Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article XXV

Here’s the link to Article XXV: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-confession-xxv/

Confession of sin was already discussed briefly in Article XI. However, here in Article XXV, the confessors go into greater detail.

Historically, Lutherans have seen great value in the practice of private confession. How does this work? If you are troubled by something you have done, you ask to meet with your pastor privately and confess. If you are bound by a sinful habit, he may offer some words of advice from scripture. The most important thing is that, after hearing your confession, he will pronounce the absolution, exercising the authority that Jesus gave to his church in Matthew 16:19 and John 20:22-23. A faithful pastor will maintain confidentiality.

How does our practice differ from Rome? The main difference is that we do not set up burdensome laws around it. Rome requires Catholics to attend confession at least once a year and usually a token act of penitence (such as saying the rosary) is required before the priest will pronounce the absolution.

In the Lutheran church, we see confession as a gospel resource. Confessing to a pastor helps to break the stronghold sin may have in your life. Further, if you are troubled in conscience, the absolution will bring great comfort.

Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article XII

Here is the link to Article XII: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-repentance/

In the first few centuries of the church, one of the questions that Christians wrestled with was the problem of post-baptismal sin. Since baptism is a one-time, unrepeatable event, what happens if you commit mortal sins after being baptized? Can you be forgiven?

In the New Testament, we find that people were normally baptized as soon as they heard and believed the good news about Christ. However, in later centuries, new believers began to delay baptism. Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 220 AD) suggested that, because young people are filled with passion and often give way to temptation, it might be better to wait and get baptized later in life when the passions of the flesh have been tempered.

In the centuries that followed, many people delayed baptism. It is said that the emperor Constantine spent most of his life as a catechumen. He waited to get baptized until he was on his death-bed, because he wanted to avoid the risk of polluting his soul by post-baptismal sin. This was a far cry from what Ananias had said to Paul: “And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name” (Acts 22:16 NIV).

This issue is closely related to the question of church discipline. In 1 Corinthians 5, Paul instructs the church to excommunicate a brother who had fallen into sexual immorality. Although this is not stated, we can assume that he had been baptized at an earlier time.

Excommunication clearly had the intended effect of leading him to repentance, because in 2 Corinthians 2, Paul urges them to extend forgiveness and welcome him back. Note that there is no command to rebaptize the repentant sinner. He simply needs to be welcomed back into the fellowship and forgiven by the congregation.

When baptized believers fall into sin, they need to repent and believe the gospel. They will then be forgiven. In fact, the Christian life should be marked by daily repentance.

This article states that repentance involves 2 parts: contrition and faith. This directly contradicts Roman teaching; in the Roman Catholic Church, penitent sinners were expected to perform an act of contrition (often a token gesture such as praying a certain number of prayers) prior to receiving the absolution. The Lutheran church did away with this. You are forgiven whenever you repent. However, note that “good works are bound to follow.” A forgiven sinner will voluntarily seek to do good works that please God and neighbor.

This article condemns the idea that Christians can never fall away from the faith. To the contrary, through persistent unrepentance, it is possible to lose the Holy Ghost.

It is true that no one can snatch the elect from God’s hand (John 10:28). God doesn’t abandon you every time you do wrong. In fact, we don’t even know the full extent of our sinfulness: the Psalmist asks God to forgive even those hidden faults that he is not aware of (Psalm 19:12-14)! God is generous and ready to forgive even repeat offenders (see Ezekiel 18:23; Matthew 18:21-22).

However, through persistent rebellion and unrepentance, Christians can walk away from faith (see Hebrews 3:12; 1 Corinthians 10:12; 1 Timothy 1:19).

This article condemns the errors of Novatian. Novatian was a schismatic priest who taught that if a Christian denied the faith, they could never be readmitted into full communion with the church.

This article also condemns the idea that we need to do works to earn forgiveness. Christ’s sacrifice was sufficient.

