Restoring a Broken Relationship

Forgiveness implies the restoration of a relationship, and without repentance a broken relationship cannot be truly be restored.  

- Kevin DeYoung's The Good News We Almost Forgot 

What does the fifth request in the Lord's Prayer mean?

"Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors" means, 

• Because of Christ's blood, do not hold against us, poor sinners that we are, any of the sins we do or the evil that constantly clings to us.  

• Forgive us just as we are fully determined, as evidence of Your grace in us, to forgive our neighbors.

Psalm 51:1-7 

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.

• Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 
• For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 
• Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight; that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. 

• Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 
• Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Matthew 6:14,15 

• For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; 
• but if you do not forgive their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Matthew 18: 21-35 

• Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 
• Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

• And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 
• But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 
• The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 
• Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 

But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 

• So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 
• And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 
• So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 
• Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 
• Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 
• And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 
• So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Adapted Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 51