Confession Is Good for Your Soul

Ash Wednesday

March 5, 2014

Catechism Series

Confession Is Good for Your Soul

In the name of Jesus.

I.

Confession might be the most under-employed and under-valued part of our Small Catechism.

Confession has two parts. First, that by faith we confess out loud to our pastor the sins that trouble our souls (and sometimes even the ones that don't). Second, that by faith we receive forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself.

We don't often say aloud the sins that trouble us. We think about them, but not often do we name our troubling sins to another person, let alone to our pastor. When you curse or blaspheme, you might silently chide yourself. When you lose your tempter, you might later berate yourself in private. But we almost always deal with our sin on a do-it-yourself basis. And so we keep our sins to ourselves. This is a mistake based on a clever thought from the Devil: that forgiveness is between me and God. Like all of the Devil's lies, there's truth to it.

When I kept silent, my bones became brittle

from my groaning all day long.

For day and night Your hand was heavy on me;

my strength was drained

as in the summer’s heat.

Selah

Then I acknowledged my sin to You

and did not conceal my iniquity.

I said,

“I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”

and You took away the guilt of my sin.

(Psalm 32:3-5)

Christ is near to us and no man stands between you and Him. But the Scriptures also confess the joyful truth that Jesus works through means. He doesn't beam mashed potatoes into your stomach; instead He gives life to men who become farmers who plant potato seeds and sends rain to make them into potatoes. But that's small potatoes compared to the spiritual food of forgiveness. The forgiveness of sins is where life begins. And here too, Jesus uses means to get His forgiveness distributed to His people.

Is anyone among you suffering? He should pray. . . . He should call for the [pastors] of the church . . . if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. (James 5)

All Christians forgive those who trespass against us. And in particular Jesus has sent His shepherds, pastors, to His flocks to forgive sins. David confessed his sin to the preacher Nathan. Nathan absolved David and David received forgiveness as from God Himself. In the same way, your pastor is under orders from our King to forgive your sin.

At times the Devil will try to convince you that the forgiveness given to the whole congregation on Sunday morning is not for you. At these times and more and more, come to your pastor for the Word. No one else will be hear of it; it's between your pastor, you, and Christ. The key to the joy of confession is that it is Jesus speaking to you—you receive forgiveness from the pastor as from God Himself.

So come and hear Christ's promise for you and only you as from Christ Himself.

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

In the name of the Father

and of the † Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.