Christ Alone

Augsburg Confession Article XI

Here is Article XI: https://bookofconcord.org/augsburg-confession/of-confession/

Many Protestants believe that confession is simply “between me and God” and that there is no need to confess to another person. The idea of confessing sins to a priest is often dismissed as a Roman innovation.

But Lutherans have always maintained that Private Confession should be retained in our churches. To be sure, we can confess our sins privately to God and He will forgive (1 John 1:9). Further, we often make a general confession of sins during corporate worship. Yet the scripture also urges us to “confess our sins to one another” (James 5:16).

We have many Biblical examples of this taking place. Here are a few:

  • Joseph’s brothers confess their sins to him and he forgives them (Genesis 50).
  • In Leviticus 5:5-6, certain sins were to be remedied by confession to the priest and the making of a sacrifice.
  • Numbers 5:6-7 required the Israelites to confess their sins to people they had wronged and make restitution; if that was not possible, they could confess to the priest.
  • In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan confronts David about his sins of adultery and murder. David then acknowledges his sin, and although there are consequences, Nathan announces to David that the Lord has forgiven him (2 Samuel 12:13)
  • In Matthew 3:6, we find people confessing their sins to John at the time of baptism.
  • When the paralytic is brought to Jesus, Jesus tells him “your sins are forgiven” (Matt. 9:2; Mark 2:5; Luke 5:20).

Further, we find that Jesus gave the apostles authority to declare the forgiveness of sins:

  • In Matthew 16:19, Jesus establishes the Office of the Keys and gives this authority to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (ESV)
  • Later, he gives the same authority to all of the apostles: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23 ESV)

So what happens when you go to confession? You make an appointment with your confessor. You confess the things that are on your mind: “I confess that I have sinned against God and my neighbor in this way…”

Luther’s Small Catechism offers some suggestions of how to make your confession: https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/how-christians-confess/

Your confessor should then announce the grace of God to you. Your confessor cannot forgive your sins — only God can do that. However, God’s promise through Christ is forgiveness for repentant sinners, and he has authorized his church to proclaim this truth. Therefore, your confessor can declare the word of God to you. Luther suggests the traditional formula: “by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” (Source: https://bookofconcord.org/small-catechism/how-christians-confess/ ). This is a direct, effective, and personal application of the gospel. When absolution is pronounced, you can believe it!

So sure, you can confess your sins privately to God. But when your sins trouble you, the word of absolution will bring you great comfort.

Note that there is a difference between the way Lutherans and Roman Catholics have historically understood confession. In the Roman tradition, confession is required at least once a year, and should ideally include all the sins that you can remember.

In the Lutheran tradition, we see it as a gift rather than an obligation. You don’t have to wrack your brain and try to dredge up every sin you have ever committed. Admit that you are a sinner who sins in lots of ways, and then confess the specific things that are troubling you. Private confession to the pastor is not mandatory, but it is strongly recommended whenever you are burdened. This can bring assurance, and it helps break the power that sin has over your life.

When you confess your sins to another Christian, the presumption is that you are sincere, and therefore, your confessor should pronounce the absolution. However, there could potentially be cases where the person confessing clearly intends to continue rebelling against God (e.g., “I’m having an ongoing affair that I don’t intend to quit… I’m going to leave my family”). In such a case, the confessor should withhold forgiveness and urge true repentance.

Technically, your confessor could be any Christian. However, there are distinct advantages to confessing to a pastor/priest — especially your own pastor. Obviously, trust is required, and some pastors have broken that trust. However, a good pastor:

  • Already prays for you and cares for your spiritual well-being.
  • Will know when to announce forgiveness and when to provide further instruction.
  • Will keep your confidence. (In some jurisdictions, priest-penitent communications are even subject to legal protections similar to that of an attorney and client).
  • Will not be shocked or judge you. He knows that people are sinners!
  • Will not bring up your past next time you see him. (Though if you have asked for advice about an ongoing struggle, he might ask how you’re doing currently).