We come to the final two elements in Christ’s pattern of prayer for his disciples as recorded in Luke’s gospel. The first of these occurs following the petition for daily bread. Our Lord adds “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). Bear in mind that this pattern for prayer contemplates coming daily before the Father. Consequently, it is acknowledged here that daily cleansing from sin is needful.
The prayer for forgiveness in this context has reference to the defilement of sin that impedes fellowship with the Father. For the believer, the condemnation of our sin has been removed by the blood of Christ. Paul writes, speaking of Jesus, “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7) and “there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). Yes, praise God, our sins in their entirety have indeed been forgiven and we have been reconciled to God. Sinning now for the believer brings defilement only, not condemnation, and hinders our fellowship with the Father.
Jesus gave the perfect illustration of this necessity for cleansing immediately prior to his passion in the upper room where he and his disciples had gathered to eat the Passover. “And supper being ended…he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded” (John 13:2,5). Peter rebelled at the idea of his Lord washing his feet, but Jesus told him plainly that if he did not wash his feet then he (Peter) had no part with him. Upon this admonition, “Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head” (John 13:9).
It is at this point that Jesus illustrates the distinction between salvation and daily cleansing. “Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit” (John 13:10). In Jesus’ day it was customary to wash off a guest’s feet from the dust collected by just walking in the streets of town. The guest did not need a bath, but only required the dust washed from his feet. So it is with being cleansed from the defilement of sins committed. A Christian having been born again does not need to be saved again, but does need cleansed to be fit for fellowship with a holy God.
John’s record is fitting for this occasion. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (I John 1:5-10). The word of God speaks to our specific sins, e.g., unkindness, lying, etc. We dare not argue with the Lord and his word, but follow Solomon’s advice. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).
Child of God, is your fellowship with the Father broken because of unconfessed sin? Do not seek to hide from the Lord. As David testified “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Psalm 32:5).
From the Chaplain 