Lord We Confess Our Numerous Faults
Lord, we confess our numerous faults
Lord We Confess Our Numerous Faults is a hymn text by Dudley Tyng (1849) in C.M. meter. Found in CW93 398, lw 281, tlh 382. Sung to WINCHESTER OLD.
The hymn emphasizes the Law's diagnosis of human sinfulness while directing the penitent to God's justifying grace, reflecting Lutheran understanding of Law and Gospel. It connects confession of sin with the assurance of God's pardoning mercy through Christ, central to Lutheran penitential practice.
History & Background
Written by American Presbyterian minister Dudley Tyng in the mid-19th century as a hymn of penitence and confession. The hymn was widely adopted in Lutheran hymnals, appearing in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) as hymn 382.
Hymnal Appearances
- Christian Worship — 398
- Lutheran Worship — 281
- The Lutheran Hymnal — 382
Bulletin Note
Written by Dudley Tyng in 1849, this Common Meter hymn distills Lutheran penitential theology: true confession begins with the Law's diagnosis of sin and ends in the Gospel's assurance of God's pardoning love through Christ alone.
Preaching Connection
This hymn embodies the Lutheran dialectic of Law and Gospel: the Law strips us bare of self-righteousness, while the Gospel clothes us in Christ's justifying grace—a movement every sermon of repentance should complete.
Catechism & Confessional Connections
- Confession of Sin Small Catechism — Confession
Stanza Arc
The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: From Law (fear and dread) to Gospel (glad tidings, peace, and God's grace revealed in Christ's birth)
Overview
Watts's paraphrase of Titus 3:3-7. We confess our faults — all our lives were sin (st. 1); praise him who turns our feet (st. 2); not by works of righteousness but by God's free grace (st. 3); from God's mercy all hope begins; 'by the Water and the Blood' we are washed (st. 4); through Christ's death the Spirit is sent to breathe on dry bones (st. 5); raised, justified, we will see the Father's face (st. 6).
Central theme: Salvation not by works but by God's mercy, through the washing of regeneration and the Spirit poured out through Christ
Structure
Six common-meter quatrains following Titus 3:3-7: our former state (1) — praise (2) — not by works (3) — water and blood (4) — the Spirit (5) — justified heirs (6).
Law & Gospel Shape
Law: 'numerous faults'; 'all our lives were sin' (1). Gospel: 'saved by God's free grace'; 'by the Water and the Blood'; 'justified by grace' (3-6).
Confessional Connections
Titus 3:3-7 (TLH's text): 'he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit… so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs.' Luther quotes this text in SC IV ('What does such baptizing with water indicate?' and 'How can water do such great things?'). St. 4: 'by the Water and the Blood' — Baptism and Christ's atoning blood (1 John 5:6); the Lutheran use naturally hears Baptism as the washing (AC IX). St. 5: the Spirit given through Christ's merit — 'the purchase of His death' (Titus 3:6).
Liturgical Use (Study Notes)
Baptism; Christmas Day (Epistle, Titus 3:4-7); Confession; Reformation.
Historical Notes
From Watts's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1709), Book I, on Titus 3:3-7.
About the Tune
ST. FLAVIAN (John Day's Psalter, 1562).
Scripture References
Titus 3:3-7 Ps 51:3 Ps 103:1-4 Eph 2:8-9 John 19:34 1 John 5:6-8 Ezek 37:1-14 Rom 6:4 1 John 3:2 Rev 22:4
Stanza by Stanza
Lord, we confess our many faults: how great our guilt has been, how empty and foolish all our thoughts, and all our lives were sin.
'We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions' (Titus 3:3). 'I know my transgressions' (Ps 51:3).
- Scripture
- Titus 3:3, Ps 51:3
- Imagery & language
- Faults; guilt; vain thoughts; lives sin.
- Law / Gospel
- Law — confession.
- Connection to previous
- Confession.
But, my soul, praise and love his name forever, who turns your feet from dangerous ways of folly, sin and shame.
'Bless the LORD, O my soul… who forgives all your iniquity' (Ps 103:1-3). Conversion is God's turning (Jer 31:18).
- Scripture
- Ps 103:1-4, Jer 31:18
- Imagery & language
- Praise; feet turned.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — conversion by God.
- Connection to previous
- Turned.
It is not by works of righteousness done by our own hands, but we are saved by God's free grace overflowing through his Son.
'Not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy' (Titus 3:5). 'By grace… not a result of works' (Eph 2:8-9).
- Scripture
- Titus 3:5, Eph 2:8-9
- Imagery & language
- Not works; free grace; through His Son.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — sola gratia.
- Connection to previous
- Not by works.
All our hopes begin from the mercy of our God; it is by the Water and the Blood that our souls are washed from sin.
'The washing of regeneration' (Titus 3:5) — Baptism (SC IV). 'This is he who came by water and blood' (1 John 5:6); water and blood from the side (John 19:34).
- Scripture
- Titus 3:5, 1 John 5:6-8, John 19:34
- Imagery & language
- Mercy; Water and Blood; washed.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — Baptism and atonement.
- Connection to previous
- Water and Blood.
It is through what his death purchased — he who hung on the tree — that the Spirit is sent down to breathe on dry bones like us.
'Whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior' (Titus 3:6). 'Breathe on these slain, that they may live' (Ezek 37:9).
- Scripture
- Titus 3:6, Ezek 37:1-14, Acts 2:33
- Imagery & language
- Purchase of death; Spirit; dry bones.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — the Spirit given through Christ.
- Connection to previous
- Dry bones.
Raised from the dead, we live anew, justified by grace. We will appear in glory too and see our Father's face.
'So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life' (Titus 3:7). 'Raised… we too might walk in newness of life' (Rom 6:4). 'They will see his face' (Rev 22:4).
- Scripture
- Titus 3:7, Rom 6:4, 1 John 3:2, Rev 22:4
- Imagery & language
- Raised; justified by grace; glory; Father's face.
- Law / Gospel
- Gospel — justification and glory.
- Connection to previous
- Justified heirs.
Themes
Confession of sin Repentance God's grace and mercy Justification by grace