We know Christ, our Lord is clothed in holiness. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. He is perfect and righteous in all His ways.

Everything he does, from creation to this very moment shines with goodness.

Yet this creates our great dilemma: how can unholy creatures stand before absolute holiness?

This is why we begin our worship with confession and absolution.

God is preparing our hearts to receive His Word and Sacraments.

Have you noticed what follows after the law and gospel are preached?

We cry out in David’s words from Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

Remember the context of David’s plea — after his grievous sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah, the prophet Nathan confronted him. David recognized his unworthiness to stand in God’s presence — just as we do.

When we sing these words after the sermon, we offer a second confession to create clean hearts in us and make us new creations.

Where is our assurance of forgiveness?

Look at what follows — the Lord doesn’t merely allow us into His presence but invites us to His table.

There He feeds us His very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.

At this altar, we are cleansed and strengthened to face the world’s battles.

And when we stumble, as we surely will, our Holy God stands ready — not with condemnation but with open arms, welcoming us back to His presence, cleansing us through Word and Sacrament.

This is the astonishing grace of our Holy God.

Contributor Timothy Chase is pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Truman, MN.

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