Confession and Absolution are essential parts of the
Church's ministry of the Gospel, grounded firmly in Scripture. Confession
involves the believer's admission of sin and repentance, while Absolution
is the pronouncement of forgiveness by Christ's called ministers through the
Holy Spirit 1,2,3,4. The historic teaching of the Church Fathers and
Lutheran confessions affirm this biblical foundation 200,300.
Confession and absolution are the means
by which sinners receive forgiveness and comfort in Christ
alone. They apply the Gospel personally to the conscience, assuring that sins
are forgiven by God's grace through faith 5,6. The Office of the Keys,
given by Christ, authorizes the Church to forgive sins on Christ's behalf
7,21. Absolution is a declaration of God's mercy and promise of pardon
grounded in Christ's atonement 8,9. Lutheran theologians affirm the pastoral
and doctrinal importance of this ministry 201.
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod confesses confession and
absolution as a divine institution and vital pastoral practice,
essential for the believer's spiritual welfare 300,301. The Small
Catechism teaches private confession and absolution as a blessed practice
fostering repentance and faith 302. The Lutheran Service Book includes
confession and absolution in its liturgy, emphasizing the pastoral office's
role in applying Christ's forgiveness 303.
4. Distinction Between General and Private Confession
General
Confession: Corporate confession of sin within the liturgy, followed
by communal absolution 304.
Private
Confession: Individual confession to a pastor, who personally declares
absolution 305. Both forms are valid and beneficial, as stressed in the Large
Catechism and the Formula of Concord306,307.
Confession and absolution are means of grace that bring comfort
and assurance to troubled consciences 306. Pastors are to administer
absolution faithfully and pastorally, assuring penitents of God's forgiveness
in Christ 307. Catechetical instruction encourages believers to confess
regularly and receive absolution to grow in faith and repentance 308.
Confession and absolution are intimately connected with
repentance, turning from sin and returning to God 19. They strengthen the
Christian life by renewing faith and motivating sanctification20.
II. Definition and Biblical Foundation for Confession and Absolution
1. Definition of Confession and Absolution
Confession
is the acknowledgment and confession of sins by the believer before God
and, in private confession, also before a called and ordained minister of
the Church. It is an act of repentance and faith, recognizing one's
sinfulness and need for forgiveness 200,300,302.
Absolution
is the forgiveness of sins pronounced by a called minister who
declares God's grace and mercy in Christ, based on Christ's institution
and authority given to the Church through the Office of the Keys
201,301,302. Absolution is not a human judgment
but a divine promise spoken by Christ's servants, assuring the penitent
that sins are forgiven.
2. Biblical Foundation for Confession
Scripture
clearly calls for the confession of sins to God, emphasizing repentance
and faith in God's promise of forgiveness 1,2,3,302.
The
practice of confessing sins publicly or privately is demonstrated in the
Old Testament (e.g., David's psalms of confession) and in the New
Testament teaching on repentance 1,2,19,302.
Confession
to one another is encouraged in the Church for spiritual accountability
and mutual care (James 5:16, unnumbered but biblically supported).
Christ
commands the Church to forgive sins through the Office of the Keys,
binding and loosing sins on earth as God does in heaven 4,7,21,302.
The
ministry of reconciliation entrusted to the Church is a continuation of
Christ's work of forgiveness 22.
3. Biblical Foundation for Absolution
Absolution
is rooted in Christ's words to His disciples after His resurrection, when
He breathed on them and gave the Holy Spirit with the authority to forgive
sins 4,201,302.
The
promise of forgiveness through the Church's ministry is an extension of
God's covenant mercy, applying Christ's atoning sacrifice personally to
the believer 5,6,8,9,302.
Old
Testament prophecies foretell God's forgiveness for the repentant and the
removal of sin 8,9.
The
New Testament teaches that justification is by grace through faith,
communicated through the Word and sacraments, including absolution
5,6,302.
4. Confession and Absolution as Means of Grace
Confession
and absolution are not merely human acts but divine
means of grace instituted by Christ to assure the believer of
forgiveness and comfort 10,11,12,16,17,300,301,302,306,307.
They
serve to strengthen faith, relieve the troubled conscience, and promote
repentance and sanctification 16,17,19,20,302,306,307.
The
Church faithfully administers this ministry according to Christ's
institution and promise 300,301,302.
5. Summary
Confession
is the voluntary acknowledgment of sin and repentance, necessary for
receiving forgiveness 1,2,3,9,19,302,306.
Absolution
is the official declaration of God's forgiveness given by Christ's
ministers, a divine act grounded in Scripture and the Office of the Keys
4,5,6,7,8,21,22,302,307.
