Our Saviour's Lutheran Church
549 State Route 409
Cathlamet WA 98612
360/631-4707
Worship Sundays 10:30
Luther Quote of the Week
The Pharisees certainly knew that forgiving sins is God’s work and belongs to Him alone. For this reason they regarded Christ as a blasphemer, who as a man tried to forgive sins [Matt. 9:3]. Sins are forgiven in two ways: First, sin is driven out of the heart and grace is poured in; only God does this. Second, the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed; one man does this to another. Christ, however, does both: He puts the Spirit into the heart and outwardly proclaims it with words. This is a proclamation and public preaching of the inward forgiveness.
Accordingly, when I say to you: “Your sins have been forgiven,” then regard it as just as certain as if God had said it to you Himself. Who would try to do this if Christ Himself had not descended, had not put it in my mouth and said that we should forgive sins to one another? He said in John [20:22–23]: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whosesoever’s sins you remit, they are remitted; and whosesoever’s you retain, they are retained.”