The Divine Service – Hymnary, p. 60:1-3
The Service of Preparation came into the historic liturgy of the church during the reformation. During the middle ages, the salutary use of private confession and absolution was abused into the “sacrament” of penance[1]. The reformers kept the practice of private confession and absolution as preparation for communion. It wasn’t until later that Lutherans incorporated confession and absolution into the service itself.
Jesus desires that we confess our sins, teaching us to pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgiven those who trespass against us", and He assures us through His apostle John, (1 John 1:9) 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus also desires that we hear His own words of forgiveness coming from through His own representatives. He promises that when we hear our pastor forgive us on the basis of our confession, He does so at Christ’s own command. (John 20:21-23) Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; ….”
We therefore may be assured that we come before the Lord as His own dear beloved children. We have His love and approval because we have Christ’s own righteousness, and are “…found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. (Philippians 3:9)
Next week: More on the preparation.