Forgive Us Our Sins - 40 Day Journey with Martin
Luther – Day 34 - Purity 1307
Purity 1307 03/23/2024 Purity 1307 Podcast
Purity 1307 on YouTube: Coming Soon!
Good morning,
Today’s photo of a gorgeous palm tree on the shores
of a turquoise ocean hemmed by a broken
bridge comes to us from a currently unknown FB friend who shared this scene of
what could possibly be near the Florida Keys, on social media back on or around
May 8th, 2021. If this photo is yours and you would like the photo
credit you deserve give me a heads up and I will update the blog after the
fact.
Well, It’s Saturday and while I slept last night,
lamb-like March has been replaced by a lion of a snowstorm as we were warned
over the last few days with below-freezing temperatures that there is no early
spring in upstate NY and now the snow makes that a painfully obvious,
undeniable fact. Skiers, snow-shoe
enthusiasts, and snowmobilers rejoice! But as for me, I’ll be snuggling up with my
wife in my countryside home for a day of rest as my “March Madness” is nearing completion
as we enter Holy Week with Palm Sunday tomorrow. The last meeting of the Freedom in Christ Course
that I lead online is Monday and the last “currently scheduled Freedom
Appointment is Thursday, and I am suspending any and all ministry meetings,
other than Easter Sunday Service to Celebrate Christ’s resurrection, next
weekend. Good Friday will be good in more than one way… as it will mark the end
of my having 3 nights of ministry or school during the week and nearly all of
the men who have attended the Freedom in Christ course will have gone through
the Steps to Freedom in Christ. It’s
been an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve the body of
Christ and to be built up in my faith over the last 12 weeks but it's also nice
to see this season come to a close.
And speaking of season coming to a close, the last
day of Lent is a week from today but let’s make the most of this Lenten season
by drawing close to the Lord with the start of Holy Week tomorrow. And speaking
of Lent..,.
It’s the thirty-fourth day of Lent and so we
continue my personal walkthrough of Gracia Grindal’s 40-Day Journey with
Martin Luther to observe and celebrate the Lenten season. In this walkthrough of Grindal’s
devotional, it is our hope that we will
get to know Martin Luther a little better as we seek to draw closer to the Lord
on our journey to Resurrection Sunday – Easter.
And so we continue.
“Journey
Day 34
And
remit our debts, as we remit what our debtors owe.
What
is this?
Answer:
We ask in this prayer that our heavenly Father would not regard our sins nor
deny this petition on their account, for we are worthy of nothing for which we
ask, nor have we earned it. Instead we ask that God would give us all things by
grace, for we daily sin much and indeed deserve only punishment. So on the
other hand, we, too, truly want to forgive heartily and to do good gladly to
those who sin against us.
This
sign (“as we forgive our debtors”) is attached to the petition so that when we
pray we may recall the promise and think, “Dear Father, I come to you and pray
that you will forgive me for this reason: not because I can make satisfaction
or deserve anything by my works, but because you have promised and have set
this seal on it, making it as certain as if I had received an absolution
pronounced by you yourself.” For whatever baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which
are appointed to us as outward signs, can effect, this sign can as well, in
order to strengthen and gladden our conscience. Moreover, above and beyond the
other signs, it has been instituted precisely so that we can use and practice
it every hour, keeping it with us at all times.
Biblical Wisdom
We
love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God”, and hate their
brothers or sisters are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister
whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment
we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and
sisters also. 1 John 4: 19-21.
Silence for Meditation.
Questions to Ponder
· Different
versions of the Lord's prayer use different words in this petition-sins, debts,
trespasses. Which do you prefer? Why?
The version of the Lord’s Prayer that I learned as a
child in my Catholic upbringing used “trespasses”, so I usually use that
phrasing when I pray the Lord’s Prayer. Do
I prefer it? I don’t know I sort of like the sound of “forgive us our sins as
we forgive those who sin against us” but I don’t usually pray that. Can I
prefer something if I don’t do it? I like it because it sounds good theologically
and is used in a couple of the versions of the Bible I like (NLT, NCV). Ironically,
the one I like the least – debts and debtors (clunky) is the one that is used
by most of the Bible translations that I prefer (NKJV,NIV,NASB,). Regardless, no matter how we phrase our
transgressions – asking for and passing along forgiveness is what’s most important.
· What
does the word “as” in this petition mean? Is our forgiveness conditional on our
forgiving those who have sinned against us?
We will have to ask the LORD to be sure of whether
or not our forgiveness is conditional but it sure sounds like it might be. I teach that an “unforgiving Christian” is an
oxymoron at best and may be a contradiction in terms meaning if we claim to be
Christians but fail to forgive others it may indicate that your conversion is a
sham… I mean the whole idea of coming to faith in Christ is receiving God’s
forgiveness and if we can’t forgive others we really have to wonder if we “know”
the gospel or know the Lord . If our hearts haven’t been moved to “pay it
forward” with our forgiveness… when God’s word basically commands us to,
repeatedly, we have to ask whether or not our disobedience and rebellion make
us more like Satan than Jesus. Our
unforgiveness is at least a foothold for the enemy but it very well could indicate
that we are actually in the kingdom of darkness rather than God’s kingdom and
are only deceiving ourselves.
· How
is our forgiving those who have sinned against us a sign like baptism or the
Lord's Supper?
