Be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Jesus’ words to the paralytic are the sweetest words ever heard: “Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.” Let us rejoice in these words, for they are a bulwark against the devil and an evil conscience. He who receives them must acknowledge that he is a sinner, and must also reckon with the fact that for Jesus’ sake his sins are put away. And this, in spite of the world and those who cry blasphemy or all manner of attempts to pull these words away from us. Yet they are as true as the fact that Jesus then healed this man. And for us, likewise, they are as true as the fact that we have been baptized and receive the holy Supper. For we receive mercy  through the ear and on the tongue, a guarantee from heaven. And see also, what follows this forgiveness is healing; and for us what follows is life and eternal salvation. Sermon for Trinity XIX.
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