The Assurance of Pardon: The Gospel’s Promise

Jeffrey Perry   -   August 14, 2024

Following the Prayer of Confession of Sin, the Assurance of Pardon provides grace and affirmation within the worship service. It reassures the congregation of God’s forgiveness through Christ, transforming the confession of sin into a celebration of mercy. It is a proclamation of the gospel’s promises, renewing our confidence in God’s grace and our standing in Christ.

 

Understanding the Assurance of Pardon

The Assurance of Pardon is a declaration of God’s forgiveness pronounced by the minister, in the stead of Christ, based on the promises of Scripture. It follows the confession of sin, serving as a response to our confession. This assurance is not based on human effort but on the finished work of Christ, providing comfort and confidence to believers.

 

Scriptural Foundations of Assurance

Scripture provides numerous assurances of God’s forgiveness and grace to those who confess their sins:

  • Isaiah 1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
  • Psalm 103:11-12: “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.”
  • 1 John 1:9: “ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
  • Romans 8:1: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”

These passages form the foundation of the Assurance of Pardon, offering biblical guarantees of forgiveness and freedom from condemnation for those who are in Christ.

 

Theological Significance

The Assurance of Pardon

  1. Displays God’s Grace: It shows us the sufficiency of God’s grace in Christ. The assurance is a declaration that our sins are forgiven not because of our merit but because of Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
  2. Provides Spiritual Comfort: It provides spiritual comfort and encouragement. Hearing the assurance of pardon reassures us of God’s love and renews our confidence in His promises.
  3. Strengthens Faith: It strengthens our faith, reminding us of the security we have in Christ. This assurance helps to anchor our hope in the unchanging grace of God.
  4. Encourages Joyful Worship: It encourages joyful worship and gratitude. With the burden of sin lifted, we are free to worship God with joy and thankfulness.

 

Elements of an Assurance of Pardon

An Assurance of Pardon typically includes the following elements:

  • Declaration of Forgiveness: A clear and confident declaration of forgiveness based on Scripture, stated by the minister.
  • Focus on Christ’s Work: Emphasis on the atoning work of Christ as the basis for forgiveness, highlighting the gospel’s message.
  • Scriptural Foundation: Direct reference to or paraphrase of biblical promises of pardon, grounding the assurance in God’s Word.
  • Call to Rejoice: An invitation to the congregation to respond with joy and gratitude.

The Assurance of Pardon understood, has a great impact on worship:

  • Cultivates Assurance: It cultivates a sense of assurance and peace, reminding believers of the certainty of their forgiveness in Christ. This reassurance helps to dispel doubts and fears about their standing before God.
  • Fosters Gratitude: It fosters a spirit of gratitude and joy, encouraging believers to respond to God’s grace with thankfulness and worship. The assurance of pardon sets the stage for joyful and heartfelt praise.
  • Promotes Confidence: It promotes confidence in the gospel’s promises, strengthening the congregation’s faith and encouraging them to live out their identity as forgiven and redeemed people.

 

This proclamation is not merely a ritual but a powerful reminder of the gospel’s truth: that in Christ, our sins are forgiven. The Assurance of Pardon invites us to rest in God’s grace, rejoicing in the freedom and newness of life that comes from Christ. It bridges the acknowledgment of our sin with the rejoicing in God’s grace, reinforcing the gospel’s central message of redemption, and directs us from our guilt to the grace of God and our response of gratitude.

 

This post is part of our series: Liturgy, A Gospel Conversation