Me again - Confession

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

Hi there! Me again. :wave:

I have another question.

What does the Lutheran Church teach about forgiveness of Sins?
How do you go about obtaining forgiveness from God? Is there an official practice to do, or is it done in the quietness of your heart, in private?

(For Back ground purposes only) Catholics believe that there are two types of sin, Mortal and Venial. Mortal sins are sins that place us in Danger of Hell and needs to be confessed verbally, in person to a priest to be forgiven from it.

Thanks guys! :)

[BabyLutheran]

I am a newbie, just starting to attend Lutheran services. I know that we do it corporately in the liturgy, but I also believe we can ask God privately for forgiveness, and can also ask a pastor to hear our confessions as well, depending on the congregation. I do not believe there is a venial vs mortal dichotomy. Sin is sin.

Am I close, guys?

[DaRev]

Sin is sin, and the wages of sin is death.

The Scriptures tell us that if we confess our sins that God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins. This can be done during corporate confession during the liturgy, personally one on one with the pastor, or privately between the penitent and God through a prayer of confession.

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

Thank you guys for the great responses! :thumbsup:

I appreciate the time you took to help me understand this.

Have a great afternoon!

In Christ. :wave:

[DaRev]

Thank you guys for the great responses! :thumbsup:

I appreciate the time you took to help me understand this.

Have a great afternoon!

In Christ. :wave:

Any time, Dude. :)

BTW, I love your profile pic. :thumbsup:

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

Thanks. Gotta Luv Jack Bauer!

24 is my fav right now.

The pic (and my sig) actually stemmed from a Man-Bag thread we had in the Catholic Forum...

Now here's someone who can wear a Man-Bag and get away with it! :D

[filosofer]

Sin is sin, and the wages of sin is death.

The Scriptures tell us that if we confess our sins that God is faithful and just and will forgive our sins. This can be done during corporate confession during the liturgy, personally one on one with the pastor, or privately between the penitent and God through a prayer of confession.

And it can be done one Christian to another Christian (Matthew 18, Eph. 4:32, etc.), not requiring a pastor.

[DaRev]

Thanks. Gotta Luv Jack Bauer!

24 is my fav right now.

The pic (and my sig) actually stemmed from a Man-Bag thread we had in the Catholic Forum...

Now here's someone who can wear a Man-Bag and get away with it! :D

I was actually referring to your profile pic and not the avatar. I didn't know who that was in your avatar... until now. :P

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

I was actually referring to your profile pic and not the avatar. I didn't know who that was in your avatar... until now. :P

:doh: Stoooopid me! :blush:

Sorry!

Yeah, that pic is one of Celebrating the old (and recently re-instated) Tridentine Mass, where the Priest faces away from the congregation and faces the Tabernacle for the mass.

I like it because it it a real good "Behind the scenes" view of the Mass :)

Thanks! :)

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Hi Joe,

The only mortal sin is a sin against the Spirit. That would be turning away from the Lord, and rejecting the salvation granted through faith.

Also, our Pastor is in his office 2 days each week at both parishes to hear confession. He is also available any time one desires.

Mark

[St_Joseph_Cupertino]

Hi Joe,

The only mortal sin is a sin against the Spirit. That would be turning away from the Lord, and rejecting the salvation granted through faith.

Also, our Pastor is in his office 2 days each week at both parishes to hear confession. He is also available any time one desires.

Mark

But it's not a requirement for salvation to confess to a priest? It would be more for spiritual guidance that salvation, right?

[Melethiel]

But it's not a requirement for salvation to confess to a priest? It would be more for spiritual guidance that salvation, right?
Correct.

[MarkRohfrietsch]

But it's not a requirement for salvation to confess to a priest? It would be more for spiritual guidance that salvation, right?

Confession to a Pastor is not a requirement for salvation. Confession to God is. Just as in the RC Church, the Pastors Absolution IS the Lord's Absolution. This is the Office of the Keys, which our Lord gave to his Church. Through faith in Christ we know that if we are sorry for our sins, and sincerely repent forgiveness is ours because this forgiveness has already been earned for us. Christ was sacrificed on the cross for our sins. It is by his death, and his death alone that we have forgiveness and salvation. This is the basic premise of "Theologia Crucis" (Theology of the Cross).

If you are inclined to read I would suggest a book called "Spirituality of the Cross" by Gene Edward Vieth. I have loaned my copy to some of my Catholic friends and while none have converted, they have all said that the book deepened their faith and understanding of Scripture.

Mark:wave: