I remember the day that part of The Lord’s Prayer hit me like a 2x4 to the head...
Pray: “Lord, help me to forgive those who trespass against me as I would be forgiven my trespasses against you.”
Or: “Lord, help me to forgive my debtors as I would be forgiven my debts against you.”
We can forgive, but that does not mean the sinner is free of punishment!
Sometimes “turning the other cheek” is no longer an option.
“This is in an age when the chief sin, is disbelief in sin.”
Sin seems to more and more celebrated as we progress toward that inevitable judgement.
It’s hard to be humble enough to own up to every sin we are convicted of, but acknowledging our sins, specifically, is what our gracious and forgiving Lord requires.
God places prerequisites for forgiving our sins, that we acknowledge our sins, apologize, and ask for forgiveness. I interpret that God’s instructions to forgive people as we have been forgiven means that we should place the same prerequisites on people who have trespassed against us.
The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount (where we find this prayer) isn’t so much to enlighten us as to convict us. The moment I read the SOM I instantly realized that I had never lived up to this standard even a day in my life. If this is what it takes to earn your way into heaven then I’m lost - it’s hopeless. My only chance is a Savior.
It almost requires that “those who trespass against us” believe in the same things. It works real good then, not as much with sociopaths.