“Forgive Us Our Sins”

“Forgive Us Our Sins”
Luke 11:4
September 20, 2026

There are many truths that distinguish Christianity from the religions of the world:

• The tri-unity of God
• The union of God and man in the person of Christ — the eternal God-Man
• The humility of Christ in coming to earth and going to the cross
• The resurrection
• Salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (apart from works)
• That He indwells saved sinners by the Spirit and works in them to build the church, etc.
• That we can talk to Him in prayer and that we have fellowship with the Father who adopted us

This morning, as Jesus again teaches us to pray (Lk. 11), we come to another of the most remarkable truths about our faith — we can come to Him for forgiveness.  And — He will forgive.  There is freedom from sin.

This request that Jesus teaches us to pray follows the request for bread — for our daily and ongoing needs.  When these two requests are combined, we remember that just as there is no physical life without food and covering, so there is no spiritual life without forgiveness.  So it has been said, “A world of revenge and retaliation is a world of terror and dread; a world of forgiveness is a world where there is renewal of life, peace, and hope.” [Edwards]  Kent Hughes has rightly said, “Forgiveness should mean more to you than your daily bread.”  So if you are a sinner (and you are), this prayer is of vital significance to you; and if you are enslaved to some particular sin, this prayer is the lifeline of hope for you. 

Even unbelievers realize the weight of guilt that comes from sin, so you will often hear it said that we should forgive ourselves.  The problem with that sentiment (as “profound” as it sounds) is that our sin has incurred a debt, but the debt is against God and not against ourselves (so as both sinner and “forgiver” we aren’t in a position to forgive — my sin isn’t against primarily against myself). And because the sin is against God, the debt of the sin is infinite, so we are incapable of paying the debt incurred by the sin. What can we do? We do what Jesus teaches us to do: we pray, “Father, forgive us our sins…” —

You have sin and God is gracious. So ask God to pardon you.

Let’s consider this petition by recognizing four truths about seeking God’s forgiveness…

1. What Forgiveness Is
2. Who is Forgiven
3. Why Forgiveness is Needed
4. What Forgiven Sinners Do

Download the rest of this sermon on Luke 11:4.

The audio will be posted on the GBC website by Tuesday.