"Praying for Forgiveness - Part 2"

1. Those who wish to engage in war-time asking, seeking, knocking, must live in the Word; the Word is the manual for war, Deuteronomy 32:47; Job 23:12; Matthew 5:17-20.

2. The presumption of grace and forgiveness can be deadly; we must take sin seriously, 1 Samuel 3:18; 1 Kings 13:7; Isaiah 39:8; Jeremiah 36:24; Ezekiel 20:49; 33:30-33; Zephaniah 1:12; 2 Corinthians 7:8-13.

3. A life that begins in repentance will continue in repentance; we must ask, seek and knock for forgiveness and the gift of repentance, 1 John 1:6-10; Psalm 32:3-5; 51:1-5.

4. What are the signs of true repentance? 2 Corinthians 7:9-11.

5. Bask, dwell in, and rejoice in His forgiveness, 1 John 1:9; Psalm 32:1-2; 51:6-12; 88:5-6.

Discussion questions:
1. Why do we need to ask God for forgiveness if all our sins have been forgiven already? Read 1 John 1:5-10 and discuss.
2. Define all the characteristics of true repentance. Which ones are the hardest? Should they be hard? How do we get to the place where all these are manifested in our repentance? Read 2 Corinthians 7:8-13.
3. If all the signs of repentance are not present, have we truly repented? If not, which ones are essential?
4. Should we insist on all the signs of true repentance in teaching our children how to repent? Should we ask ourselves if we have shown all the signs of repentance? Is this the template for searching our own hearts?