Page 27 - Outline of Our Christian Faith

in doing evil, or in avenging any wrong, but that we will survive all cruelty without bitterness, and
overcome evil with good, so that our hearts will be knit together with the mercy and forgiveness of
God. (Matt. 18:33; 6:14-15; Ps. 51:10; 1 John 2:1-2)

10.18 What is meant by the sixth petition, “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from
the evil one”?
We ask God to protect us from our worst impulses and from all external powers of destruction in
the world that are attributable, ultimately to Satan, the evil one. We ask that we might not yield to
despair in the face of seemingly hopeless circumstances. We pray for the grace to remember and
believe, despite our unbelief, that no matter how bleak the world may sometimes seem, there is
nonetheless a depth of love and hope that is deeper than our despair, and that this love — which
delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt and raised our Lord Jesus from the dead — will finally
swallow up forever all that would now seem to defeat it. We pray this because we know and trust
that this is God’s will. (2 Cor. 4:8; Eph. 3:19; Matt. 26:41)

10.19 What is meant by the traditional closing doxology, "For yours is the kingdom and the
power and the glory forever. Amen"?
We give God thanks and praise for God’s present and coming kingdom that is more powerful than
all enemies, for the power perfected in the weakness of love, and for the glory that includes our
well-being and that of the whole creation, both now and to all eternity. We give thanks and praise to
God who is made known to us through Christ our Lord and King who will reign over all forever,
never to be defeated. (Rev. 5:12; 4:11; 1 Chron. 29:11, 13)

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