Perhaps one of the most under appreciated aspects of our worship service is "Confession and Absolution". In
preparation for worship, for hearing God's Word and receiving His
Sacrament, we approach God honestly and openly confessing our sin.
He already knows all that we confess. That is not the point. Our confession does not inform God as much as it informs our heart and mind. We are reminded of how we have fallen short of all that God expects of us on a daily basis. We can freely confess to God all that troubles us because we know that He is a God of grace. We know that after our confession comes His Word of forgiveness.
Some Christians object to the pastor saying "I forgive you." "Jesus forgives" they argue. What
that understanding fails to grasp is that Jesus promises His power and
His forgiveness in the forgiving words of all Christians. In John 20 Jesus promises all Christians, "The sins you forgive on earth, they are forgiven in heaven." On Sunday morning the pastor speaks those words that Christ empowers and enables, "I forgive you all your sins."
Notice that that forgiveness comes without condition. It is not, "I will forgive you if..." God's love and forgiveness is without condition. It is free. It is for all. That is what you receive when you gather for worship. Nothing
less than the full and free forgiveness of all your sin received
through the spoken word of your pastor, as if from Christ Himself. How wonderful and precious is that?
The significance of that "Confession and Absolution" time is still broader. When we confess and God's next word is forgiveness, is affects us, it changes us. It makes me quick to confess because God is quick to forgive. It makes me quick to forgive others, because God has been so quick to forgive me. "Confession and Absolution" in worship is practice for our daily lives. It makes me quick to admit my faults to brothers and sisters in Christ. I know they will forgive as God has forgiven them. It
will make me quick to forgive others including my spouse, my
friends and my family here at Immanuel because that is exactly what God
does for me in Jesus Christ.
Next time we gather for worship, focus on this significant time we have together in "Confession and Absolution". Open your heart freely. Rejoice in your forgiveness. Allow it to shape and mold you in the confessing and forgiving child He desires you to be. See you in church! I am
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Mark
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