Prayer, Week 5 word/Word study

Here is a copy of my word/Word study for Week 5 with many quotes taken from Vine's Expository Dictionary.  I look forward to your insights.

Forgive/aphiēmi (863)

To send away debts and trespasses

To send away sins signifies

• the remission of the punishment due to the sinful conduct
• the deliverance of the sinner from the penalty divinely, and therefore righteously, imposed
• the complete removal of the cause of offense

Such remission is based upon the vicarious and propitiatory sacrifice of Christ.

In the O.T., the word atonement is used.

Application

Human forgiveness is to be strictly analogous to divine forgiveness (Matt 6:12)  If certain conditions are fulfilled, there is no limitation to Christ's law of forgiveness (Matt 18:21, 22).  The conditions are repentance and confession. 

Limitations to divine forgiveness are found in Matthew 12:32 and 1 John 5:16:  blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 

From Vine's:  "Anyone with the evidence of the Lord's power before his eyes should declare it to be satanic, exhibited a condition of heart beyond divine illumination and therefore hopeless.  Divine forgiveness would be inconsistent with the moral nature of God.  As to the Son of Man, in His state of humiliation, there might be misunderstanding, but not so with the Holy Spirit's power demonstrated."

Summaries of other terms

Sins=things done that should not have been done, missing the mark.

Debts=things left undone which should have been done.

Trespasses=offenses, things that grieve God and grieve one another; go over the boundary that has been set up.  If you're rude or crude or acting ugly.

Temptation = a trial with a beneficial purpose and effect.  Now, this word seemed very close in meaning to the study we did last week on the word prove, which is an entirely different word.

The only difference I can see is that the word temptation means an enticement to sin, whether arising from the inward desires or from the outward circumstances, whereas to prove does not mean to entice to sin but rather simply to test or try one's character so Christ can shine through.

We can enter into or fall into the temptation, which is an act of our will.  The will is where sin originates.  But as we know from 1 Cor. 10:13, God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear.  Also, when we are tempted, we should count it as joy because if we endure it and don't give in, we will receive the crown of life (James 1:2, 12), which to me means more revelation of TruthHimself, Jesus.

Thank You, Lord, for forgiveness through the work of Christ Who sets us free to forgive others who have sinned against You and whose sin has affected us.  As you teach us to pray, release us also to forgive.  Thank You.

Linda

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