Confession of sins

[jswauto]

God has already saved me almost 7 decades ago, @jswauto, but I still need to grow in his salvation to become more like Jesus. That's what I pray for daily.

That is such a great testimony! What are the keys to success? That one right there is the only one that counts!

 

[Edward429451]

I've never confessed sins to a corporate congregation. I confess them to God privately and most times, as soon as I realize I sinned. Sometimes once or twice a week, sometimes daily!

Scripture says to confess your sins and ask forgiveness because failure is part of the learning process. I haven't a verse that says to go to church and confess to the congregation, or to a priest in private. (The Veil was torn in two!)

I suspect that King David was good at this, and that very reason is why David was called a man after God's own heart.

 

[Lamb]

It would be wonderful if more churches began their services with Confession of Sins. Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins, so why not confess them corporately and receive that forgiveness? Then take the Lord's Supper? Then give thanks with hymns and songs of praise. What a wonderful Lord we have who provides for us!

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

How often do you confess your sins such as privately to a pastor or in the liturgy at church?

it's a weekly part of the liturgy where I attend. Some of it seems rather 'rote' so I sometimes wonder about the sincerity of it

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

It would be wonderful if more churches began their services with Confession of Sins. Jesus gave the authority to forgive sins, so why not confess them corporately and receive that forgiveness?

For me, as a Lutheran, I still struggle with the Pastor having authority to forgive sins. It's the work of the Lord to do such things. I grew up Presbyterian and I think their approach was much more in line with scripture. There was an "assurance of pardon" where the Pastor "assured" those who confessed that Jesus is faithful to forgive.
At some point I may understand a bit more about the Lutheran view

 

[Lamb]

For me, as a Lutheran, I still struggle with the Pastor having authority to forgive sins. It's the work of the Lord to do such things. I grew up Presbyterian and I think their approach was much more in line with scripture. There was an "assurance of pardon" where the Pastor "assured" those who confessed that Jesus is faithful to forgive.
At some point I may understand a bit more about the Lutheran view

Which liturgical service does your church use?

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

Which liturgical service does your church use?

I'm not sure what you mean...?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Catholics confess sins in the mass on two occasions, with these words
first we say:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

and then we say:
Lord have mercy. or Kyrie, eleison.
Christ have mercy. or Christe, eleison
Lord have mercy. or Kyrie, eleison.

Second we say:
[this is the invitation to prayer immediately prior to the Eucharistic prayer]
Invitation to Prayer
Comment: Congregation remains standing, the Priest, bowing profoundly, says quietly:

P: With humble spirit and contrite heart
may we be accepted by you, O Lord,
and may our sacrifice in your sight this day
be pleasing to you, Lord God.

If appropriate, he also incenses the offerings, the cross, and the altar. A Deacon or other minister then incenses the Priest and the people.
Then the Priest, standing at the side of the altar, washes his hands, saying quietly:

P: Wash me, O Lord, from my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

Standing at the middle of the altar, facing the people, extending and then joining his hands, he says:

P: Pray, brethren (brothers and sisters),
that my sacrifice and yours
may be acceptable to God,
the almighty Father.

C: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands
for the praise and glory of his name,
for our good
and the good of all his holy Church.

Then the Priest, with hands extended, says the Prayer over the Offerings, at the end of which the people acclaim:

C: Amen.

 

[Lamb]

I'm not sure what you mean...?

My church is LCMS and we use the Lutheran Service Book which has multiple settings. The pastor has chosen to use different settings during different seasons or celebrations.

Which service book do you use at your church?

 

[ImaginaryDay2]

My church is LCMS and we use the Lutheran Service Book which has multiple settings. The pastor has chosen to use different settings during different seasons or celebrations.

Which service book do you use at your church?

We use the Lutheran Service Book, but the liturgy is more "blended" than taditional. We're still affilliated with the LCMS (Lutheran Church of Canada)
Many of the Lutheran churches here seem to be getting away from sticking strictly to the Service Book, which I think is a shame, but it's still theologically sound.
Hopefully that addresses the question

 

[Lamb]

We use the Lutheran Service Book, but the liturgy is more "blended" than taditional. We're still affilliated with the LCMS (Lutheran Church of Canada)
Many of the Lutheran churches here seem to be getting away from sticking strictly to the Service Book, which I think is a shame, but it's still theologically sound.
Hopefully that addresses the question

So in the liturgy, when there is Holy Communion, the confession/absolution at the beginning is where the pastor stands in the stead and by the command of Christ. That simply means that God is giving you forgiveness, the same forgiveness won at the cross because the "keys" were given to His holy church. We don't just hear that we were forgiven at the cross, God works through men (pastors) to actually give that forgiveness to you. It's the same in Holy Communion where you receive forgiveness, and it's the forgiveness won at the cross for you. God gives it to us because God is a giver

 

[Nic]

Liturgically in church - at every worship service. Privately to a pastor - only twice since I changed from Catholic to Lutheran. And that's not good.... I NEED to pray earnestly about that.

Private confession grew out of private counseling where a person may of had some struggling with an issue, particular sin or clarity of the gospel that saves.

 

[BruceLeiter]

What about the Prayer of Salvation? Have you considered adding this to your daily walk with the Lord. With a powerful addition like this you can minimize unrepentant sin in your life leading you astray.

When we analyze the prayer:

Dear Lord, please forgive me of my sins. I know you died on the cross for me. Come into my life. Be my Lord and Savior.

How simple and short, but so powerful! Asking for forgiveness of sins and calling the lord anew into your life, in a matter of seconds. It wouldn't be hard to memorize that prayer!

Interesting suggestion, @jswauto! However, the Lord is already my Lord and Savior and will always be. He has already stood in my place before the Father, who has justified all my sins as "not guilty" because of Jesus' death. Therefore, the model of Jesus' Lord's Prayer for us to ask for God's forgiveness means to ask him persistently for his cleansing of the sins that remain in our lives so that they are replaced with God's gift of spiritual qualities like the fruit of the Spirit:

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

 

[Faith]

How often do you confess your sins such as privately to a pastor or in the liturgy at church?

I confess my sins to a priest about every month or two.

 

[BruceLeiter]

Have you given your life to the Lord?

You were asked a question in the brightfame52 thread and I can't find it. Here's the scripture to answer the question: Mathew 12

31Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.

@jswauto, after years of studying that passage and others, I have come to the conclusion that the "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit" is a whole lifetime of rebellion against his influence and truth so that, at some point, God says, "Have it your own way" and lets the person remain in his sinful rebellion. Only God knows when that point comes.

 

[jswauto]

Interesting suggestion, @jswauto! However, the Lord is already my Lord and Savior and will always be. He has already stood in my place before the Father, who has justified all my sins as "not guilty" because of Jesus' death. Therefore, the model of Jesus' Lord's Prayer for us to ask for God's forgiveness means to ask him persistently for his cleansing of the sins that remain in our lives so that they are replaced with God's gift of spiritual qualities like the fruit of the Spirit:

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,
Gal 5:21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.

Those are excellent points to practice and follow!!
I just noticed. Look what David has to say:

Psalm 51:

1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Powerful Old Testament Prayer of Salvation!!

 

[BruceLeiter]

Those are excellent points to practice and follow!!
I just noticed. Look what David has to say:

Psalm 51:

1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Powerful Old Testament Prayer of Salvation!!

@jswauto, I assume that David was already saved when he wrote that Psalm, because God calls him a man after his own heart, but he sinned greatly when he committed adultery and murder. Here, he is praying the way I mention, for God's cleansing power, as God has already declared him not guilty when he first believed.