The Plea for Forgiveness
Greeting, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to
explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly
Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This
morning we will ponder the meaning of the plea for forgiveness.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Plea for Forgiveness
"And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, and lead us not into temptation, but
deliver us from evil: For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen."
John, Chapter 6, Verse 13.
Brothers and sisters, ponder the testimony of one who has recently accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and
Savior:
And now that I have become a Christian, that is, now that I have accepted you as my personal
Savior, what is next? What do I do now? I have so many questions to ask. And there are so many
things I do not understand. Is it true Lord Jesus that no one was saved before you came? Were all
those souls really lost forever before you came? Were all those souls really lost forever before you
came just because of the time they were born in? Or were they saved even though it was not revealed
to them beforehand? And if they were saved before your coming, then Lord Jesus what role did you
play by your coming?
Fairness instructs me that it would be terribly unfair to an individual to have his eternal destiny
decided by the age in which he lived in. And I am taught, and so believe, that you are no respecter
of persons, and that you love all of your children, and each of them equally. This being the case, I
must conclude that all of those human beings who lived and died before your advent on earth had
to be given a chance to choose eternal survival.
I think, Lord Jesus, that even though you had not revealed the way of salvation to the sons of men,
you had to be their Savior also. The difference must be that they were not conscious of salvation in
the life in the flesh, and I am. So it must be, Lord Jesus, that part of the reason for your coming was
to make plain the way of salvation to the sons of men, to create a consciousness of survival in all
those who believe in you. Also, Lord Jesus, prior to your coming, mankind had very hazy ideas and
few ideals about your Father. So another part of your reason for coming must have been to reveal
the true nature and character of God the Father. I also understand that you came to establish the
Kingdom of Heaven on earth, and to reveal to men that they are in fact and truth sons and daughters
of God the Father, and that one day they will eventually stand as it were face to face before Him.
But this Kingdom of Heaven existing on earth is quite difficult to understand. It is impossible of
understanding unless one is born again, born of the spirit of God. But you have said that one enters
the Kingdom of Heaven by faith, by the desire to do your Father's will. This experience of God
cannot be known before entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
But is it true, Lord Jesus, that your spirit is in all your children? I understand that you have said that
he who ministers to his brothers and sisters ministers to you, and that all men and women are my
brothers and sisters. If this is true, Lord Jesus, then I seek your forgiveness, and your mercy, for
there have been many of them that I treated unkindly--some because of their physical problems and
lower levels of morality turned me off. But if my understanding is correct, then when I treated them
so unlovingly, I treated you the same way, for you are in them, trying your very best to manifest
yourself through them, though imperfectly and that when you are able to manifest yourself through
all men and women perfectly, then indeed will the Kingdom of Heaven be a reality for all men and
women, rather than just for some.
I further understand, Lord Jesus, that those of us who have attained this consciousness of the
Kingdom of Heaven have a solemn responsibility to labor to extend this consciousness to others who
may not have attained this advanced state. I must reveal by my very life the reality of this Kingdom
to others so they can see the outward manifestation of this Kingdom, so they will be inspired and
moved to inquire how they too might achieve this advanced state of existence. It is obvious, Lord
Jesus, when I ignore some struggling soul or harm some struggling soul or do anything that is not
truly helpful, then have I delayed the emergence of the Kingdom of Heaven for that individual. He
must suffer unavoidable delay until a more worthy son or daughter appears on the scene to reveal
this Kingdom of Heaven to him.
Not only do I seek forgiveness, Lord Jesus, for the neglect of this all important duty, but I seek your
mercy too. I pray, Lord Jesus, that you will replace all of these unspiritual attitudes such as hate,
doubt, evil, pride, overbearing, and excessiveness, impatience, turmoil, and sorrow with love, faith,
goodness, meekness, gentleness, and temperance, long suffering, peace and joy. I pray, Lord Jesus,
that your mercy will deliver me, for I truly love you, and it is in my heart to be true to you. I pray
that your grace will impart to me a genuine affinity for all these spiritual activities. And if I fail in
my attempt, Lord Jesus, please make me stronger and wiser so that I will not fail again.
This concludes today's message on the plea for forgiveness. We hope you find something in this
message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day. Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
The Plea for Forgiveness
