( I will post each idea as separate articles)
(1) THE LORD'S PRAYER (see comment below).
(2) the idea this statement is both true and false; "A Christian CANNOT SIN."
(3) There is a difference between a sin and an infirmity.
POINT # 1
Matthew 6:11-12
(11) Give us this day our daily bread.
(12) And forgive us our debts (sins), as we forgive our debtors (those who sin against us).
Someone on FB last week gave an interesting interpretation to something Jesus said in His model prayer. I have found this sentiment in the writings of hyper Calvinist, James White;
This person alleges, Jesus supposedly spoke these two ideas (daily bread and forgiveness of sin) in conjunction with one another, based on the use of the word AND. In other words, since Jesus told us to ask for DAILY BREAD, it is implied that we should pray for DAILY FORGIVENESS, because, according to this person, we all sin everyday, either in word, thought or deed. However, the word AND was simply used to add another thought to the prayer.
Obviously I do not agree with this for several reasons.
FIRST, There is nothing stated in this passage that requires or justifies any such connection between praying for daily food and sinning daily. It is normal to eat on a daily basis and therefore, since God is our Provider, we ask Him for our daily bread (which includes all of our daily, temporal needs). However, there is no statement or proof in this passage (or any other passage) that we sin daily, and are therefore in need of daily forgiveness. In fact, the normal Christian life, according to the Bible is a life without sinning.
1 John 3:6-10
(6) Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither known him.
(7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
(8) He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
(9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
(10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother.
SECOND, Jesus did not say that we should ask for forgiveness daily, either in this passage or any other passage.
THIRD, Jesus did not say hat we sin daily. It is not in this passage.
This prayer has four main concerns;
1- Salutation
(1) Our Father, Who art
(2) In heaven,”
2- God's glory
2- God's glory
“(1) Hallowed be Thy Name,
(2) Thy kingdom come,
(3) Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”
3- Our needs
3- Our needs
(1) Give us this day our daily bread, AND
(2) forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us,
(3) AND lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
4- Closing
This passage includes a list of things to pray for, and this is why the passage uses AND.
Also consider this...
Matthew 6:13
(13) And lead us not into temptation...
DLG... When do we need to be led away from temptation? Every day, all of the time. If we are led away from temptation, we will not sin.
He also said,
Matthew 6:13
(13) ...but deliver us from evil (the evil one)...
When do we need to be delivered from the evil one? Every day, all of the time. If we are delivered from evil we will not sin.
Not only will God lead us away from temptation, He will save us from the snare of Satan, we are told in 1 Co. 10:13;
1 Corinthians 10:13
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
NOW, all of these ideas are a contradiction to the idea that we are going to sin daily and that we need to ask for daily forgiveness.
We should pray for forgiveness whenever we need it, but we should not need it everyday.
We always need His cleansing, but that comes as we walk in the light, as He is in the Light. We are not inherently holy, but we neither are we unholy if we are walking in the Light.
4- Closing
This passage includes a list of things to pray for, and this is why the passage uses AND.
Also consider this...
Matthew 6:13
(13) And lead us not into temptation...
DLG... When do we need to be led away from temptation? Every day, all of the time. If we are led away from temptation, we will not sin.
He also said,
Matthew 6:13
(13) ...but deliver us from evil (the evil one)...
When do we need to be delivered from the evil one? Every day, all of the time. If we are delivered from evil we will not sin.
Not only will God lead us away from temptation, He will save us from the snare of Satan, we are told in 1 Co. 10:13;
1 Corinthians 10:13
(13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
NOW, all of these ideas are a contradiction to the idea that we are going to sin daily and that we need to ask for daily forgiveness.
We should pray for forgiveness whenever we need it, but we should not need it everyday.
We always need His cleansing, but that comes as we walk in the light, as He is in the Light. We are not inherently holy, but we neither are we unholy if we are walking in the Light.
