The Passage Forgive Us Our Debts really embodies the Biblical Concept
of Sanctification. It is our Second division (Section 2B) of the Fifth Prayer
Principle, Confession --
The Process of Sanctification presupposes God's Conviction
which is accomplished by the Holy Spirit.
Sanctification is done through 6 steps
we are calling the Doctrine of Confession.
Elements 1-3 are Our Responsibilities, that is, We Must ...
1. Make Confession 2. Practice Forsaking 3. Act Like We're Believing
*Elements 4-6 are actions God takes in response, that is we must believe that
God really gives...
*4. Forgiveness *5. Cleansing *6. Blessing
(These are
simply part of our "Believing" Responsibility.)
Introductory
Discussion to Principle 5A2B:
Why should God include "forgive us" in a daily routine of prayer if
we are 100% forgiven on the "day of salvation" [2Co 6:2 For He
says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of
salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)] ?
Because salvation from sin is both a positional and a practical
truth taught in the Bible. In the legal, positional sense God forgave all
sin through the death of Christ on the cross. In the earthly, practical
sense God will deal with the sinful nature that remains in man after the
salvation of his soul but before the transformation of the body at the rapture
of His Bride, the Church. This study is also called the Sanctification of the
Believer. Sin impacts the rewards of the believer after physical life is over.
These concepts will become clearer as the believer studies the depths of these
doctrines later. For now we will discuss the basic verses given above to
seek to approach this section of daily prayer.
1 JN 1.6; Walking in darkness – or sinning against God, and others
including self – John here says is the opposite of having fellowship with Him.
PS 66.18; Regarding iniquity – sin – prevents God from responding to any
of our prayers, so it is a very important part of regular prayer.
JA 1.15; James says that when we commit individual sins they begin a
progressive cycle that ends up in death itself.
PS 19.12-13. David admits that sin in life is difficult to understand,
and that even the best of men can have secret faults. Furthermore some
sins grow to the point of "presumption" a very sober condition for
which the Old Testament economy left no place for forgiveness (See the full
context of Numbers 15.30 : `But the person who does anything presumptuously,
whether he is native-born or a stranger, that one brings reproach on the LORD,
and he shall be cut off from among his people. 31 `Because he has despised the
word of the LORD, and has broken His commandment, that person shall be
completely cut off; his guilt shall be upon him.’") David feared
greatly the dominion they brought to his soul. And we all know the depths
of sin into which David sank.
Therefore we must pray for forgiveness and cleansing and restoration
from the daily defiling aspects of sin in life. This prayer is called confession
(Section 2B). If we have thought about beatitudes (Section 1B), we are
sensitized about sin's awful impact on life, and thus are more than willing to
see it removed from our habits of life so we will receive a full reward. We are
then to make full confession and forsaking of the sin.
NEXT!
This has been our Introduction. The top menu does not navigate to the next
page for this section. To access the first principle on confession please go to...
The Doctrine
of Confession Part 1 of 6. There you will be able to navigate by the
top menu through each page. Please see below for more help if you need it.
NEED Navigation HELP? CONFUSED? Each page should navigate to the other pages on
the subject, but you can also always use this
page to reorient your self as you do this study. (You will always be able to use your browser's "Back"
menu command
or icon to return to the Main index, or click here: DPN Class List and Links in their Context.
