Offer of Penitence
I am a grave sinner. My original sin finds me inevitably unable to save myself from the state of fallenness in which I have been born. My total depravity finds no part of me that I can claim in the face of God in my appeal for justification and redemption. I am a grave sinner.
I am a grave sinner. My total inability finds me absolutely crippled in my endeavours to seek the favour of God. It is only in the light of God's initiation that I can find myself clothed with the justifying righteousness of God in my life. I am a grave sinner.
I am a grave sinner. And so I offer my penitence unto the Lord...
Almighty God, my heavenly Father,
I have sinned against you and against my fellow neighbour,
In thought and word and deed,
Through negligence, through weakness,
And through my own deliberate fault.
I am truly sorry and repent of all my sins.
For the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ who died for me,
Forgive me all that is past,
And grant that I may serve you in newness of life,
To the glory of your Name.
AMEN.
Grant me strength now, Lord, to live in your grace in the face of men who will not forgive me as you have done.
