Our Father and God, You have established Your Church as a royal priesthood in this world, and so we intercede for the nations of men now, confessing on their behalf so that the grace of Your forgiveness will soon be extended to them all.
Father, Your Word summons our nation to forsake its abominations, and so we confess them on behalf of our people. Hear us on their behalf, we pray, and hear us in such a way that this rebellious people turns in repentance. We confess our ingratitude, our materialism, our bloodiness, and our perversion. Open our eyes to be able to confess even more.
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 know that things are muddled in our nation because we have allowed them to become muddled in Your sanctuary. Forgive us this great evil, and restore us for Jesus’ sake.
And we also confess our individual sins to You—Selah . . . We do this in the great and glorious name of Jesus, and amen.
God has sprinkled the clean water of the gospel on you. Your sin and filth are removed, along with your heart of stone. Know this, on the strength of the gospel—your sins are forgiven through Christ.
Congregation: Thanks be to God!