“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.” Psalm 51:1-4
Last Sunday, I worshipped online at the 8 AM service with Christ Lincoln, and for confession and absolution, Pastor Dirk Reek read from Luther’s Small Catechism and it brought me back to my confirmation class in 1964. For a few months now I have been having a longer prayer in preparation for Sabbath Day; be it Saturday, Sunday or Monday for you and me. Today I’m just going to share what Pastor Reek, the congregation in Nebraska and the 77 of us worshipping on line read together.
What is Confession? Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.
What sins should we confess? 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.
Which are these? Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?
Heavenly Father, open our hearts so that we are able to admit to you the fullness of our lives; that which is beautiful and good, and that which is also hurtful and hateful. We confess that we do not follow Jesus in all that we do. We love with condition. We judge and condemn. We cast the first stone, and keep the logs in our own eyes. We do not turn to You as the source of our healing. Forgive us, we pray. Forgive our sin, and empower us to be imitators of Christ in love and service. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
The Blood on the cross at Calvary has cleansed you, your sins are forgiven.
Amen.