"As Surely as I Live," God Said

1 "As surely as I live," God said,
"I would not see the sinner dead.
I want him turned from error’s ways,
Repentant, living endless days."

2 And so our Lord gave this command:
"Go forth and preach in ev'ry land;
Bestow on all My pard'ning grace
Who will repent and mend their ways.

3 "All those whose sins you thus remit
I truly pardon and acquit,
And those whose sins you will retain
Condemned and guilty shall remain.

4 "What you will bind, that bound shall be;
What you will loose, that shall be free;
To My dear Church the keys are giv'n
To open, close the gates of heav'n."

5 The words which absolution give
Are His who died that we might live;
The minister whom Christ has sent
Is but His humble instrument.

6 When ministers lay on their hands,
Absolved by Christ the sinner stands;
He who by grace the Word believes
The purchase of His blood receives.

7 All praise to You, O Christ, shall be
For absolution full and free,
In which You show Your richest grace;
From false indulgence guard our race.

8 Praise God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
As was, is now, and so shall be
World without end, eternally!

Source: Lutheran Service Book #614