332. What is the benefit of individual (private) Confession and Absolution?
In individual Confession, the Christian has a safe place to name his or her sins so that they are no longer carried alone. The Absolution is spoken specifically to the person confessing. There can be no mistaking to whom these words of Jesus are addressed: "I forgive you all your sins."
Based on the word of forgiveness, the pastor may give counsel and help in the struggle against temptation and enslavement to sin. Thus, private Confession and Absolution equips the Christian to stand firm against "false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice" (Sixth Petition). "When I urge you to goto Confession, I am doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian" (BEC 32).
Matthew 9:2 And behold, some people brought to Him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Take heart, My son; your sins are forgiven."
2 Samuel 12:13 David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die."
Psalm 32:2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
Psalm 130:3-4 If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.
Read Luke 7:36-50, about the forgiveness Jesus gives to a repentant woman.
Eventual commentary
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