Is the Lord’s Prayer for Today?

 

Is the Lord's Prayer for today?

Listen to “Is the Lord’s Prayer for Today” Podcast

The Lord’s Prayer: An Old Testament Prayer for Disciples Under the Law

The Lord’s Prayer, as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13, is often recited in churches today, but it’s important to recognize that it was given by Jesus to His disciples while the Old Testament (Old Covenant) was still in effect. The New Testament, or New Covenant, didn’t begin until Jesus’ death on the cross (Luke 22:20). At the time Jesus gave the prayer, His disciples were still under the Old Covenant, and the law was still in force (Galatians 4:4-5).

When Jesus instructed His disciples to pray, “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” He was teaching them within the context of the Old Covenant system, where forgiveness was a recurring need, and sacrifices had to be made regularly (Hebrews 10:1-4). But after the death and resurrection of Jesus, believers no longer live under this system.

The problem with regularly praying the Lord’s Prayer today is that it can confuse Christians into thinking they need to ask for forgiveness each week, which undermines the truth that, in Christ, they are already forgiven. Ephesians 1:7 reminds us that “in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Hebrews 10:10 emphasizes that “we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

When we continually ask for forgiveness, we fail to recognize that Jesus’ sacrifice was sufficient for all sin—past, present, and future. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 declares, “God… reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” God is no longer counting our sins against us. Believers are forgiven once and for all, and continually asking for forgiveness reveals a misunderstanding of the complete work Christ accomplished.

By failing to understand this truth, many Christians do not fully grasp what they have in Christ. They are forgiven, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and secure in God’s grace (Ephesians 4:30).

If you knew you had something, would you ask for it? In Christ, forgiveness is already yours. You don’t need to ask for it over and over—just receive it, rest in it, and thank God for it

 

Website and Books We Like

 

Live Bible Coaching