Doctrines Of Confession And Absolution
Bodie Hodge, M.Sc., B.Sc., PEI
Biblical Authority Ministries, May 6, 2026 (Donate)
If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, NKJV)
As Christians, it is important that we confessing our sin. To
whom do we confess our sins, becomes a point of disagreement among various
denominations.
In Lutheranism, Confession and Absolution (the
declaration of forgiveness) are sometimes together referred to as a third
sacramental practice or third ordinance (along with Baptism and the Lord
Supper).
Though in reality, it is not universally placed alongside
Baptism and the Lord’s Supper as a full sacrament. It is instead
understood as an important means of grace that applies the promises of
the gospel to the individual believer.
Other Christians that came out of the Reformation view
confession and absolution much differently. More on this in a moment.
Confession
Confession consists of two essential parts. First is the
confession of sins, where the believer acknowledges his or her sins before God.
This may be done privately in prayer or in the presence of a pastor. Second is
contrition, which is genuine sorrow or repentance over sin along with an actual
desire to turn from it.
In Lutheran understanding, even when confession is spoken to
a pastor, it is ultimately directed to God, who alone is in the position to forgives
sins.
Absolution
Absolution is the declaration of forgiveness. In Lutheran
practice, the pastor proclaims forgiveness and this is presumed to ultimately
be the command of Christ. The pastor does not dispense grace but announces
God’s promise. This is based in passages like John 20:22–23, where Christ gives
authority to His disciples regarding the forgiveness of sins.
The pastor does not forgive sins by his own authority.
Rather, he serves as an instrument through whom God announces forgiveness. Absolution
is a declaration of forgiveness already won by Christ. The power of absolution
lies in the Word of God and the promise of the gospel, not in the person of the
pastor.
Finer Lutheran Understanding
Lutherans teach that Confession and Absolution is not a
legal requirement that must be fulfilled in order to have forgiveness.
Instead, it is a gift meant to comfort troubled consciences. Forgiveness is
predicated entirely in the finished work of Jesus Christ and is received by
faith.
This practice reflects the central Reformation doctrine of
justification by faith alone. The act of confessing does not earn grace;
rather, it receives and clings to the grace already provided in Christ.
Public And Private Practice
Confession and Absolution may take place in two primary
forms. Public confession occurs during worship services, where the congregation
confesses sin together and receives a general declaration of forgiveness.
Private confession involves an individual confessing sins to a pastor and
receiving personal absolution. While private confession is encouraged in
Lutheranism, it is not required.
This is in stark contrast to the Roman Catholic view from
which Luther came out. Absolution is part of the sacrament of Penance in the
Roman view. Furthermore, in the Roman Church, the priest is understood to
actually dispense forgiveness through sacramental authority. So there is a big
difference between the Lutheran understanding and the Roman Catholic positions.
Other Protestant Views
Many other Protestant traditions, such as Baptists,
Presbyterians, Methodists, Wesleyans, and non-denominational churches, agree
with confession of one’s sins but do not recognize Confession and Absolution as
an ordinance or sacramental act. Instead, Protestants, outside of Lutheranism, direct confession specifically
to God alone without the mediation of a pastor or minister.
Most denominations appeal to passages like 1 Timothy 2:5
(NKJV), "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the
Man Christ Jesus." This means that Christ alone is the mediator. Therefore,
believers may confess their sins directly to God in prayer and receive
forgiveness based on His promises and His finished work on the Cross and
resurrection—without the need of a minister.
While corporate confession may still be practiced in worship
settings, it is typically not accompanied by a formal declaration of absolution
from a minister. Rather, assurance of forgiveness is found in Scripture itself
and the believer’s faith in Christ.
To Briefly Summarize
Confession and Absolution in Lutheranism or Protestant
traditions is a gospel-centered practice in which sins are confessed and
forgiveness received. In Lutheranism, they utilize a minister in the process; where
Protestants outside of Lutheranism go directly to Christ.
Bodie Hodge, Ken
Ham's son in law, has been an apologist defending 6-day creation and opposing
evolution since 1998. He spent 21 years working at Answers in Genesis as
a speaker, writer, and researcher as well as a founding news anchor for Answers
News. He was also head of the Oversight Council.
Bodie
launched Biblical Authority Ministries in 2015 as a personal
website and it was organized officially in 2025 as a 501(c)(3). He has spoken
on multiple continents and hosts of US states in churches, colleges, and
universities. He is married with four children.
Mr. Hodge earned a
Bachelor and Master of Science degrees from Southern Illinois University at
Carbondale (SIUC). Then he taught at SIUC for a couple of years as a
Visiting Instructor teaching all levels of undergraduate engineering and
running a materials lab and a CAD lab. He did research on advanced ceramic
materials to develop a new method of production of titanium diboride with a
grant from Lockheed Martin. He worked as a Test Engineer for Caterpillar,
Inc., prior to entering full-time ministry.
His love of science
was coupled with a love of history, philosophy, and theology. For about one
year of his life, Bodie was editing and updating a theological, historical, and
scientific dictionary/encyclopedia for AI use and training. Mr. Hodge has over
25 years of experience in writing, speaking and researching in these fields.
* Images generated by ChatGPT
