The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-01-06

GOLDEN TEXT-If ye forgive men
their trespasses. your heavenly Father
will also forgive you.--Matt 6lt
REFERENCE MATERIAIs-Matt 6:i2-
Is Bl5-0. Luke ia. I, Eph I. a. 81,
Col 3.i2-H
PRIMARY ToPIc-Forgiving one An
other
JUNIOR ToPIC-Learning to Forgive.
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOPIC
-Forgiving and Forgiven
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
forgiveness: Its Meaning and Scope.
In this lesson We have divine in
structions ns to our behavior In case
Of ill-treatment.
!. Peters Question ". 2D.
This question, How often shall my
brother sin against me and forgive
himT" probably was occasioned by The
III treatment which Peter was then re-
ceiving at the hands Of his fellow dis
ciples. Christ's confession of Peter
brought him into the limelight The
question Of the disciples Gs:D "Who
Is the~greatest In the kingdom Of heav-
emp shows that there was some jeal-
ousy Of Peter among the disciples and
consequent contention among them.
From the Lords teaching ms to the
efforts to bring about reconciliation In
case Of offenses between brother and
brother lie knew that II would require
the exercise Of the spirit OF forgive
ness. Peter disposed 10 be gracious In
qulres It'll seven timesf" showing his
readiness to forgive his brother not
three times. but twice three times aud
a little over
u. Jesus Answer ". 22).
The Lords answer was an astonIsh-
ing revelation to Peter. He said "Not
until seven times. but until seventy
times seven" This shows that our
willingness TO forgive should be limit
less.
~. The Two Creditors wv. 23-35).
This parable OF the two creditors H.
illustrates His principles Of forgiveness.
/. The gracious creditor wv. 23-27).
The king In this parable represents
God, andthe servant who Is greatly In
debt represents the snner-any SIN
ner, every sinner you aud me We
were hopelcssly in debt To God. Ten
thousand talents are equal To some
twelve millions OF dollars To meet
this obligation would be an utter i'm
possibility. This mans plea for time.
promising to pay all, much resembles
our vain imaginings that We can pay
our debt to God. that by our future
good works we can atone for our past
most griyeous sins by the justice Of
Gods law We we're hopelessly con-
demned by the grace of God we we're
freely pardoned
. The cruel creditor wv. 2S-35).
This man who was forgiven so much
found man who owed him a small
lars He shut his ears To the man :
enireaty 10 he patient with him, flew
NJ his throat and cruelty put him into
Jail. The great mercy shown him did
not touch his heart. 50 he refused to
be merciful. Being set free from so
great debt as our sins against God
We should make Gods act OF unlimited
forgiveness toward us che standard Of
unlimited forgiveness toward others.
In dealing with others we should al
ways keep these considerations before
us: ~ We ourselves need Il aud do
every day continue Ia need the for
giveness Of God. with all our imper-
feCtiOns and positive sins we need the
continued mercy of God When we
pray, Forgive Us our debts as We for
give our debtors" let US be sure that
We have put away all thought Of sin
held against others. To pray that
prayer otherwise is an abomInatiOn.
(2) That there is day Of judgment
coming and nj that day we shall be
treated as We treat others. No mercy
will be shown 10 those who have not
shown mercy.
The heart. then. of this lesson Is that
Gods gracious act toward US should
be the standard of our actions to-
ward others. and that we must exer-
else the same spirit OF forgiveness
toward our fellOwmen II we would
continue 10 enjoy Gods forgiveness.
The proof that We are Gods children
is that we manifest the spirit of God
"Be ye therefore perfect. even as your
Father which Is In heaven is perfect"
Matt Q :IS).