Addendum 1:  What is the role of the Bible (written word) in forgiveness?

A)  "However, if you stop hearing those words from a pastor or an individual Christian your certainty is dubious at best" quoted from The How and Why of Forgiveness, in an essay written for and to the baptized people of God may be a stretch.  This is the case because baptized people have already heard and experienced God's personal forgiving word to them and so, as the people of God, they may read, understand and be comforted by the promises God has for his people- because they have been made his people by baptism.  I don't know that I would grant the same for an unbaptized person reading the Bible.

B)  There are numerous passages about forgiveness and about a forgiving God in the Bible; Prov. 28:13, Ps. 103: 3, 13, Col 1:14, Col. 3:13, Da. 9:9, there are many.  Passages about forgiveness and about a forgiving God are not substitues and is different from God actually forgiving, God actually granting forgiveness to you.  This happens with a pastor or a Christian, speaking for God no less, says, "I forgive you", "It's okay", "Forget about it."

Now for those of us who have heard these personal words spoken to us, in our baptism or in absolution received from pastors and Christians, these passages about a forgiving God ring true and are comforting because we have already heard God speak forgiving and loving words to us.

              Ephesians 1:7-8, "In him (Jesus) we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding"  We read about a God who in rich grace, lavish wisdom and understanding purposed for Jesus to be our redemption and owrk forgiveness of sins.  Continue further... Ephesians 1:13, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."  Having heard the word of truth, we have believed the word of truth... God forgives our sins.

C)  In relation to forgiveness, the Bible forms the sure and unmovable foundation for forgiveness.  The Bible is the definitive witness, gives and tells us the definitive testimony that when pastors and individual Chrisitians forgive sins, we should "not [doubt] but firmly [believe] that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven." 

        The best example I can think of demonstrating that the Bible is the definitive witness testifying that when pastors and Christians forgive sins it is as though God has forgiven sins is the all to familiar story in Luke 5.  A paralytic is lowered through the roof for Jesus to heal and Jesus says to him, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."  When the Pharisees hear this they explode, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy?  Who can forgive sins but God alone?"  Magnificent for two reasons!!  1) Jesus speaks the word of forgiveness other wise the person doesn't know.  The same of the woman in Luke 7.  She is certainly broken hearted but is sure of very little until Jesus says to her, "Your sins are forgiven" and she is told to, "go in peace."  2)The offense of the Pharisees sounds much like,  "The pastor/individual Christians don't forgive sins, only God forgives sin!"  I agree only God forgives sin.  What blows our mind is that God does so through people.  Jesus is the spokesperson for God!  Jesus is the visible image of the invisible God!- this is the offense of the Christian message!  What Jesus said and did makes certain that the passages about a forgiving God and His promises to forgive are true! Christian people, pastors are spokespersons for God!  What Christians/pastors say and do reveals God's desires and plans for this person; ie: to forgive their sins.

D) Paul said it, Lutherans clutch it closely, "faith comes by hearing"-- not particularly by reading.  This doesn't mean faith can't happen by reading, but it is much more likely and faith is better secured, through and by what we hear.  This is why the Lutheran Hour is the oldest, continuous running Christ centered radio program in our nation!  So that people could hear, over the radio no less, the gospel story and faith be worked.  This is why we don't make a great hoopla about Bibles in every hotel room.  Putting Bibles in hotel rooms is certainly not a bad thing, yet the Bible is the sacred writing for a select group of people- Christians, and one is made a Christian by hearing God's word spoken to them, "I baptize you, I forgive you."  Outside of that context the Bible shouldn't make much sense to people.  It is as if we were to read the sacred writings of Hindus-- they don't make much sense to us.   Lutherans believe Augsburg Confession Article 5, "To obtain such [justifying] faith God instituted the office of preaching [speaking, talking]. 

E) A very cursory and light skim of the the occurence of "forgiveness" in the New Testament almost always occurs between people.  Jesus says, "the sins you forgive they are forgiven.."  Paul asks for forgivenss from people and encourages people to forgive. 

F) A very cursory and light skim of the gospel message- a chief component of which is that God has forgiven your sins- and its presentation to people, the vast majority of times, is portrayed as that which is heard or spoken to them.