It is not as though He did not forgive sin without and even before our prayer.... But the purpose of this prayer is that we may recognize and receive such forgiveness.—LC III:88
This should serve God’s purpose of breaking our pride and keeping us humble.—LC III:90
In short, if God does not forgive without stopping, we are lost.—LC III:91
1 comment:
“It is not as though He did not forgive sin without and even before our prayer....” That is fundamental to the Gospel. But do we understand the implications of this statement. Could that mean that when we pray, “and forgive us our trespasses,” we do not ask for forgiveness of sins past, but that our Lord would forgive us the sins we are about to commit “this day”? How does it affect the notion that we receive forgiveness when we receive the Body and Blood of our Savior or after the Absolution, which we receive from our pastor during the service? Does it mean that God forgives the sins of His children as soon as they commit them? What is the full meaning of the “forgiveness of sins,” which St. Peter promised to converts on that first Pentecost?
It has been my contention for many years that, the reason why the Gospel is not preached in its purity in our Church, is that we lack a proper understanding of forgiveness. It might be worthwhile to make “forgiveness” a topic for Church-wide study, both at the seminaries, and the organizations within the Church, that are responsible for maintaining pure doctrine.
Peace and Joy!
George A. Marquart
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