Individual Absolution

Individual Absolution is a means of grace through which Jesus Christ delivers the forgiveness of sins He won on the cross to His people. This precious gift flows from the Office of the Keys, which Christ gave to His Church. Below is the Scriptural foundation for this gift and our confession regarding this gift.

Holy Scripture:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

[Matthew 16:19]

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I am sending you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

[John 20:21-23]

I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

[Psalm 32:5]

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

[1 John 1:8-9]

The Lutheran Confessions:

Our church teaches that private Absolution should to be retained in the churches.

[Augsburg Confession, Article XI, 1]

Confession in the churches is not abolished among us. The body of the Lord is not usually given to those who have not been examined [1 Corinthians 11:27-28] and absolved. The people are very carefully taught about faith in the Absolution. Before, there was profound silence about faith. Our people are taught that they should highly prize the Absolution as being God’s voice and pronounced by God’s command. The Power of the Keys [Matthew 16:19] is set forth in its beauty. They are reminded what great consolation it brings to anxious consciences and that God requires faith to believe such Absolution as a voice sounding from heaven [e.g., John 12:28-30]. They are taught that such faith in Christ truly obtains and receives the forgiveness of sins.

[Augsburg Confession, Article XXV, 1-4]

We also keep Confession, especially because of the Absolution. Absolution is God’s Word which, by divine authority, the Power of the Keys pronounces upon individuals. Therefore, it would be wicked to remove private Absolution from the Church. If anyone despises private Absolution, he does not understand what the forgiveness of sins or the Power of the Keys is.

[Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Article XIIB, 2-4]

Absolution, or the Power of the Keys, is an aid against sin and a consolation for a bad conscience; it is ordained by Christ in the Gospel [Matthew 16:19]. Therefore, Confession and Absolution should by no means be abolished in the Church. ... Since private Absolution originates in the Office of the Keys, it should not be despised, but greatly and highly esteemed, along with all other offices of the Christian Church.

[Smalcald Articles, Part III, Article VIII, 1-2]

We teach what a splendid, precious, and comforting thing Confession is. Furthermore, we strongly urge people not to despise a blessing that in view of our great need is so priceless. Now, if you are a Christian, … you will undoubtedly compel yourself to come to Confession and will beg me for a share in it. However, if you want to despise it and proudly continue without Confession, then we must draw the conclusion that you are no Christian and should not enjoy the Sacrament either. For you despise what no Christian should despise. … If you were a Christian, then you ought to be happy to run more than a hundred miles to Confession and not let yourself be urged to come. You should rather come and compel us to give you the opportunity.

[A Brief Exhortation to Confession, 28-30]

When I urge you to go to Confession, I am doing nothing else than urging you to be a Christian.

[A Brief Exhortation to Confession, 32]