesses of others?
Prayer
Matthew 6:9-13 The Lord's Prayer
(taken from the New International Version)
Let us pray, this time not as maybe before in the past. Speak the word out loud, slowly, one after the other. Listen to your own audible words and consider what meaning they for you. Then between your words, be still and listen for God's answer. Remember, that you are not just talking to yourself. You are speaking to God, who loves you dearly and who takes you seriously. God is not your mate; He is indeed a holy God.
«Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,
for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.»
P.S.
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