The Absolution of Sins

In Reformed worship, should we follow the confession of sin with a declaration of forgiveness and absolution of sin?  Many draw back from this out of a fear of Romanism and a false and shallow assurance given to those who show no real repentance.  Perhaps we are best to avoid the term absolution and instead speak ofthe  assurance of pardon and forgiveness.

However, there is a biblical foundation for the declaration of forgiveness: “ “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld”  (John 20:23)  That declaration is not based on some magical power in the minister enabling him to forgive sin; it is based on an authoritative declaration of the Gospel. Why should we avoid a positive declaration, “Your sins are forgiven”? Why should we be circuitous in declaring the Gospel promise of pardon?

Calvin says “We know that the gate of life is only opened by the Word of God. From this it follows that the key is put into the hand of the ministers of the Word … For Christ, by setting us free by His Gospel from the guilt of eternal death, looses the snares of the curse by which we were held bound. Therefore He declares that the doctrine is appointed for loosing our chains, so that, loosed by the voice and testimony of men on earth we may in actual fact be loosed also in heaven.”  (Commentary on Matthew 16:19)

However, if we are to authoritatively declare forgiveness of sin, what of “if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld”?  Again, this is a declaration based on the Word; it is the dark side of the Gospel, that judgment rests on those who refuse God’s mercy.  The Heidelberg Liturgy of 1563 includes a declaration of judgment on the impenitent:

“But as there may be some among you, who continue to find pleasure in your sin and shame, or who persist in sin against their conscience, I declare to such, by the command of God, that the wrath and judgment of God abides upon them, and that all their sins are retained in heaven, and final;ly that they can never be delivered from eternal damnation, unless they repent.”  

( http://rscottclark.org/2012/08/the-heidelberg-liturgy-1563/)

Interesting, although I have occasionally heard a declaration of Gospel forgiveness in Reformed worship, I have never heard a declaration of judgement on the impenitent.