Confessing sin can feel uncomfortable. In a world that often encourages us to project strength and hide our weaknesses, the act of admitting our failures seems counterintuitive. Yet, for Christians, confession is not about shame—it's about healing, restoration, and drawing closer to God. Our weekly liturgical practice of confession is less about dwelling on our failures and more about experiencing the transformative power of God's grace. Let's explore how this practice of confession becomes a profound moment of spiritual renewal for our congregation.

The Confession of Sin

The Bible teaches that every person has sinned and lacks the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Yet, because of the atoning death of Jesus Christ, all those who are united to him are reconciled to God and are being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Cor 3:18). Still, the Bible simply assumes that Christians will sin in this life (1 John 2:1). For that reason, we regularly confess our sins as a congregation.

Confession is not about wallowing in guilt, but about pursuing an honest relationship with God. It acknowledges our ongoing need for grace and God's continual work of transformation in our lives. By confessing, we agree with God about the nature of our actions and open ourselves to His healing and restoration.

Beyond the ongoing need for confession of sin is the call to sober reflection before participating in the Lord's Supper (1 Cor 11:27-32). This call to self-examination does include individual confession of sin, but it does so within the context of the Christian community. We enter into this corporate confession in anticipation of our participation in the Lord's Table.

Our confession is not a private, isolated act, but a corporate practice that emphasizes our shared identity as Christ’s body and our need for God’s forgiveness. Furthermore, there are no Christians who outgrow their need to confess sin and receive God’s forgiveness. We confess together, supporting and bearing one another's burdens, recognizing that we are all in need of God's grace. 

The Affirmation of Pardon

It is important to confess our sins. But we should not stop there. After confessing our sins, we rehearse truths about God's great mercy and forgiveness, preeminently displayed in Jesus Christ (Rom 8:1-2). We express gratitude to God for this forgiveness and we communicate the assurance of pardon for all those who faithfully confess their sin (1 John 1:9). Our confidence in God’s forgiveness rests not in our own merit or in the holiness of the pastor leading the congregation in confession but in God's unfailing love (Mic 7:18-19).

This practice reflects the gospel's core message: for all those in Christ, we are not defined by our sins. Rather, we are defined by Jesus’ saving work. For Christians, confession is not about punishment or humiliation, but about restoration and renewed relationship with God.

Leading the confession of sin and offering the assurance of pardon is a particularly pastoral responsibility. For that reason, only the pastors (or those in our pastoral training program) lead this section of our service. Although no human can forgive sins, we do pronounce assurance of pardon and the forgiveness of sins on the basis of Christ's atoning sacrifice (Eph 1:7). The pastors speak not by their own authority, but as representatives of Christ's reconciling work.

Our Liturgical Practice

The format for the prayer of confession and assurance of pardon varies week-to-week. We utilize prayers written by the pastors specifically for our congregation, responsive readings, psalms, and liturgical prayers offered by Christians in centuries past.

This variety prevents our confession from becoming mechanical or rote. Each week offers a fresh opportunity to engage with the profound truths of God's grace.

Following the prayer, the pastor will speak words of comfort from God. These words are either direct quotations of biblical passages that assure us of God's forgiveness in Christ or that summarize these passages. After the words of comfort, the congregation responds together, "Thanks Be to God." This communal response is an act of faith, declaring our trust in God's mercy and our gratitude for His unending love.

Our corporate confession reminds us that we are a community of imperfect people continually being made new by God's grace, “being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another” (2 Cor 3:18). In this way, confession is not a static ritual, but a dynamic aspect of our worship and walk with God.