Confession and Absolution - Week 5 (Monday Morning Devotions)
As we dive into the New Year, as well as prepare for the season of Lent, Pastor Ricky Jacob leads us through a devotion series on Confession and Absolution.
Need to start at week 1: Read it here
During this series, I have been discussing the 'confession of sins.' You might wonder when you go to confession what sins should you confess? Should you confess each and every sin, like some were taught to do, in order that they may be forgiven? Some taught that if sins were not confessed than they could not be forgiven and that one would be delayed to entering paradise.
Dr. Martin Luther answered the 'What sins should we confess?' in this way:
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord's Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.
Luther went on to write:
If one were to confess all his sins, he would have to be confessing every moment, since in this life we are never without sin. Even our good works are not pure and without sin. [AE:35:20-21] (Devotions on the Small Catechism - p. 110)
"I'm So Sorry" -- Scott Rauch
When we cross a line and harm our relationship with God and others, the punishment we deserve for this sinfulness is set aside because of Jesus' sacrifice. The Holy Spirit, in a wonderful and mysterious way, gives us faith and power to own up to who we are and what we do in our sinfulness. Confessing our sin and our sinful condition and expressing contrition (that's the "I'm sorry" part) is a statement of faith that we are not God and that we need His gracious love, mercy, and forgiveness.
It is hard, but so good, to hear words of confession from our own mouth, and from the mouth and heart of someone who has hurt us. Relationships begin to be rebuilt when we truly own who we are as sinful people, accept and give the forgiveness of Jesus that is for us and lives through us, and then, through presence, truly understand what that forgiveness does for us.
This forgiveness sets aside what we are owed by God -- eternal death and separation. This forgiveness is able to be given to us because Jesus took on what we are owed by God. His death, resurrection, and ascension together is the way. He lives His rule and reign for our lives. We can confess who we are in Jesus because He makes us alive each day. The brokenness that we experience heals as we live in His love. Let us live in that well! (Devotions on the Small Catechism - p. 111)