Together,
they are vital pastoral practices and means of grace for the Christian
life, offering peace and assurance to believers 9,19,21,22.
Biblical References:
• 1. Psalm 32:5 - David's confession and God's forgiveness
• 2. Proverbs 28:13 - Blessing of confessing and forsaking sins
• 3. 1 John 1:9 - Promise of forgiveness for confessed sins
• 4. John 20:22-23 - Christ gives the Holy Spirit and authority to forgive sins
• 5. Romans 4:7-8 - Forgiveness and justification by faith
• 307. FC SD XI, - Pastoral care and use of absolution
III. Theological Significance of Confession and Absolution
1. Confession and Absolution as Means of Grace
Confession
and absolution are divine means of grace instituted by Christ, not
human inventions, through which God imparts forgiveness and comfort to
believers 1,200,300.
Through
the Office of the Keys, Christ grants the Church the authority to forgive
sins, continuing His own ministry of reconciliation on earth
2,3,201,301.
Absolution
is a sacramental act wherein the pastor declares forgiveness on
behalf of Christ, assuring believers of God's grace and peace 4,5,302.
These
means strengthen faith by comforting the conscience troubled by sin and
instilling certainty of God's mercy 6,7,306,307.
2. The Doctrine of Justification and Forgiveness
Confession
acknowledges the believer's sinfulness and total dependence on God's grace
alone for forgiveness 8,9,10.
Absolution
applies Christ's atoning work personally, declaring justification by grace
through faith, apart from works 11,12,300.
It
reflects the biblical teaching that faith receives forgiveness through
hearing God's word, of which absolution is a spoken promise
13,14,302.
The
Office of the Keys is closely tied to justification, as it proclaims the
forgiveness freely won by Christ and assures the believer of this
righteousness 15,301.
3. Pastoral Care and Christian Life
Confession
and absolution are vital for the pastoral care of souls, providing
repentance, spiritual healing, and ongoing sanctification
16,17,306,307.
They
encourage believers to examine their conscience regularly, confess sin
openly, and receive forgiveness assured by God's Word 18,19,302.
The
practice fosters humility and mutual accountability within the Body of
Christ, guarding against false security or despair 20,21,300.
It
prepares the believer for worthy reception of the Lord's Supper and
strengthens life in faith 22,306.
4. The Church's Authority and Responsibility
The
Church, as the visible body of Christ, faithfully administers the Office
of the Keys through confession and absolution, exercising Christ's
delegated authority 3,201,301.
This
authority is exercised according to Christ's institution, with a clear
distinction between absolution as a divine promise and the human role of
the pastor 4,301,307.
The
Church is called to be a minister of reconciliation, offering forgiveness
and restoration as signs of God's kingdom present on earth 22,200.
Biblical References:
• 1. John 20:22-23 - Christ gives the Holy Spirit and authority to forgive sins
• 2. Matthew 16:19 - Christ grants the Office of the Keys to the Church
• 307. FC SD XI, - Proper use and pastoral care in absolution
IV. Confession and Absolution in the LCMS
1. Confession and Absolution as Divinely Instituted Means of Grace
The
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) confesses that confession and
absolution are divinely instituted means of grace through which God
imparts forgiveness to repentant sinners 1,200,300.
These
practices are rooted in Christ's institution of the Office of the Keys and
the ministry of reconciliation given to the Church 2,3,201,301.
The
LCMS holds that absolution is a sacramental act, not a mere human
declaration, but a divine promise spoken through called and ordained
ministers of the Church 4,5,302.
2. Practice of Confession in the LCMS
The
LCMS teaches both private confession and general confession as
proper forms of confessing sins, emphasizing the need for regular
self-examination and repentance 6,7,302,306.
Private
confession is encouraged as a pastoral practice where the believer
confesses specific sins to a pastor and receives personal absolution
306.
General
confession occurs publicly in worship, particularly before receiving the
Lord's Supper, reaffirming the believer's need for forgiveness 22,302.
Confession
in the LCMS is voluntary and pastoral; no rigid legalistic requirements
bind the conscience 300,307.
3. Absolution in the LCMS
Absolution
is declared by the pastor with the authority of Christ, assuring
the penitent of God's forgiveness based on Christ's atoning work
4,201,302.
It is
a comforting and strengthening word that releases the believer from
the guilt and power of sin 6,7,306.
The
LCMS strictly maintains the distinction between the person absolving and
Christ whose forgiveness is declared, underscoring that absolution is
God's promise given through the ministry 301,307.
