[Pastor Ralph]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

[JanMary]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

1)Because life is "messy" and it's impossible to get through the day without sin, or a mistep, or a misunderstanding of some sort, and if not sin we've committed, then sins of omission...not having done something we should have done. The commercial says "life is messy, clean it up"...asking for forgiveness is how we clean up sin...the blood of Jesus "washes us white as snow"... asking those we've wronged in some way, for forgiveness, cleans up those relationships as well.

2) Unforgiveness creates a hard heart, and puts a block in our relationship with God. It's possible to blame God for allowing painful or disappointing things to happen to us, and that can also block the relationship. Anger can turn to bitterness, then lack of faith creeps in....and we find we're stuck.

3)Jesus said, "If we forgive those who have sinned against us, our Father in Heaven will also forgive us." That's not what we may want to hear, but it's fair...How can I who am a sinner needing God's forgiveness every day, withhold forgiveness from someone who needs the same from me occasionally..

[Tabatha]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

Christ is very clear, both in the warning attached to the Lord's Prayer and in the parable in (Matthew 18) . If we do not forgive others, our sins will not be forgiven. Those who are saved by grace alone, must show gratitude for grace in their attitudes toward other and in their daily lives. " Lord, I have manifested my faith in your grace by forgiving others, continue to show mercy to me for I truly believe."

This petition is unique in the Lord's prayer. It is the only one with an argument attached. We ask God to forgive our sins because we forgive those who have sinned against us. This is the kind of praying that we often see in the book of Psalms where David offers God reasons and arguments for the petitions that he urges. In such a short prayer it is remarkable that an argument is attached to this petition.

Peter asked Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who offended him, "Up to seven times seventy. ( Matthew 18:21 ). In asking this Peter no doubt thought he was being generous. Among the Rabbis, some explicitly taught that a man could be forgiven three times. Seventy times seven! Which is to say, however many times the sinner sins against us, we must forgive him. Indeed, if we did not, no family or church could stay to gether

Daily forgiveness means daily confession of our sins. It means daily repentance. The Christian life is a life of repeated repentance and renewal. We will always be sinners in this life and will always need to be renewed in our faith and repentance.

The essence of perseverance is daily repentance for our sins and trust in the grace of God to save us. Our Lord's instruction connects our perseverance with helping other Christians to persevere, for that is part of what it means to forgive others. Jesus instructed the disciples to rebuke those who sinned against them not so that they could humiliate the person, but so that they could help reclaim the sinner from sin. To admonish a sinning brother is to seek a lost sheep ( Matthew 18:12-15 ).

[Elwood C O'Dell]

We ask for forgiveness so that the channel of communication between us and our Father might be clear and unhindered. If we harbor an attitude of unforgiveness we set up a barrier on our part that will block the flow of God’s blessings from reaching out lives. It is wrong on our part to ask God to forgive our “transgressions” when we would choose not to do the same for those who desire our forgiveness. If we intend to live as Christ lived, if we intend to allow Christ to live in and through us, than forgiving as He forgave is the basis of the life we live.

[Cee]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

1. Because if we don't ask God to forgive us, we will never make it into His kingdom; Confession and forgiveness of our debts. 2. Wickness and evil and self-rightiousness can block God's blessings to flow to you. 3. You must repent always and ask God to forgive you daily if you want God to bless you. He said that when we ask for forgiveness He will forgive you and forget it too.

[charisbarak]

We continuously ask because we continuously sin.
Unforgivenss blocks God's work in our lives. We close the door to His power & remain frustrated Christians with no fruit.
We ask for forgiveness like the forgiveness we have shown others. If we haven't truly forgiven others, we are not truly forgiven by God.

[love.serve.know]

I think we should ask God, when we pray, to real to us our hidden sins and remind us of sins we committed. When He does reveal them we should confess them and turn away from them. At the same time we need to carefully examine ourselves, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to see if we have not forgiven someone else. God will only bless us and forgive us in proportion to how much we forgive others.

[Lunga]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

it is because we are only human.we do have mistakes.sometimes we think we are right not knowing that to God it is wrong.we have to ask forgiveness all the time.

unforgiveness on our part block God's blessings becaus it it a sin.it is not the will of God.before God can bless you ,you need to to clear your concious.forgive because you were forgiven.and you also have to ask to be forgiven

if you dont forgive God wont forgive you

[Lisa Rupert]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness?
We should continually ask for forgiveness because we are sinners and we need to be forgiven for those sin continually. We must never forget that we are sinners, we were born in sin and we will die in sin, but Christ has made a way for us to be forgiven for that sinful nature that we possess.

How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?
God cannot be a part of sin, unforgiveness is a sin. He can't bless us without forgiveness so we have to find it in ourselves (even though it can be difficult) to train ourselves to be able to forgive others that offend us the way the Father in Heaven forgives us of our offense or sins. Through this forgiveness of others it keeps the communication open and it allows for blessing .
We must remember that God can't be a part of evil (our sinful nature) so in order for us to have forgiveness we have to forgive also.

[mags]

Why should we continually ask forgiveness?
We are continually sinful and need God's continual forgiveness. We like to think that we aren't sinful but the reality is that we strive for perfection but sin in the process.

