Father, Your Word says that no one does what is right, and our national catechism impudently contradicts this, saying that everyone is basically good. Father, we not only confess to You how bad we are as a nation, but we confess the lies that we tell ourselves about how bad we are. We pray that You would use this confession to help restore a right view of our condition to our people.
We know, Father, that if we in the Church regard iniquity in our own midst, or in our own hearts, this prayer will be ineffectual.
Father, we confess that we have too easily assumed our own goodness on the basis of hanging out with decent people, instead of resting on the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ alone. Father, forgive us, we pray, for neglecting the gospel in this way.
And Father, we confess our individual sins to You now—and Selah . . . We do this in the great and strong name of Jesus, and amen.
Your forgiveness is a free gift. That gift was obtained through the obedience of Jesus Christ, and so as a minister established and ordained by that obedience of His, I declare to you that your sins are forgiven through Christ.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!
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