4. Theological Emphasis in the LCMS
The
LCMS emphasizes that confession and absolution are connected
inseparably to justification by grace through faith and not by works
8,9,10,300.
These
practices are means by which God's forgiveness is applied to the
individual believer, fostering ongoing repentance and sanctification
16,17,306.
The
Office of the Keys as exercised through confession and absolution upholds
the Church's visible authority to proclaim forgiveness and to withhold it
in cases of unrepentant sin 21,301.
5. Pastoral Care and Spiritual Benefit
Confession
and absolution are integral to pastoral care and the spiritual welfare
of the believer in the LCMS 16,17,306,307.
They
provide assurance, comfort, and a clear conscience, aiding believers in
their daily spiritual struggles 6,19,306.
These
practices help prepare the believer for the Lord's Supper and encourage
faithfulness in Christian living 22,306.
The
LCMS encourages catechetical instruction on confession and absolution to
nurture a proper understanding and use among all members 302,306.
Biblical References:
• 1. John 20:22-23 - Christ gives the Holy Spirit and authority to forgive sins
• 2. Matthew 16:19 - Christ grants the Office of the Keys to the Church
• 307. FC SD XI, - Proper use and pastoral care in absolution
V. Distinction Between General and Private Confession
1. Definition and Purpose
General
Confession is a collective confession of sins made by the
congregation, typically during corporate worship, often preceding
absolution and the Lord's Supper. It acknowledges the universal need for
forgiveness and prepares the believer to receive God's grace 1,2,200,300,302.
Private
Confession is the individual confession of specific sins made
personally to a called and ordained minister, followed by personal
absolution. It serves to provide individual pastoral care, assurance, and
comfort 3,4,201,306,307.
2. Biblical and Confessional Foundations
General
confession reflects the biblical call to repent and confess sin
corporately, acknowledging common sinfulness before God
5,6,7,11,12,13,200,302.
Private
confession is biblically grounded in Christ's institution of the Office of
the Keys, granting the Church authority to forgive sins through pastoral
ministry 8,9,14,15,16,17,201,301.
The
Augsburg Confession teaches the Church's authority to offer absolution
publicly and privately as a means of grace 300.
The
Large Catechism emphasizes the benefit of private confession for the
troubled conscience and spiritual strengthening 306.
3. Theological Distinctions
General
confession is a public act, corporate in nature, that involves
confessing sin in broad terms as a community of believers, focusing on the
forgiveness offered to all through Christ 1,200,300,10,18,19.
Private
confession is individual and specific, involving personal
acknowledgment of sins and direct pastoral care, facilitating deeper
repentance and comfort 4,201,306,20,21.
Both
forms of confession depend on faith in God's promise of forgiveness
through Christ and are administered according to Christ's institution
9,301,302.
4. Pastoral Practice in the LCMS
The
LCMS encourages general confession as part of the Divine Service
liturgy, especially before the Lord's Supper, helping the congregation
prepare to receive Christ's body and blood worthily 10,22,200,302.
Private
confession is made available as a voluntary pastoral practice, often
encouraged but not required, recognizing personal spiritual needs and
pastoral care 306,307.
Pastors
administer private confession with care, ensuring it is a means of grace
for the penitent's conscience and growth in faith 306.
The
distinction allows flexibility in pastoral care while upholding the
centrality of God's forgiveness in both contexts 300,307.
5. Summary
General
Confession is corporate, broad, and prepares the congregation for
absolution and communion 1,2,10,11,12,13,18,19,200,300.
Private
Confession is personal, specific, and offers individual assurance and
pastoral comfort 4,6,16,20,21,201,306,307.
Both
forms are biblically and confessionally rooted, essential to the Church's
ministry of reconciliation through the Office of the Keys
8,9,14,15,17,201,301,302.
• 307. FC SD XI, - Proper use of confession and absolution
VI. Confession and Absolution - Pastoral and Catechetical Considerations
1. Pastoral Considerations in Confession and Absolution
Confession
and absolution are essential pastoral tools for comforting the
troubled conscience and strengthening faith in the believer
1,2,300,306.
Pastors
serve as called and ordained ministers of the Word, exercising the
Office of the Keys to pronounce God's forgiveness with authority and care
3,4,301,307.
Pastoral
practice emphasizes both corporate and private confession,
recognizing the need for communal acknowledgment of sin as well as
individualized pastoral care 5,6,302,306.
Pastors
must approach confession with gospel-centered patience, compassion, and
discretion, aiming to guide penitents to true repentance and assurance
of forgiveness 7,8,306.
