Fifth Petition to the Lord's Prayer - Forgive Our Debts as We Forgive Our Debtors

I. WE ARE DEBTORS TO GOD
A. Sin as a Debt
B. Sin is the Worst Debt (Watson)
II. GOD DELIGHTS IN FORGIVING DEBTORS IN CHRIST
A. Christ Has Paid the Debt
1. Only Christ Can.
2. We owe Creator perfect obedience.
But Christ obeyed perfectly
3. We owe God an infinite debt for sin against Him.
But Christ has paid that debt perfectly.
B. God delights in forgiving Debtors in Christ (Micah 7:18-19)
1. Delights in Mercy (18) to Forgive! Why?....because…
2. Pardons Iniquity—"lift it up" and "takes it away"!
3. Passes Over Transgression
4. No Longer Angry
5. Has Compassion on Sinner!(19)
6. Subdues our Iniquities--sanctification/glorification
7. Casts ALL Sins into Depths of Sea
C. So the non-Christian must pray for forgiveness (salvation)
D. And the Christian must pray for forgiveness (relationship)
1. Daily
2. Our--family prayer!
3. Confession--specific
4. With sincere desire purse repentance/righteousness
III. WE ARE DEBTORS TO ONE ANOTHER
A. We are forgiven, not made perfect
B. Others will sin against you.
C. You will sin against others.
IV. WE SHOULD DELIGHT IN FORGIVING OUR DEBTORS IN CHRIST
A. Reflects Christ
1. As God delights in Mercy, so should we
2. As Christ exemplified such mercy & forgiveness, so should we
3. Professes Christ outside Church
4. Preserves Unity within Church
B. Reflects that have been forgiven by Christ (6:14-15; 18:21-35)
1. Warning
2. Assurance