Catholics have confession, what do Protestants have if they sin?

[LemonAndLime]

This may be a simple question but it’s puzzled me recently.

If I was to commit a serious sin, I can go to confession to seek, and receive, forgiveness. But what do Protestants do in such an occasion, if anything at all? How can they be assured of God’s forgiveness for their sins?

Note - I’m not specifically looking for answers from Protestants themselves, but that would be interesting.

 

[TrueLight]

This may be a simple question but it’s puzzled me recently.

If I was to commit a serious sin, I can go to confession to seek, and receive, forgiveness. But what do Protestants do in such an occasion, if anything at all? How can they be assured of God’s forgiveness for their sins?

Note - I’m not specifically looking for answers from Protestants themselves, but that would be interesting.

Protestants go to our Father and ask for forgiveness.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins as our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Protestants do not believe you need to confess to a priest.

How can we be assured of God’s forgiveness?

Isaiah 1:18: Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

1 John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

It doesn’t say if we confess our sins to a bishop or priest or apostle. At least not in that verse.

 

[LemonAndLime]

Protestants go to our Father and ask for forgiveness.

Jesus taught us to pray, “Forgive us our sins as our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Protestants do not believe you need to confess to a priest.

How can we be assured of God’s forgiveness?

It doesn’t say if we confess our sins to a bishop or priest or apostle. At least not in that verse.

So you say a prayer to yourself earnestly and then you can be assured of forgiveness?

Seems surprisingly simple.

 

[Young_Thinker]

I am speculating that, because of what has been called “invincible ignorance,” Protestants will not go to Hell if they have sincerely repented of their sins.

 

[TrueLight]

So you say a prayer to yourself earnestly and then you can be assured of forgiveness?

Seems surprisingly simple.

I don’t think it should be difficult for a God who knows your heart and every molecule in your DNA, and every neuron in your brain, to know if you are truly sorry or not.

The prayer can be the sinner on her knees, crying out to God, weeping and praying and reading the Bible and promising to do better.

I’m not saying it’s a casual, “Oh yeah, God. Can you forgive me for that horrible thing I did yesterday?”

It’s basically perfect contrition. God is not mocked.

 

[JonNC]

This may be a simple question but it’s puzzled me recently.

If I was to commit a serious sin, I can go to confession to seek, and receive, forgiveness. But what do Protestants do in such an occasion, if anything at all? How can they be assured of God’s forgiveness for their sins?

Note - I’m not specifically looking for answers from Protestants themselves, but that would be interesting.

Lutherans can go to confession.

From Luther’s Small Catechism:

V. Confession

How Christians should be taught to confess.

What is Confession?*

Confession embraces two parts: the one is, that we confess our sins; the other, that we receive absolution, or forgiveness, from the confessor, as from God Himself, and in no wise doubt, but firmly believe, that our sins are thereby forgiven before God in heaven.

What sins should we confess?

Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even of those which we do not know, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer. But before the confessor we should confess those sins alone which we know and feel in our hearts.

Which are these?

Here consider your station according to the Ten Commandments, whether you are a father, mother, son, daughter, master, mistress, a man-servant or maid-servant; whether you have been disobedient, unfaithful, slothful; whether you have grieved any one by words or deeds; whether you have stolen, neglected, or wasted aught, or done other injury.

Pray, Propose to Me a Brief Form of Confession.

Answer.

You should speak to the confessor thus: Reverend and dear sir, I beseech you to hear my confession, and to pronounce forgiveness to me for God’s sake.

Proceed!

I, a poor sinner, confess myself before God guilty of all sins; especially I confess before you that I am a man-servant, a maidservant, etc. But, alas, I serve my master unfaithfully; for in this and in that I have not done what they commanded me; I have provoked them, and caused them to curse, have been negligent [in many things] and permitted damage to be done; have also been immodest in words and deeds, have quarreled with my equals, have grumbled and sworn at my mistress, etc. For all this I am sorry, and pray for grace; I want to do better.

A master or mistress may say thus:

In particular I confess before you that I have not faithfully trained my children, domestics, and wife [family] for God’s glory. I have cursed, set a bad example by rude words and deeds, have done my neighbor harm and spoken evil of him, have overcharged and given false ware and short measure.

And whatever else he has done against God’s command and his station, etc.

But if any one does not find himself burdened with such or greater sins, he should not trouble himself or search for or invent other sins, and thereby make confession a torture, but mention one or two that he knows. Thus: In particular I confess that I once cursed; again, I once used improper words, I have once neglected this or that, etc. Let this suffice.

But if you know of none at all (which, however is scarcely possible), then mention none in particular, but receive the forgiveness upon your general confession which you make before God to the confessor.

Then shall the confessor say:

God be merciful to thee and strengthen thy faith! Amen.

Furthermore:

Dost thou believe that my forgiveness is God’s forgiveness?

Answer.

Yes, dear sir.

Then let him say:

As thou believest, so be it done unto thee. And by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ I forgive thee thy sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Depart in peace.

But those who have great burdens upon their consciences, or are distressed and tempted, the confessor will know how to comfort and to encourage to faith with more passages of Scripture. This is to be merely a general form of confession for the unlearned.

• These questions may not have been composed by Luther himself but reflect his teachings and were included in editions of the Small Catechism during his lifetime.

Jon

 

[Carlan]

I don’t think it should be difficult for a God who knows your heart and every molecule in your DNA, and every neuron in your brain, to know if you are truly sorry or not.

The prayer can be the sinner on her knees, crying out to God, weeping and praying and reading the Bible and promising to do better.

I’m not saying it’s a casual, “Oh yeah, God. Can you forgive me for that horrible thing I did yesterday?”

It’s basically perfect contrition. God is not mocked.

True light, I believe Jesus in His Wisdom knew how valuable confessing one to another would be for us sinners, when he called on his Apostles in John 20:23… Peace, Carlan

 

[TrueLight]

Oh I forgot to add, I am speaking from an evangelical perspective.

 

[TrueLight]

True light, I believe Jesus in His Wisdom knew how valuable confessing one to another would be for us sinners, when he called on his Apostles in John 20:23… Peace, Carlan

Oh I agree. Now.

I’m just answering the question.

I can’t wait till I can confess.

But because of my evangelical protestant background, if something should happen to me where I am at death’s door, I will not be freaking out because I can’t get to a priest.

I know God is able to forgive me of my sins.

 

[PaulinVA]

Carlan’s point is valid: Why would Christ have said this:
"22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”"If the apostles and their successors were not supposed to forgive sins (through confession)?

 

[TrueLight]

Carlan’s point is valid: Why would Christ have said this:
"22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. 23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”"If the apostles and their successors were not supposed to forgive sins (through confession)?

The explanation can obviously be something to the effect that Jesus gave the APOSTLES that authority. Not their successors many generations later, as there is no belief in apostolic succession. Sure other bishops came after and spread the word, but it doesn’t mean each one had the same “powers” so to speak.

Jesus also said,

15 …“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

For the most part, that is not happening these days. There are excorcisms but no one is drinking poisons and no one is sticking their arms out to snakes, except for the holy rollers. So some of these gifts have continued but not in the same way as when the apostles were alive.

Peter also proclaimed that Ananias who tried to cheat the Lord would fall dead and he did.

Acts 5
Ananias and Sapphira
1 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. 2 With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.

3 Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4 Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

5 When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. 6 Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.

7 About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?”

“Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”

9 Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”

10 At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.

I don’t see any Bishops doing anything like that these days.

So evangelical protestants see those things as all the signs and wonders that accompanied those apostles in the establishment of the church. There had to be signs and wonders to convert the maximum people possible.

So the forgiveness of sins fall into those categories for the Apostles, not for everyone else who came after.

Disclaimer: I am speaking from my experience, having attended several evangelical denominations in the past over many years. Some may have had slightly different experiences.

Now I think I’ll let some other protestants chime in, cause obviously I’m converting. God willing soon!

 

[PaulinVA]

So evangelical protestants see those things as all the signs and wonders that accompanied those apostles in the establishment of the church. There had to be signs and wonders to convert the maximum people possible.

So the forgiveness of sins fall into those categories for the Apostles, not for everyone else who came after.

Doesn’t that diminish the role of the Apostles? It’s also illogical. Why would God put the Apostles in the position of acting for Christ in the forgiveness of sins, and then after the Apostles die off, leave no one to forgive sins? Just pray to God. Why not set it up that way in the beginning? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[WCH]

This may be a simple question but it’s puzzled me recently.

If I was to commit a serious sin, I can go to confession to seek, and receive, forgiveness. But what do Protestants do in such an occasion, if anything at all? How can they be assured of God’s forgiveness for their sins?

Note - I’m not specifically looking for answers from Protestants themselves, but that would be interesting.

Confession.

So you say a prayer to yourself earnestly and then you can be assured of forgiveness?

Confession of sins to God is not saying a prayer to oneself.

 

[PeterGStanley]

Its kind of funny the make or break point in the AA program is the confession of all your wrongs and they have to do it in the presence of another human being and God - because only in that way is it actually sincere and the person feels forgiven - doing it alone just doesn’t suffice or have any lasting effect and the AAer doesn’t find success in the program as I’ve been told.If confession was not something Jesus wanted us to do with other people I don’t understand why he would send his Disciples out to do exactly that - it makes not sense - Jesus doesn’t pass on pointless teachings or actions .

 

[TrueLight]

Doesn’t that diminish the role of the Apostles? It’s also illogical. Why would God put the Apostles in the position of acting for Christ in the forgiveness of sins, and then after the Apostles die off, leave no one to forgive sins? Just pray to God. Why not set it up that way in the beginning? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

It’s not illogical.

In what way does it diminish the role of the Apostles? .

It only doesn’t make sense if you believe that there must be someone on earth to forgive sins. If you believe God can forgive sins and apostles were given the ability to forgive sins, then it isn’t a problem.

During the days of Acts as soon as people received the Holy Spirit they started speaking in tongues. These days some denominations claim that happens but it doesn’t happen in the Catholic Church, except maybe among the charismatics.

It’s hard to understand how people may believe things differently.

I’m sure some people look at things like indulgences and purgatory and say what the heck?

So evangelicals believe differently. They are in error, yes, but it is a lot more complicated than “it doesn’t make sense.”

 

[mark_a]

This may be a simple question but it’s puzzled me recently.

If I was to commit a serious sin, I can go to confession to seek, and receive, forgiveness. But what do Protestants do in such an occasion, if anything at all? How can they be assured of God’s forgiveness for their sins?

Note - I’m not specifically looking for answers from Protestants themselves, but that would be interesting.

I always found it interesting that when I was a Catholic being raised in the deep south, that my friends (all Baptists) parents really ridiculed Catholic confession to a priest.

One of my friends was always in trouble, and his parents would always, always “call th’ preacher”.

It wasn’t until later in life that I realized that Catholics have a systematic way of “callin’ th’ preacher”.

 

[WCH]

Its kind of funny the make or break point in the AA program is the confession of all your wrongs and they have to do it in the presence of another human being and God - because only in that way is it actually sincere and the person feels forgiven - doing it alone just doesn’t suffice or have any lasting effect and the AAer doesn’t find success in the program as I’ve been told.If confession was not something Jesus wanted us to do with other people I don’t understand why he would send his Disciples out to do exactly that - it makes not sense - Jesus doesn’t pass on pointless teachings or actions .

In Ps 32, David confesses his sin to God alone
g. I believe it was Clement of Alexandria who referred to that Psalm and said that what David did, is what God wants: confession of sin directly to him.

But hey, what does Clement know? There was no AA in his time.

 

[PeterGStanley]

In Ps 32, David confesses his sin to God alone
g. I believe it was Clement of Alexandria who referred to that Psalm and said that what David did, is what God wants: confession of sin directly to him.

But hey, what does Clement know? There was no AA in his time.

But hey what does Jesus know sending his disciples to forgive sins!

 

[lauraabarlow]

I frequent the sacrament of confession on a regular basis yet being formally a baptist, I also still find myself praying to God directly when I sin-with the intention of seeking confession at my earliest opportunity. I tend to cover all bases, so to speak. I know the baptist church I used to attend once had a couple who was marrying in a few wks confess in front of the whole congregation of having relations before marriage, resulting in a pregnancy. It seemed awkward to me being that I would never have been able to go up in front of everyone to confess. I would faint! I feel much better going to a priest-it is just you, the priest, and Jesus and having mild aspergers, this sure is a big comfort to me. :harp:

 

[hn160]

Lutherans can have private confession and receive Absolution from their pastor if they desire. Otherwise, we use corporate confession and receive Absolution at the beginning of the Divine Service. For Lutherans this is a Sacrament of Absolution.