Absolution
is declared clearly and confidently as God's promise of forgiveness,
not based on the pastor's authority but on Christ's work and promise
9,301.
2. Catechetical Importance of Confession and Absolution
Catechesis
instructs believers in the biblical basis and proper use of confession
and absolution, fostering an understanding of these as means of grace,
not human works 10,11,302.
The
Small Catechism provides simple, clear teaching on confession, including
examination of conscience, the confession of sins, and the reception of
absolution 12,302.
The
Large Catechism offers a more in-depth explanation to help believers grasp
the comfort and necessity of confession and absolution in the
Christian life 13,306.
Catechetical
instruction encourages regular self-examination, confession, and trust
in God's forgiveness, equipping believers for a life of repentance and
faith 14,15,302.
Confession
and absolution are also taught as important preparatory practices for
receiving the Lord's Supper worthily 16,22,302.
3. Challenges and Pastoral Sensitivity
Pastors
must be sensitive to the fear, shame, or misunderstanding that may
hinder individuals from private confession, gently encouraging but not
coercing 7,306.
The
pastoral role includes teaching that confession is a joyful privilege
and a gracious gift from God for spiritual healing, not a burdensome
legalistic requirement 8,306.
Care
must be taken to avoid scrupulosity or spiritual abuse, ensuring
confession leads to peace rather than increased anxiety 17,307.
Pastoral
care integrates confession and absolution into the broader context of
Christian life, emphasizing sanctification and ongoing repentance
18,19,306.
4. Practical Applications in LCMS Congregations
LCMS
congregations include general confession and absolution in Divine
Service liturgies, fostering corporate acknowledgment of sin and
reception of grace 20,22,302.
Private
confession is available as a pastoral option, often encouraged
before significant spiritual milestones or when the conscience is burdened
306,307.
Catechetical
materials and confirmation instruction include teaching on confession and
absolution to equip young believers 12,14,302.
Pastors
are encouraged to provide spiritual counsel and guidance on
confession, helping believers understand its role in their faith journey
1,7,306.
5. Summary
Confession
and absolution are vital pastoral means of grace that offer
forgiveness and comfort, administered by called ministers under Christ's
authority 1,3,9,300,301.
Catechetical
instruction ensures believers understand the biblical foundation and
proper use of these practices, promoting regular repentance and faith
10,12,13,302,306.
Pastoral
sensitivity and care are essential to address fears and misunderstandings,
guiding penitents to peace in Christ 7,8,17,306.
LCMS
practice includes both corporate and private confession, integrated
into worship and Christian formation 20,22,306,307.
Biblical References:
• 1. Psalm 32:5 - Confession brings relief and joy
• 307. FC SD XI, - Proper use and pastoral care in absolution
VII. Relation of Confession and Absolution to Repentance and Sanctification
1. The Biblical Basis for Repentance and Sanctification
Repentance
is a turning away from sin and turning toward God, a continual daily
renewal of the Christian life by the Holy Spirit 1,2,3,4,24,25.
Sanctification
is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, conforming
them to the image of Christ through faith and obedience
5,6,7,21,22,23,26,27.
Both
repentance and sanctification are inseparably connected to the believer's
justification and forgiveness through Christ 8,9,10,25,26.
2. Confession as the Means of Expressing Repentance
Confession
is the verbal expression of repentance, where the believer
acknowledges their sins before God and, when appropriate, before the
pastor or the Christian community 11,12,13,14,15,302.
Through
confession, the believer humbles their heart, taking seriously the call to
repentance found throughout Scripture 14,15,16,24.
It
fosters genuine contrition and prepares the heart to receive absolution
and grace 16,306.
3. Absolution as the Assurance of Forgiveness and Forgiveness' Role in Sanctification
Absolution
is the declaration of God's forgiveness, granted through the pastor
by virtue of Christ's promise and work, assuring the penitent of pardon
17,18,19,20,301.
This
forgiveness is not only the removal of guilt but also the restoration of
the believer's relationship with God, empowering sanctification
20,21,22,23.
The
assurance received through absolution strengthens faith, encouraging the
believer to pursue holiness and growth in godliness 22,23,26,27.
4. The Ongoing Cycle of Confession, Absolution, Repentance, and Sanctification
The
Christian life involves an ongoing cycle of recognizing sin
(confession), receiving forgiveness (absolution), turning from sin
(repentance), and growing in holiness (sanctification)3,7,11,20,24,25.
Confession
and absolution serve as continual reminders of the grace that undergirds
sanctification, preventing despair and fostering perseverance
24,25,26,27.
