“Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
– John 20:21-23
Confession and absolution (forgiveness) is pretty straight forward. The guilty confess their wrong doing and then they are forgiven. However, the simplicity of what is done should not take away from how incredible this is.
Imagine if you committed a crime and got caught. When you are brought before the judge you confess and tell the judge you are sorry. In our courts, this may lessen your sentence, but you will still be found guilty. In God’s court, however, He pronounces you innocent and declares you free of all guilt and it’s associated punishment. How incredible?!!!
We all sin. Everyday, many times a day, we sin. We rebel against God. So, we are all guilty and in desperate need of forgiveness. God, in His great mercy has provided a way for us to be forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. After Jesus had risen from the dead, He appears to the disciples, breathes on them, gives them the Holy Spirit, and then gives them the authority to forgive sins.
This authority is given to the whole church. The church then gives this authority to be used by the pastor as He is called by God and the church to administer the means of grace. As we confess our sins each week in the worship service (or in private confession) we hear the words of the pastor forgiving our sins. We take hold of this promise by faith. So, as we hear these words, we can be confident that we are forgiven as though Christ were standing before us speaking the words Himself. After all, it is by Jesus’ command that the pastor does so.
What sweet relief it is to know that you are forgiven.
Sadly, when we sin, sometimes the guilt of our sin and the lies of the devil push us to to avoid church and avoid God. We, like Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden, try to hide and avoid our shame. However, we are running from the very thing we need. This is just the time when we should run TO God and His church to receive the forgiveness we so desperately need.
We can all go to God anytime and confess our sins. However, God has also given us the gift of confession and absolution where we can hear the words of forgiveness audibly spoken to us and know that it is true.
If you feel the weight of sin on your shoulders, I encourage you to contact me (or whomever your pastor is), confess, and receive forgiveness.
Heavenly Father,
I confess that I have sinned against You. I am sorry for what I have done. For the sake of Jesus Christ and His suffering, death, and resurrection, please forgive me and renew me that I might walk in Your ways.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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