cyberjosh
Member
We know that when we are justified we are imputed Christ's righteousness, for that is what justification literally means, and we know that we are forgiven, but we see another element in which it seems we must daily be forgiven for our sins. Some have noticed this element in the Bible and say that it is speaking of temporal forgiveness and is necessary so that we do not impede God's grace - but what I am talking about is in the Lord's Prayer. It says "Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses". If justification was in view here there would be no need to ask for forgiveness or repent again, but since Christians have a dynamic experience of battling with the flesh we see here that we must ask for forgiveness. Jesus in a parable also told of a servant who was forgiven, but who in turn did not forgive his debtor, and so he was thrown into prison until he payed the last penny of his debt to his master. At the end of it he says, "So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds" (Matt 18:23-35). This parable is often called "the unmerciful servant" and it shows how mercy (grace) should be appropriated. If God gives grace to his children because of his love, and forgives them their debts, then we must in turn use that grace to show forgiveness to others. Sometimes we fail to do this, and it seems that God will withhold his grace from us until we repent of it. Freely we have been given, so freely we should give. Freely we have been forgiven, so freely we must forgive - or God says he won't forgive us for it. "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins" (Matthew 6:14-15). But we must use God's grace appropriately.
Do you believe this is the context in which we may need to ask for daily forgiveness? I think God's grace operating in our lives may depend on it - else it would not be important.
What do you think?
God Bless,
~Josh
Do you believe this is the context in which we may need to ask for daily forgiveness? I think God's grace operating in our lives may depend on it - else it would not be important.
What do you think?
God Bless,
~Josh