[NYer]

If Christ intended that human beings ask for forgiveness (and receive forgiveness) through the agency of ordained human beings, and not directly from God Himself, why does the Lord's Prayer, which is addressed to "Our Father", include a petition to have one's "trespasses" or "debts" forgiven?

This is no ordinary petition to God asking for His mercy. We not only ask Him to be merciful to us, but we dare place a condition and a norm on God’s forgiveness. It is the practice and the measure of our forgiveness to others. We pray for the strength to forgive so that we might be forgiven in return. By offending God in sin, we incur a debt of love and punishment for our misdeeds. We owe God greater love than we would have had we not sinned, and we owe Him a debt of suffering as punishment for offending the Divine Majesty.

So, how do you know when you have sinned? What is the measure against which you recognize your sins? Are all sins forgivable? More importantly, once you believe you have sinned and ask forgiveness from God, how do you know it has been granted?

[chs68]

"So, how do you know when you have sinned?"

Any time I do or think anything apart from the will of God, I sin.

"What is the measure against which you recognize your sins?"

I believe Jesus established a rather high standard in the Sermon on the Mount. It is not only what I do (or what I fail to do) that I must examine when I look for sin in my life, it is my intention -- am I motivated in all that I do and think by God, or am I attempting to be in control?

"Are all sins forgivable?"

I believe the only sin that Christ identifies as being unforgiveable is the "grieving of the Holy Spirit".

"More importantly, once you believe you have sinned and ask forgiveness from God, how do you know it has been granted?"

Because I take God at His word. IJohn 1:9: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us from all unrighteousness". I believe that promise of God.