Are we Debtors?

(Romans 8:12) “So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.”

The concept of being in debt is not foreign to any of us. Although debt is something I am familiar with, we are taught in principle to live outside the realm of debt, yet we are indebted to love our brothers as ourselves. “And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.” (Luke 11:4)

In Matthew it is; forgive us our debts, as we forgive: here it is, forgive us our sins; this implies that our sins are our debts. For we forgive; not that our forgiving those that have offended us can merit pardon from God, or be an incentive to Him to forgive us (God forgives for His own name's sake and His Son's sake); but this is a very necessary qualification for forgiveness, and, if God have wrought it in us, we may plead that work of His grace for the enforcing of our petitions for the pardon of our sins: “Lord, forgive us, for you have taught and require from us to forgive others.”

“We plead not only in general, we forgive our debtors, but in particular, “We profess to forgive every one that is indebted to us, without exception. We so forgive our debtors as not to bear malice or ill-will to any, but true love to all, without any exception whatsoever.” (M Henry)

This is very liberating, if and when we find the resolve deep within to call out and find grace to forgive those who have harmed us through life. It is a requirement from our heavenly Father, it is not a request alone but a prerequisite for every child of God, we must forgive all those who have trespassed against us. If God sent His Son to die for us while we were yet sinners and enemies of God, has He not proved His love to us in person by sending His Son our beloved Saviour the Lord Jesus to die in our stead? Did the Lord not cry out, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do!” - “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” (Luke 23:34)

We know that is exactly what He cried out on the cross before He breathed His last. The point here is the Lord Jesus calls on His father to forgive all who now crucified Him, you and me! But He also stipulates that we were oblivious to the fact that we crucified God himself and because we didn’t understand what we were doing, as sin had blinded us, and yet in the prayer, “Our Father” the Lord Himself teaches that we must “forgive as we have been forgiven”. No longer can we claim ignorance, being blinded by sin; we are now able to see, God has given life to all His children, we have received the spirit whereby we can cry Abba Father, we can see into heaven, even if our vision is marred at times. And because of all favourable truths that we now understand, we are commanded to forgive those who trespass against us. The instruction is concise and it has no wiggle room for us to manipulate and skew the truth, finding an excuse why we should not forgive our brother. So with that said, if I now choose to ignore God’s instruction it will be to my own peril. I will walk in disobedience and stagnate as I walk in circles like the children of Israel in the wilderness. The manna that was once sweet to my taste will become a stench in my nostrils as I will walk in disobedience not finding the peace of God in my life.

“Be vigilant, be sober, the devil walks around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” Wake up! The war is on. But we know that, let us not be ignorant of the devils devises!

Life is real and challenging at times, we often lose heart, but we (God’s chosen, His Children) understands the system, or at least we should, if you have tasted that the Lord is Gracious. Paul encourages us with these words; “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ” (2Timothy 2:3-5)

We must die with Him in order to live with Him, if we endure with our Saviour we will also reign with Him. Mistake after mistake, I have made, but God who is rich in mercy now affords me an opportunity to once again shake the dust off my knees and press towards the mark of the high calling which is to be found in our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. If we struggle, we thrash about because we are dull of hearing, not because our God is far from us. He has a great love for us! Yet as the great Father He is, He will teach all His children to obey, and this is hurtful to the saint when they are dull of hearing, nevertheless extremely necessary. Let not our life pursue the wills and emotions of the flesh.

We are debtors to God which we can never pay. But I am a debtor to God’s grace and forgiving mercy; I am no debtor to His justice, for He will never accuse me of a debt already paid. Christ said, “It is finished!” But as far as forgiving my brother who trespasses against me, it is required that I pay the debt, which is to forgive my brother.

Give us strength Father as your children I pray that we would be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, so that your name may be praised and exalted far above any other.

Signing off

Tyrone