Prayer
“Forgiveness For Everyone”
Luke 11:1-13; Matthew 18:21-35

Why pray?
To know God better

Luke 11:1-13

Prayer
Asking for forgiveness, which means being ready to give it

Forgiveness
Quintessential issue in human relationships

Forgiveness
1. Asking for forgiveness 

Why do we need to ask for forgiveness if we claim to be forgiven?
There’s a difference between receiving forgiveness and asking for forgiveness.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” –1 Peter 3:18

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” –1 John 1:9

Difference
Salvation comes from receiving God’s forgiveness through Jesus

“To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” –Acts 10:43

“God made [us] alive together with [Christ], having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” –Colossians 2:13-14

Sanctification comes from asking for God’s forgiveness 

Asking
Confession – verbally acknowledging sin
Repentance – desiring to “kill” sin in our lives 

Forgiveness
1. Asking for forgiveness 
2. Forgiving others 

If there is one thing that can keep us from reaching our full potential with God, is it unforgiveness!

Unforgiveness is like torture.

“God won’t forgive us if we don’t forgive others!”
Relationally, not eternally

Two ways to forgive
One-sided – the offender doesn’t ask, repent or confess
Transactional – a desire for restoration and reconciliation 

Prayer includes confession and repentance to prepare us to give it over and over again!