Forgiving others is a sign that we may understand
the gospel and may be one of the best pieces of evidence that we have truly surrender
to the Lord’s will for our lives…. but even the biggest sinners could forgive
others because they want to be forgiven for all the wrong they have done and
will continue to do. If we don’t confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, forgiveness
would be just another empty work of our self-righteousness. Remember our
salvation is not about good deeds – its about faith in Jesus – it’s not about
our performance in any one area – or any areas – its not about performance –
its about a relationship with God through Jesus Christ specifically and seeking
to represent the kingdom and share the gospel of Jesus Christ specifically (not
be a good neighbor – That’s State Farm’s slogan – or be nice – or do what’s
right) with the way we live our lives.
Everything we say and do should point to Jesus – not the good work we
do.
Psalm Fragment
If
you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is
forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. Psalm 130:3-4.
Journal Reflections
· Meditate
on whether forgiving others who have hurt or wronged you is easy or difficult
for you.
It’s difficult in the flesh, but when I remember
that I have been forgiven and that it is commanded by the Lord – it is easy in
the Spirit.
· When
you find it difficult or impossible to forgive another, what is the impact on
your relationship with God?
Our unforgiveness will either separate us from God or
cause disharmony with our relationship with Him. Sin is missing the mark and not forgiving
others when we have been forgiven for everything we have ever done or will do,
is that – missing the mark – sinning – that needs to be repented of to enjoy our
relationship with God fully.
· When
Luther says that forgiving others is a “sign” he means that it is a sign of
God's forgiveness of us. Luther tells us to “use and practice (this sign) every
hour, keeping it with us at all times.” Meditate on what it would be like to
adopt forgiveness as a daily spiritual practice.
If we adopt forgiveness as a daily spiritual
practice, we will know peace and joy as we will be walking in the Spirit in a
very significant way.
Prayers for the Life of Faith
Pray
that you will be able to ask God for forgiveness and be able to forgive someone
who has wounded you, and that they will also be willing to forgive you.
Lord God, I pray that your Holy Spirit will guide me
to always ask for forgiveness when I sin and that I will be moved to forgive
others from the heart for any sins, debts, or trespasses they should do against
me, and that they will likewise be moved to have faith in You and be willing to
forgive me as well. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Prayer For Today
Dear
Lord Jesus, you teach me to ask our Father for the forgiveness of my sins and
to forgive those who have sinned against me. Give me the grace to do so.
Amen.
(Gracia M. Grindal. 40-day
Journey With Martin Luther. Kindle Edition.
(We encourage you to purchase Grindal’s book and
take the 40 Day Journey with Martin Luther for yourself by purchasing Grindal’s
book wherever books are sold. You can find it online at many different sites
and purchase it new, used – paper or electronic for less than $15.00).
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For
those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide,
I offer apologist, Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/ .
Today’s
Bible verses come to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By
John G. Kruis.
(
While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick
Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late
author’s work. (https://www.amazon.com/Quick-Scripture-Reference-Counseling-Kruis-ebook/dp/B00CIUJZT2?ref_=ast_author_dp )
This
morning’s meditation verse comes from the section on Contentment, Coveting
& and Priorities.
Proverbs 22:1 (NIV2011)
1 A good name is more
desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
Today’s
verse falls under the eighteenth point of our counseling reference guide
resource’s section on Contentment, Coveting, and Priorities.
18. A good name is more desirable than great riches.
Today’s
verse impresses upon us how a good reputation, based on our character, is worth
more than material prosperity. A “good
name” only comes from character. While
riches may give one’s name some recognition – like Rockefeller or Trump – it doesn’t
necessarily equate to “goodness”. Rich and good may not be opposites per say
but we don’t often hear them together. Bible puts more value on our goodness so
let’s have a character that will reflect our goodness regardless of the amount
of money we have.
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As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.org where I
always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to
assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today we continue sharing from “According to Your
Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament” By Stephen F. Olford – A
Collection of Devotional Journals: 1940-1941.
As always, I share this information for educational
purposes and encourage you all to purchase Olford’s books for your own
private study and to support his work. This resource is available online
for less than $10 at many sites.
MORNING READING: LUKE 23
“I find no fault in this Man.” – Luke
23:4
What an amazing testimony was this!
Pilate was only an unconverted Gentile, yet he had to say,
“I find no fault in this Man.”
The Lord Jesus Himself had only recently said, “Which of
you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46). He said that even the Devil had no
occasion against Him.
Yes, His life was one of spotless purity and goodness – an
example to man and angels. Even the Father could say, “This is My beloved Son,
in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17).
Blessed Lord, enable me by Your power
to live
the faultless life, that Your Name may be glorified.[1]
---------------------------more
tomorrow------------------------
Join our “Victory over the Darkness”, “The Bondage
Breaker”, "Freedom in Christ" series of Discipleship Classes via the
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at https://mt4christ247.podbean.com, You can also find it on Apple podcasts
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These teachings are also available on the
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Email me at mt4christ247@gmail.com to receive the class materials, share your progress, and
to be encouraged.
My wife, TammyLyn, also offers Christian
encouragement via her Ask Seek Knock blog (https://tammylynask.blogspot.com/ ), her
Facebook Group: Ask, Seek, Knock (https://www.facebook.com/groups/529047851449098 ) and her podcast Ask, Seek, and Knock on
Podbean (https://feed.podbean.com/tammalyn78/feed.xml)
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this
publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to
reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries,
or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication,
and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the
author may represent.”
Encouragement
for the Path of Christian Discipleship
[1]
Stephen Olford and Heather Olford, According to Your
Word: Morning and Evening Through the New Testament, A Collection of Devotional
Journals 1940-1941 (Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008).