![]() ![]() Even though I cannot give you the Holy Spirit and faith, I can nevertheless proclaim this to you. Be comforted, your sins have been forgiven… Our confidence and boast against sin is that I can say to my brother, who is stuck in the anguish and danger of sin: “Be cheerful and comforted, my brother, because your sins have been forgiven. so they can say, “Look, dear man! God offers you His grace and forgives all your sins. Christ, however, does both: All people who are Christians and baptized have this power. Second, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed one man does this to another. Luther both taught and acknowledged: The Pharisees certainly knew that forgiving sins is God’s work and belongs to Him alone… Sins are forgiven in two ways: First, sin is driven out of the heart and grace is poured in only God does this. ![]() But, we do so with gentleness and respect, seeking to win our brother back to the faith.Īctually, this contradicts what Luther himself said concerning “the keys.” It might be the case that we are misunderstanding the situation and if not, then it’s helpful to the pastor if others are also speaking the truth of God’s Word into whatever the situation might be. At the same time, it’s incumbent on us to put the best interpretation on events and, in the case of specific concerns, speak directly with those involved. The Lord’s Supper is intended for those who repent of their sins and desire to do better. Your concern about unrepentant coming the Lord’s Supper is correct and godly. In this case, the pastor continues to teach God’s Law and trusts in God to work through that Law to work repentance in the unrepentant. God does not take the failure of a pastor to preach God’s law lightly.Īt the same time, it is also possible that the pastors may be unaware of the sin or that the parishioners have hidden or lied about their sin. Furthermore, God told the prophet Ezekiel that if he refused to warn the wicked man of his sin, the man would die for his sin, but God promised to hold Ezekiel accountable for that man’s blood (Ezek. Regardless of the size of the congregation, God has placed pastors in the congregation, and pastors will have to give an account of their service before God (Heb. As Luther points out, confession involves two things -namely, acknowledging our sins as well as receiving “absolution or forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself.” Post navigation It should not be forgotten that the section of the Small Catechism that deals with this matter bears the heading “The Office of the Keys and Confession (emphasis added). Obviously, as Christ’s command indicates, when this declaration of forgiveness is pronounced, the pastor is not pronouncing forgiveness for those who fail or refuse to recognize their sins and acknowledge their need for forgiveness. Consequently, their word of forgiveness is as valid as if Christ Himself, who has given the church that authority, were assuring the penitent sinners of their forgiveness. The pastors do this not by their own authority but rather by the command and authority of Christ on the basis of their call from the church to carry out this function. If you forgive anyone their sins, they are forgiven if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”Īlthough the power to forgive sins (or not forgive them) always belongs to and remains with the church, Luther explains that when pastors called and ordained by the church to preach the Gospel and administer the sacraments on behalf of the church declare to penitent sinners that their sins are forgiven, they do this by the command of Christ, who granted this power to the church. Here, having been raised from the dead, Jesus speaks these words to His disciples, whom He commissioned to carry His message of forgiveness to the world: “Receive the Holy Spirit. The section of Scripture cited to support this authority given by Christ to the church is John 20:22- 23. Luther defines the issue of confession and absolution as the exclusive authority Christ has given His church on earth to forgive the sins of those who recognize and confess their sins, who are truly sorry for them, and who rely on Christ’s promise of forgiveness for those who believe in Him as their Savior. The answer to your question is clearly explained in Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Where is the Office of the Keys found in the Bible? Did Christ give the Church this power and, if so, where is this found in the Scriptures? I am having trouble understanding how a pastor has the power to forgive or not forgive our sins. ![]()
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