“God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin….Therefore be assured that you who repent have been forgiven….”
Thus announced the pastor in his absolution at the Sunday morning worship service.
How dead were we? Mostly dead? Not quite?
It’s another gospel-plus distortion of the gospel: The gospel + repentance —- a prescription for spiritual pride or spiritual despair.
How then to make sense of repentance? Read here.