330. How should we regard the Absolution spoken by the pastor?
"Our people are taught that they should highly prize the Absolution as being God's voice and pronounced by God's command" (AC XXV 3).
When the pastor absolves us--that is, says, "I forgive you all your sins"--he speaks with Christ's authority and on His behalf. Therefore, we can firmly believe that God Himself has completely forgiven our sins.
John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.
Luke 10:16 The one who hears you hears Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me, and the one who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.
Matthew 18:18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.
Eventual commentary
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