How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing?
God's forgiveness comes abundantly if we ask and if we forgive others. We can see in this prayer that God forgives us as we forgive others. How can we expect otherwise? We are to show God's love, grace and mercy to others -> that includes forgiveness, even when they don't ask for it. It is for ourselves, them and God.

How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?
Our unforgiveness of others stops God's blessing upon us -> we must forgive if we are to be considered sons of the Father.

[jjj]

We need to continually ask for forgiveness to keep in mind who we are and who God is. It is the remorse and the understanding of direction that keeps us aware of God's grace and our journey. Also it is the understanding of the relationiship of God, of Jesus and of the Holy Spirit.

[Roxanne]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO FORGIVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT HURT US...AND IT IS HARD SO THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO ASK GOD CONTINUALLY...BECAUSE WE DON'T FORGIVE ANYONE GOD CAN'T FORGIVE US...BECAUSE WE ARE SUPPOSE TO FORGIVE JUST AS GOD DID AND DOES FOR US
WHEN WE DO THINGS THAT ARE NOT TO HIS LIKENING!!!!!

[Patricia A]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

If we forgive others only a little and hold grudges, we are asking God to forgive us only a little and bear a grudge against us. If we are to know and understand God, we must love. We must know and understand forgiveness. If we reject this part of God, we reject the kernel of who he is (1 John 4:16-21). So when Jesus puts it so bluntly in our passage (6:14-15) -- you must forgive to be forgiven -- we dare not reject this truth.

We must continually ask forgiveness because of our weak nature.

God makes a way where there is no way when it becomes difficult to forgive. He takes us beyond ourselves.

Two simple lessons we disciples learn from this petition: (1) we must ask for forgiveness time and time again, and (2) unforgiveness blocks God's blessing.

[Stan]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

We are human and are subject to sin, for all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, and as such we must always seek forgiveness. When we sin against someone we must not only seek their forgiveness but the forgiveness of God for scripture says it is against God that we sin and it is His forgiveness that we must seek. If we fail to forgive those who sin against us then we are sinning by with holding the love that God says we must show everyone and how can you say you love someone when you are holding a grudge and unforgiveness against them. Unforgiveness is sin and when we sin God will not forgive us unless we confess it as sin and seek His forgiveness.

[Soomee]

1) None of us can claim that we are “saints”-free from sin. There are conscious sins, unconscious sins categorised as sins of “commission” and in addition sins of “omission”. If we want our relationship with God be maintained we need to ask God forgiveness continuously. It is God’s provision via the blood of Christ to get cleansed from our sins continuously.

2) God has a perfect plan for each one of us. If we hinder that plan to be fulfilled in our life by having an attitude of unforgiveness then we will be the losers. God is Holy and the basic principle for God to come to us is to be cleansed from all our sins and allow God to make us Holy. Of course we cannot make us Holy by our own works and we have to rely on the blood of Christ as a gift that will cleanse us from all our sins if we confess and repent. Sometimes our conscience will tell us to make restitution with our fellow human being if we had committed any sin against them. That is a real challenge as we need humility to do that. Since God has not left us helpless instead He had given us a helper in the form of Holy Spirit, the only way is to resort His help.

3) Jesus was very clear on this truth via the parable He told in Matthew 18: 23-35. In verse 35 He concluded “That is how my father in heaven will treat everyone of you unless you forgive other people from your heart”. It is fair and God does not have any partiality. So this kind of treatment by God is quite fair to me.

[JustJeff]

We need to ask forgiveness from God at every prayer time because we are continually in sin, whether physical, mental or spritual. If we don't beg His forgiveness He will not hear us and since He commands that we equally forgive those that we have grudges against we are in sin if we do not. We cannot be forgiven by God if we are in sin. It would be a contradiction to expect anything of Him.

[June]

We must forgive if we expect to be forgiven. Fully forgive or God will not forgive us because He doesn't do anything halfway. All our blessings from God depend on our forgiving others. Unforgiveness is a stronghold we need to dispense of in order to be in right relationship with God, and to acquire something bigger and better. This also refers back to freedom of choice and freewill. Choose to Forgive so we can be forgiven...

[sahala p.s.]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?

We should continually ask forgiveness because we have sinful body, we therefore cannot attain his perfect standard of holiness.

Unforgiveness on our part can block God's blessing in this way: forgiveness is part of God, so we as his sons must have this part too in order that his blessings can reach us.

Unforgiveness can block God's forgiveness in this way: in the Lord’s Prayer we ask God to forgive us as we forgive others, so if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us.

[emmaus]

We should ask for forgiveness because we are human and we fall short of the glory of the Lord. If we are unwilling to forgive it separates us from God. If we are unwilling to forgive others, God will not forgive our sins.

[masika]

Q4. (Matthew 6:12, 14-15) Why should we continually ask forgiveness? How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness?
We are to continually ask for forgiveness because we are sinners and live in sinful world, it is only God who is righteous .
Unforgiveness on our part blocks God’s blessing, because we will not following God’s command of Love.
Unforgiveness block God’s forgiveness, because we will be forgetting His great mercy upon us when we were still sinners, Christ died for us. As we come to understand His mercy, we will want to be like Christ. Having received forgiveness, we will pass it on to others. Those who are unwilling to forgive have not become one with Christ, who was willing to forgive even those who crucified Him.