The Augsburg Confession asserts the doctrine of repentance saying, "Our churches teach that those who have fallen after Baptism can receive forgiveness of sins whenever they are converted, and that the church ought to impart absolution to those who return to repentance. Properly speaking, repentance consists of these two parts: one is contrition, that is, terror smiting the conscience with a knowledge of sin, and the other is faith, which is born of the Gospel, or of absolution, believes that sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, comforts the conscience, and delivers it from terror. Then good works, which are the fruits of repentance, are bound to follow" (Augsburg Confession XII.1-6).  Repentance is not a work that we do to gain heaven, but rather is a gift of the Holy Spirit that brings us back under the grace of God. Repentance is not something we should dread, like fessing up to our failures, but rather is something we should run to joyously because in it we have restoration with both God and our neighbor. 

There is great joy in repentance, not because of our good intentions, but because of Jesus' grace and promise. He promises to forgive us. He promises to restore us, not to a probationary status, but to our full status as sons of daughters of His Father and our Father. Repentance is a great joy because Jesus gives us to forgive each other, to acquit each other of our sins, and to reconcile with one another no matter how tense the situation was. Repentance is a joy because it ends in forgiveness. Look at the account of Jacob and Esau. Remember how anxious Jacob was to see his brother. Jacob even sent ahead of him gifts with the hope of buying his brother off. Remember what happened when Esau saw Jacob? Esau forgave his brother and reconciled with him. This lifted the heavy burden off Jacob's shoulders, and removed the deep anxiety from his heart. Jesus gives us repentance in order that we may have reconciliation with both Him and our neighbor, and in this, our conscience is cleared and our spirit rejoices in the freedom we now have from the burden of that sin. Let us then seek opportunities daily for repentance. Let us not contemplate if we have sinned against our neighbor, but assumed we have and run to our neighbor and to God in repentant joy, knowing that the end result is forgiveness and restoration. 

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "I forgive you. I love you. I claim you as My own forever," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull