The power to absolve and grant forgiveness is the special church power granted by Christ and exercised in behalf of the entire Church by the called and ordained servants of the Word. But it is through these plain, ordinary words that the Lord' s forgiveness is granted. They are powerful words. They do exactly what they say. In the hearing of the Word, the believer who is penitent receives exactly what the word proclaims-forgiveness.
Confession is made.
The absolution is given. We are at that very moment the receivers of all of the Lord's grace and mercy. We are forgiven.