The Declaration of Pardon & Forgiveness
Following the General Confession in the Services of Morning and Evening in The Book of Common Prayer (1662 & USA, 1928), there follows “The Absolution, or The Remission of sins.” It is pronounced by the priest alone, standing, as the people remain kneeling. This authoritative Declaration consists of three parts: (a) Preamble; (b) the Absolution itself, and (c) and Exhortation. It contains much godly wisdom and food for thought and action.
Let us take it part by part.
Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live; and hath given power, and commandment to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the Absolution and Remission of their sins:
The source of forgiveness, pardon, absolution and remission of sins is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In his Revelation, recorded in sacred Scripture, he has made very clear that he desires to have his creatures, made in his image, to be in friendship and communion with him not only in this age but in that to come. He does not wish that they be in a state of enmity and spiritual death. “As I live,” saith the Lord God, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked should turn from his way and live” (Ezekiel 33:11). Thus he sent his only-begotten Son into the world to save men from their sins and wickedness.
It is through the same Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is given all authority in heaven and earth, that forgiveness of sins is made possible and that Ministers are commissioned and given authority by him to pronounce in his Name the absolution and remission of sins (see Matthew 16:19; 18:18; John 20:22,23). “To absolve” is to deliver from the bondage of sin and “to remit” is to take away the guilt of sin, and they both belong together as one action of Jesus Christ.
He pardoneth and absolveth all them that truly repent, and unfeignedly believe his holy Gospel.
These words stand out and are the very center of this Absolution. As the Catechism in The Book of Common Prayer makes clear the conditions for both Baptism and the Holy Communion are Repentance and Faith (a faith that works by love). In repentance we cease to trust in ourselves, and in faith we trust in God. The actual Forgiveness is from the Lord Jesus Christ and God the Father, but pronounced by the Minister. These conditions of repentance and faith/trust are based upon the words of Jesus and his apostles – see Mark 1:14-15; Luke 24:47; Acts 2:38,
Wherefore let us beseech him to grant us true repentance and his Holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may be pure and holy ; so that at the last we may come to his eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Minister calls upon all who have received the word of forgiveness to pray to God the Father in the Name of Jesus Christ for two necessities – a repentant heart & the gift of the Holy Spirit to indwell the heart – in order that this act of worship will be pleasing to God and that the church as a body, and each members thereof, will be pure and holy in daily living. Further, the Minister reminds the people of the End and Purpose of their Christian lives as repentant believers – the communion, peace and joy of the life of the age to come, where all, fully redeemed in soul and body, shall partake of the beatific vision, seeing the glory of the Father in the face of Jesus Christ, his Incarnate Son.
With this Declaration of Forgiveness should be compared the Absolution in The Order for Holy Communion: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy hath promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him; Have mercy upon you; pardon and deliver you from all your sins; confirm and strengthen you in all goodness; and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
[When a Reader is taking the service of Morning/Evening Prayer it is customary for him to pray: “Grant, we beseech thee, merciful Lord, to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve thee with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord.”]
The Rev'd Dr. Peter Toon
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