Conditional Forgiveness

Scripture Reading | Matthew 6:9-15

Introduction

Examine the seemingly contrast of the forgiveness of God that we have received by God - freely upon faith in Christ.

Conditional forgiveness of Matthew 6 - in the disciples prayer

Usually, will be a proof of the distinctions between “time past” and “but now”

My personal opinion is that many of these charts are wrong - there is no nuance, no context, but the potential of verses that shouldn’t be used to contrast and make a distinction

Hard issue is there are verses that teach different things from “time past” to “but now”

We thus need to handle the scriptures carefully, properly as to not make division where there ought not be one

We cannot say we rightly divide and any time we, to the naked eye, see a division claim it and say it is a right one - hoist to a chart and say its rightly dividing

I have been guilty of this; however, its when we make schisms in the body of Christ by them - oh you believe this and you believe different - we can’t have fellowship

Specially, when you would agree on what is to be believed for today

I once had a dear dear brother in the Lord disagree with me that Israel was justified by faith plus works in the OT - I had come to think differently from Romans 3-4 that they were justified by faith only.

We both agreed we were justified by faith alone today; however, he counted a difference of understanding in how they were justified in time past as cause to break fellowship

Therefore, my attempt in this message, in the thread of “forgiveness” to offer you an alternative to looking at Matthew 6:12 and not simply pit it against Ephesians 4:32

An alternative not simply for unity sake, but because I think there is a misunderstanding.

The Teaching

Matthew 6:12 we are not forgiven today by forgiving others - we are forgiven by God’s grace.

We don’t forgive others in order to be forgiven we forgive because we have already been forgiven.

These statements are true; however, we need to examine whether both contexts are similar to be able to make a right division.

Otherwise we are ascribing wrong meaning to a verse in order to make a division - “wise in own conceits”

The Doctrine of Justification by Grace through Faith

Forgiveness without Forgiveness

Considerations on Conditional Forgiveness

1. The Law

2. The Leaven of the Pharisees

3. The Disciples Prayer - Relational Forgiveness

Sermon

The Doctrine of Justification by Grace Through Faith

Justification - the declaration of one righteous in the sight of God

Forgives your sin debt and impute righteousness you don’t possess

Romans 3:9–12 “What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”

Romans 3:19–20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Romans 3:25 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”

Romans 3:28–30 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.”

Abraham - before the law, before circumcision

David - under the law, after circumcision

Romans 4:3 “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:6–12 “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”

Romans 4:16 “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Galatians 3:21–25 “Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”

Under the law you could be justified by faith only but still under the law - the law was a schoolmaster to lead someone to faith in God’s righteousness and once the faith of Christ was revealed it was imputed to them.

Judicial forgiveness - in God’s sight - before God

Therefore, no one is forgiven by God based upon the law, water baptism, circumcision

Repentance, confession isn’t a work - voicing what is believed already in the heart (in Catholicism it is wrong not because of the confession, but what for, how often, and to who)

Therefore, no one can forgive in order to be forgiven by God to be justified

But isn’t that what the verse says?

2. Forgiveness without Forgiveness

God granting forgiveness without someone forgiving another

Soon after the Sermon on the Mount - Matt. 9:1-8

Before the Sermon on the Mount - Mark 1:4 “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.”

Luke 7:47–48 “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.”

John 8:10–11 “When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

John 3:16–17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Luke 23:39–43 “And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Acts 2:38 “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”

Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;”

Acts 5:31 “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”

Acts 10:43 “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”

3. Considerations on Conditional Forgiveness

1. The Law

1 Timothy 1:8 “But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;”

Romans 3:19–20 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

Romans 4:15 “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

Matthew 19:16–19 “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

2. The Leaven of the Pharisees

Matthew 16:6 “Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.”

The teaching of the Pharisees

1. Didn’t think they were sinners, but righteous (Abraham)

Mark 2:17 “When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Matthew 3:6–9 “And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.”

John 8:37–39 “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”

Romans 9:6–7 “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”

Galatians 2:15 “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,”

2. Thought they were blameless before the law that condemned them

Philippians 3:5–6 “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”

Didn’t understand sacrifices - Matthew 9:13 “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

Heb. 10:1-13

Made void the commandments of God by tradition - leaven

Matthew 15:1-20

3. The Leaven Manifest in the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5:21-26 - anger, killing - “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time” (not Moses, Pharisees)

Matthew 5:27-30 - adultery

Matthew 5:33-37 - oaths

Matthew 5:38-42 - personal retribution (given for the authority not the common citizen)

Matthew 5:43-48 - don’t hate enemy

Hypocrisy of Pharisees

Matthew 6:1-4 - alms

Matthew 6:5-15 - prayer | Matthew 6:16-18 - fasting

Pharisaical Prayer - Luke 18:9–14 “And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

The leaven of the Pharisees got them out of the law condemning, the law making sin exceeding sinful that was a schoolmaster that drove them to faith in God, to call upon His name.

Psalm 51

3. Disciples Prayer - Relational Conditional Forgiveness

The Lord is teaching disciples and great multitude - both believers and unbelievers

Many are those that have already received “remission of sins” having gone to the baptism of John

Now, they need to be edified - this teaching would be contrary to that which they heard in the synagogues

Matthew 7:28–29 “And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Christ is teaching the law perfectly - wouldn’t need to condemn them, but would need to teach them His ways and in contrast to Pharisees

So instead of praying thank you that I am righteous and I am not like one of these publicans

They prayed - forgive us our debts - thus we are sinners

And - as we forgive our debtors - we are to forgive not look down upon, not withhold forgiveness

Luke 7:36-50

Not judicial forgiveness - relational forgiveness

Not for salvation and eternal life - for communion and fellowship

For reward (9x’s) - Matthew 5:12, 46, 6:1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 16, 18

Matthew 6:12 “And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

“forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors - “as” removes this from judicial forgiveness

Places it either in a law context to condemn and show weakness, or

Places it in a relational context, accountable context

“forgive us our debts”

Debts toward God

Debts toward others ultimately toward God

Recognize debts toward God and others - not self-righteousness

God forgives the debts upon a condition - account

“as we forgive our debtors.”

God forgives our debts when we forgive our debtors

If they had already believed and were forgiven their debts then they know they should forgive their debtors

Matthew 6:14-15 - Spirit of adoption, bring many sons to glory

“Father” - title for those children of God

Conclusion

Different context

Matthew 6:14-15 - stands true today in dispensation of grace, progressive revelation gives us the understanding and power to forgive in Ephesians 4:32.

Will be held accountable according to the reward for the forgiveness you give that reflects God

Greater responsibility - reflect Christ - not lose of salvation already received forgiveness of sins in God’s sight

Relational Context

Stands in Contrast to Pharisees thinking

For reward