Repentance and Absolution
Confession in the churches is not abolished among us; for it is not usual to give the body of the Lord, except to them that have been previously examined and absolved. And 2] the people are most carefully taught concerning faith in the absolution, about which formerly there 3] was profound silence.
Our people are taught that they should highly prize the absolution, as being the voice of God, 4] and pronounced by God’s command. The [1]power of the Keys is set forth in its beauty and they are reminded what great consolation it brings to anxious consciences, also, that God requires faith to believe such absolution as a voice sounding from heaven, and that such faith in Christ truly obtains and receives the forgiveness of sins.
1] [1]This office of the Law the New Testament retains and urges, as St. Paul, [Romans 1:18] does, saying: “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” Again, [Romans 3:19-20], “…the whole world may be held accountable to God. … no human being will be justified in his sight …”. And Christ says, [John 16:8], “The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin.”
2] This, then, is the thunderbolt of God by which He hurls to the ground both manifest sinners and false saints, and declares no one righteous, but drives them all together to terror and despair. This is the hammer, as [Jeremiah 23:29] says, “Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
This is not a manufactured repentance, but a true sorrow of heart, suffering and sensation of death. 3] This, then, is what it means to begin true repentance; and here man must hear such a sentence as this: You are all of no account, whether you are manifest sinners or saints (in your own opinion). You all must become different from what you are now and act differently than you are now acting. This is true, whether you are as great, wise, powerful, and holy as you may. Here no one is godly.
4] But to this office the New Testament immediately adds the consoling promise of grace through the Gospel, which must be believed, as Christ declares, [Mark 1:15], “Repent and believe the Gospel,” i.e., become different and do otherwise, and believe My promise. And John, preceding Him, is called a preacher of repentance, however, for the remission of sins, i.e., John was to accuse all, and convict them of being sinners, that they might know what they were before God, and might acknowledge that they were lost men, and might thus be prepared for the Lord, to receive grace, and to expect and accept from Him the remission of sins. Thus also Christ Himself says, [Luke 24:47] 6] “ … repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, …”.
7] But whenever the Law alone, without the Gospel being added, exercises its office there is nothing else than death and hell, and man must despair, like Saul and Judas; as St. Paul, [Romans 7:10], says: “The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me.” 8] On the other hand, the Gospel brings consolation and remission not only in one way, but through the Word and the Sacraments, and the like. [2]As [Psalm 130:7] says, against the dreadful captivity of sin, “with the LORD is … plentiful redemption.”
[1] BOC, www.bookofconcord.org., Small-cald Articles, Part III, Article III,1-9. Note: This passage has been edited, slightly, to enhance the readability and to fit the structure of the website page.
[2] Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions © 2005, 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used with permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040. Smalcald Articles, III, 8; pg 299.
