Forgiveness

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."

           

This petition in the Lord's Prayer is preceded by the prayer "Thy will be done." The will of our heavenly Father is that we forgive even as we are forgiven, that we be generous with others as God is with us.

There is considerable discussion in the church today about what it means to be charismatic or Spirit filled. Sometimes the remark "He is in the Spirit" implies that he prays in tongues or gives powerful prophecies or inspirational homilies or possesses the gift of healing. The only sign I know given by Jesus that a person is filled with the Holy Spirit is found in Matthew 5:

You have heard the commandment, "You shall love your countryman but hate your enemy." My command to you is this: love your enemies, pray for your persecutors. This will prove that you are children of your heavenly Father, for his sun rises on the bad and the good, he rains on the just and the unjust. (verses 43-45, emphasis added)

- Brennan Manning