Sanctification
is a fruit of justification and the Holy Spirit's work, sustained and
nurtured through the regular practice of confession and absolution
26,27,306.
5. Confessional Teachings on Confession, Absolution, Repentance, and Sanctification
The Augsburg
Confession and Apology affirm that true repentance involves
sorrow for sin and amendment of life through the Holy Spirit, made
possible by Christ's forgiveness 300,301.
The Small
Catechism teaches confession and absolution as means by which the
believer receives comfort and the strength to live a sanctified life
302.
The Large
Catechism elaborates on the pastoral importance of these means in
nurturing repentance and sanctification 306.
The Formula
of Concord emphasizes the connection between justification and
sanctification, condemning any separation of the two in the believer's
life 307.
6. Practical Pastoral and Catechetical Implications
Pastors
should encourage believers to practice confession regularly as a vital
expression of repentance and a means to receive the Spirit's strengthening
for sanctification 306,307.
Catechetical
instruction should clearly teach the inseparability of justification,
repentance, and sanctification to avoid legalism or antinomianism
302,306.
Confession
and absolution should be presented as continual gifts of God's grace that
empower believers in their daily spiritual growth and fight against sin
20,23,306.
7. Summary
Confession
is the outward expression of inward repentance, essential for the
Christian life 11,12,14,302.
Absolution
assures the believer of God's forgiveness, which is the foundation
and power for sanctification 17,18,301.
Repentance
and sanctification flow from the believer's justification by grace through
faith, nurtured through the ongoing practice of confession and absolution
3,7,24,306.
Confessional
teachings uphold the inseparable relation of these doctrines in the
believer's life 300,301,307.
• 306. LC Holy Baptism, - Pastoral teaching on repentance and sanctification
• 307. FC SD II, - Justification and sanctification inseparable
VIII. Summary of Confession and Absolution
1. Definition and Purpose
Confession
is the act of acknowledging one's sins before God, often verbally, with
sincere repentance and contrition 1,2,3.
Absolution
is the pastoral declaration of God's forgiveness pronounced by a called
minister, based on Christ's promise and work 4,5,6.
Together,
confession and absolution serve as means of grace, bringing
forgiveness, comfort, and spiritual healing to the believer 7,8,302.
2. Biblical Foundation
Confession
and absolution are rooted in Scripture, where believers are called to
confess sins and receive forgiveness through Christ and His Church
9,10,11,12.
Christ
gave His Church the Office of the Keys, granting authority to
forgive or retain sins 13,14.
Scriptural
passages such as Psalm 32:5, 1 John 1:9, and John 20:22-23 underline the
necessity and promise of forgiveness through confession and absolution
15,16,17.
3. Theological Significance
Confession
acknowledges the reality of sin and the believer's need for God's mercy
and grace 18,19.
Absolution
assures believers of the full forgiveness of their sins by Christ's blood,
restoring peace with God and strengthening faith 20,21,22.
The
practice emphasizes justification by grace through faith, not by
human works or feelings 23,300.
Confession
and absolution are pastoral acts that demonstrate the Church's care for
the soul and God's gracious presence 24,25,306.
4. Confessional Teachings
The Augsburg
Confession and its Apology uphold confession and absolution as
God-ordained means of grace for forgiveness and comfort 300,301.
The Small
Catechism provides instruction for personal and private confession as
well as corporate confession in worship 302.
The Large
Catechism offers extensive pastoral guidance on the importance of
confession and absolution in the Christian life 306.
The Formula
of Concord reinforces their proper use and guards against abuses or
misunderstandings 307.
5. Pastoral and Catechetical Practice
Confession
and absolution are integral to LCMS worship, especially in the Divine
Service and private pastoral care 26,27,302.
Pastors
administer absolution with care, emphasizing God's promise rather than
human authority 5,6,306.
Catechetical
instruction encourages regular self-examination, confession, and reliance
on God's grace for spiritual growth and peace 12,14,302.
These
practices prepare believers to receive other means of grace, such as the
Lord's Supper, worthily and with a clear conscience 28,302.
6. Summary
Confession
and absolution are vital means of grace instituted by God for the
forgiveness of sins and spiritual consolation 1,4,7,300.
They
are grounded in Scripture and practiced faithfully by the Church under
Christ's authority 13,16,301.
Their
proper use strengthens faith, nurtures sanctification, and assures
believers of God's ongoing mercy 21,22,306.
The
LCMS upholds confession and absolution as essential elements of Christian
life, worship, and pastoral care 302,307.
- David's confession and God's forgiveness
