God's DEBT

  St .Augustine in his work Confessions spoke poetically about the constant prayer of his mother for his salvation .  In one part he expressed how ...." in her ceaseless prayers she laid them them before you as though they were pledges signed by your hand."for, since your mercy endures forever* by your promises you deign to become a debtor to those whom you release from every debt." *(Psalm 118 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.)

   His mother brought God's promises from scripture to him in her prayers. Reading this I suddenly understood what St .Augustine was saying , a truth that we sometimes overlook in our reading of Scripture and in our own prayers. God with each covenant the has made whether the one with Adam and Eve, through Abraham, to the promises made to the children of Abraham ,through Moses on Sinai - Deuteronomy and in Jesus Christ each one made God the creator, the Alpha and Omega a debtor to his creation !!  How does God owe any of us a debt you may ask? 

  Let's examine the idea of a contract or a simple promise one we make every day. We work based on an employment contract for payment later. My employer owes me a " debt" when I agree to work for one hour for lets say 15 dollars an hour.  I do the work my part and then my employer owed me debt. We both owe a debt and must pay.The bible says we owe a debt to God because of our SIN.  

Colossians 2:14 "having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. "or in more plain English Colossians 2:14 "having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross." In fact the Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:12 "And forgive us our debts,As we forgive our debtors." NIV

    All sins, evil acts, thoughts and inactions accumulate debts that we cannot pay just read what is siad in Mathew 18: "21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 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. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “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!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down [e]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 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. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

  St .Augustine was speaking about how the Work of Jesus Christ on Calvary paid the price for all ours DEBTS of sin !  In exchange not only is the debt paid for daily, But God through his promise now has made himself a debtor because of his promises: 

To forgive: 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

To save our souls:  John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

He will be with us:  Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Hear our prayers  1 John 5:14-15 "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."  This and other are promises made by God and now out of a love beyond our understanding God , father Son and Holy spirit makes himself a debtor based on the promises in his Word !  

   We should, Like St .Augustine's mother, as the bible says 1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." God has lowered himself out of love and grace to become a debtor to all those who are in through his Word and call on his name. Every communion, Good friday,  resurrection sunday or Easter sunday we hold up the truth. We are forgiven our debts now we owe God a debt of love and service while he owes a a debt to keep his promises .

 Hallelujah !!! 

Written by SSligh blog creator/moderator/

Confessions, by St. Augustine   https://www.britannica.com/topic/Confessions