Lord, to You I Make Confession
Lord, to You I make confession
This hymn embodies the Lutheran understanding of repentance and the doctrine of justification through faith, emphasizing both the severity of sin and the grace of absolution. It reflects the Lutheran emphasis on the Word's power through confession and divine forgiveness as central to pastoral care and spiritual consolation.
History & Background
Originally published in German as 'Gott, dir hab ich Sünden bekannt' in Gerhardt's hymnal Andachts-Früchte (1659). The text was translated into English by Alix Hardie for the Lutheran Book of Worship tradition.
Hymnal Appearances
- Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 851
- Lutheran Service Book — 608
- Lutheran Worship — 233
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 326
Translation
Bulletin Note
Written by Oswald Gerhardt in 1659, this hymn crystallizes Lutheran pastoral theology—confession as a means of grace where the Word of absolution breaks sin's power and restores the penitent to God's favor.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran dialectic of Law and Gospel: the Law exposes our guilt with unflinching clarity, while the Gospel proclaims that Christ's cross has already spoken the final word of forgiveness over us.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Confession of Sin Small Catechism — Confession
Themes
confession of sin repentance divine mercy absolution comfort in forgiveness