Confession

[humbleseeker]

A priest CAN NOT forgive sins. They simply can hear a sin and the parishner can feel better or healed for getting that sin off ther chest, Only confession to Jesus Christ forgives sins only one man, that is the son of God can forgive sins. Thats were the catholics have it all wrong.

[leoxiii]

A priest CAN NOT forgive sins. They simply can hear a sin and the parishner can feel better or healed for getting that sin off ther chest, Only confession to Jesus Christ forgives sins only one man, that is the son of God can forgive sins. Thats were the catholics have it all wrong.

Matthew 9:6 But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the man sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. 7 And he arose, and went into his house. 8 And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.

John 20:21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Jesus has the power and authority to forgive sins, and He gives that power and authority to His Apostles, who in turn pass it on to their Successors (cf. Acts 6:6; 2 Timothy 1:6, 2:2; Titus 1:5).

[JCISGD]

According to Catholicism a person cannot be saved unless they join the Catholic church. The confessional, hail Marys, and this, are among many other unbiblical beliefs/practices that make the Catholic church in grave error.

[~Shalhevet~]

Matthew 9:6 But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the man sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. 7 And he arose, and went into his house. 8 And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.

John 20:21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Jesus has the power and authority to forgive sins, and He gives that power and authority to His Apostles, who in turn pass it on to their Successors (cf. Acts 6:6; 2 Timothy 1:6, 2:2; Titus 1:5).

[pokemaughan]

Matthew 9:6 But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then said he to the man sick of palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go into thy house. 7 And he arose, and went into his house. 8 And the multitude seeing it, feared, and glorified God that gave such power to men.

John 20:21 He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23 Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.

Jesus has the power and authority to forgive sins, and He gives that power and authority to His Apostles, who in turn pass it on to their Successors (cf. Acts 6:6; 2 Timothy 1:6, 2:2; Titus 1:5).

But here's the problem-

Jesus was healing. He didn't forgive sins until He hit the cross. He didn't pay the sacrifice until He shed blood and died. You're interpreting these verses wrong, my friends.

Matthew 9:6 has nothing to do with anyone but Jesus (the Son of Man) forgiving sins.

John 20:21 speaks of spreading the Good News! The apostles CAN NOT pay the sacrifice! There is no "magical power" that allows sins to be covered without blood! This was the entire OT system of sacrifice- there MUST be blood- and then Jesus (God) came and paid the ULTIMATE sacrifice in shedding His blood for all.

The laying of hands also has nothing to do with forgiving sins, but healing... come on, guys. Don't twist things to what you want.

I'm sorry gentleman, that's incorrect interpretation. How do you interpret Matthew 16:19? That whatever you do here is allowed in heaven? Dig deeper! The idea of anyone but God forgiving sins is BLASPHEMY. Don't pull one verse, pull the entire Scripture! HE-LLO!!!

Whose soever sins ye remit - It is certain God alone can forgive sins; and it would not only be blasphemous, but grossly absurd, to say that any creature could remit the guilt of a transgression which had been committed against the Creator. The apostles received from the Lord the doctrine of reconciliation, and the doctrine of condemnation. They who believed on the Son of God, in consequence of their preaching, had their sins remitted; and they who would not believe were declared to lie under condemnation. The reader is desired to consult the note referred to above, where the custom to which our Lord alludes is particularly considered. Dr. Lightfoot supposes that the power of life and death, and the power of delivering over to Satan, which was granted to the apostles, is here referred to. This was a power which the primitive apostles exclusively possessed.

[Smalcald]

I am a Catholic and have never understood why Catholics have to confess their sins to a priest. Wouldn't it be better to confess directly to Jesus and ask for forgiveness?

I don't agree that you have to confess your sins to a priest to be forgiven. The Catholic answer is that they are not forgiving sins that only Christ can forgive sins, but that the Priest is His instrument on earth to proclaim that forgiveness, or to NOT proclaim that forgiveness when someone is not really sorry or they would say have the proper contrition.

Where does this power come from?

6Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you that you are Peter,[c] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades[d] will not overcome it.[e] 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[f] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[g] loosed in heaven."

21Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.

The difference is that we Protestants believe that this is referring to the general group of all believers and that John 21 above is only referring to the Apostles.

Catholics believe that Peter was the first leader and Pope and they get this from Matthew above and they further believe that their Church is the spiritual follow on to the Apostles and thus they would continue what is being spoken of in John 21.

Why didn't you ask your priest this?

The problem is in my opinion that Protestants go to far in rejecting confession it is much easier to ask for forgiveness of Christ who does not talk back and cause us shame. But I think Catholics go to far in demanding that you go to a priest for confession and further that it is actually possible to confess all of your sins.

Anyway that is a summary.

[Smalcald]

According to Catholicism a person cannot be saved unless they join the Catholic church. The confessional, hail Marys, and this, are among many other unbiblical beliefs/practices that make the Catholic church in grave error.

No that is not really true.

They believe that if you are born a Protestant and taught in that Church you can go to heaven. But you are correct in that they believe that only their Church is the fullness of the Church established by Christ. So a Christian would be missing out by not joining them at some level.

[leoxiii]

According to Catholicism a person cannot be saved unless they join the Catholic church. The confessional, hail Marys, and this, are among many other unbiblical beliefs/practices that make the Catholic church in grave error.

No that is not really true.

They believe that if you are born a Protestant and taught in that Church you can go to heaven. But you are correct in that they believe that only their Church is the fullness of the Church established by Christ. So a Christian would be missing out by not joining them at some level.

Yes. That is true. Outside the one holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church there is no salvation.

[Matthitjah]

According to Catholicism a person cannot be saved unless they join the Catholic church. The confessional, hail Marys, and this, are among many other unbiblical beliefs/practices that make the Catholic church in grave error.

No that is not really true.

They believe that if you are born a Protestant and taught in that Church you can go to heaven. But you are correct in that they believe that only their Church is the fullness of the Church established by Christ. So a Christian would be missing out by not joining them at some level.

Yes. That is true. Outside the one holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church there is no salvation.

Grace to you,

Please cite the Scriptural reference for this Truth.

How exactly is one Saved according to scripture?

Peace,

Dave

[JCISGD]

According to Catholicism a person cannot be saved unless they join the Catholic church. The confessional, hail Marys, and this, are among many other unbiblical beliefs/practices that make the Catholic church in grave error.

No that is not really true.

They believe that if you are born a Protestant and taught in that Church you can go to heaven. But you are correct in that they believe that only their Church is the fullness of the Church established by Christ. So a Christian would be missing out by not joining them at some level.

I may be wrong SMD, but i did read that top leaders among pentecostals and catholics got together to discuss their differences and signed an agreement not to evangelise each other as they agreed on much doctrine, but after that the Pope issued a statement to the catholic church, "that none were saved unless the joined the Catholic church". quote is mine.

Perhaps LeoX111 can help further with proving this, i dont have dates or names but it was about 5 yrs ago maybe?