Peter
said to them, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For
the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the
Lord our God calls to him."
I love the Lutheran church and the fact we are a liturgical church. I
greatly appreciate the Confession. I often repeat the Confession during the week. I
personalize it-- I confess that I am in bondage to sin and cannot
free myself. I have sinned against you by thought, word, and deed, by what I
have done and by what I have left undone. I have not loved you
with my whole heart; I have not loved my
neighbor as myself. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
Forgive me, renew me, and lead me, so that I
may delight in your will and walk in your ways to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
These words convey the message of repentance and forgiveness. We
are in bondage to sin. We cannot free ourselves. If we were to be dependent on our own
abilities, we would not be able to enter Heaven. Our merciful Father knew this, and
because he loved us, he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. All that God asks of us
in return is that we repent and be baptized.
There is a hymn I love entitled Jesus Paid it All.( *Elvina M.
Hall, 1818-?) The first verse reads, I hear my Savior say, "Thy strength indeed is
small. Child of weakness, watch and pray, Find in Me thine all in all. The refrain: Jesus
paid it all, All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain, He wash’d it white as
snow.
Dear Father in heaven, we pray for forgiveness of our sins. We are
grateful for the sacrifice made by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Help us to remember
this sacrifice each day. Help us to watch and pray.
