You are no messenger, rather you are a representative of the general catholic view of noncatholics. If you posted it, then you believe it, and you are condemning a large group of people who fall under the umbrella of Protestantism!
Be happy to, as soon as you answer my question,“What evidence do catholics have that they have been forgiven?”
Indeed ! Jesus is both God and man, nothing to wonder about, He became man through Mary and we will become partakers in Him as he stated in John Chpt. 6 and 13.
There is no argument about Jesus giving up His Kingship, to become a humble servant! John 1:14 says:“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.” As a human being, like us, He could not heal, perform miracles, or forgive sins; only God can do that. But, Jesus, endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit, could do all these and more. When He healed the paralytic, He was confirming that He was on a level with God, and had been given the power to firgive sins! I don’t believe that John 20:21-23 gave mankind, namely the disciples, the power to forgive sins as God does; that is, was and will always be His domain. What we do have is the power toforgive those who sin against us.So, to make people feel like outcasts because they do not have confession like catholics is uncharitable at the least!Indeed ! Jesus is both God and man, nothing to wonder about, He became man through Mary and we will become partakers in Him as he stated in John Chpt. 6 and 13.
Philippians 2: 6, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
Read more: ewtn.com/ewtn/bible/search_bible.asp#ixzz1OGUO7QOW
Peace
Confession, as well as knowing whether one is forgiven, is a personal thing between man and God, and differs from person to person. I mean let’s say you go to obligatory confession with a priest; when you leave that booth, are you 100% sure that your sins are forgiven? Ever walked around with a heavy heart, some burden or other consuming your every thought and action? Then, humbly you went to your knees, pouring out your heart to God, asking for mercy and forgiveness. Afterwords you will feel either pretty much the same, or like a weight has ben lifted off your shoulders! James 1:9 has the promise of God forgiving your sins and cleansing you of unrighteousness!
1beleevr;7943770:
Not really, as there is no scripture dealing with the calling of a mortal man, Holy Father!
Surely you meant 1 John 1, rather than James 1. More importantly, the very purpose of God giving us His grace through the clear, external, objective means of the sacraments, such as Absolution, is so that our faith will have a clear object to which to cling. Faith should not be its own object; nor should our feelings be the object or basis of faith. Rather, let the clear word of our Lord, spoken by the mouth of the confessor, be the object of your faith. This will give you certainty and comfort.Confession, as well as knowing whether one is forgiven, is a personal thing between man and God, and differs from person to person. I mean let’s say you go to obligatory confession with a priest; when you leave that booth, are you 100% sure that your sins are forgiven? Ever walked around with a heavy heart, some burden or other consuming your every thought and action? Then, humbly you went to your knees, pouring out your heart to God, asking for mercy and forgiveness. Afterwords you will feel either pretty much the same, or like a weight has ben lifted off your shoulders! James 1:9 has the promise of God forgiving your sins and cleansing you of unrighteousness!
There are Lutherans that don’t want to be seen as too Catholic, I always felt that Lutherans should have retained Ordination, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
We confess our sins.
Indeed, all three are alive and well in the Lutheran Church, especially the first two in that list. (The third I think is making a comeback.) Whether our textbooks call them “sacraments” is less important than that they are observed, and honored for the right reasons.There are Lutherans that don’t want to be seen as too Catholic, I always felt that Lutherans should have retained Ordination, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick.
:thumbsup:Bravo, Richard, good answer! It is chronicled throughout the Bible, how mighty men of God went directly to Him to confess their sins, and plead for forgiveness! David, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Paul, and the list goes on. Jesus pretty much tells us that He will be our Mediator between us and the Father! Nowhere in scripture does Jesus say togo to confession with a priest!Nope, actually, there is…
Thank you Deacon Latif, for gently correcting my error
I realized it as I read it after it was posted, but failed to correct it! Anyway, the elusive answer to the question, “How does a catholic know their sins are forgiven?” remains unanswered! Ponder this; prior to Christ coming to Earth, man had been led by the Holy Spirit, had the Holy Spirit with them, and over them, but never "in"them. When Jesus breathed on the disciples, they had the Holy Spirit in them, and were emboldened to go forward in Truth, no longer afraid. I for one do not believe that this action gave mankind the ability to forgive sins; sorry!
In most circles, this is called intercessory prayer; so I guess you could say that God started intercessory prayer, also! See, God accepted Job’s prayer for his friends and witheld judgement! Nice try though!
Dear Richard:
With all due respect, Deacon Latif, I must agree with Richard. Not because we are both labeled as Protestants, by virtue of not being catholic; but rather because it becomes a matter of interpretation of John’s words! Just as in James 5:16, who are the “one to anothers?” Is it believers gathered together baring their souls, or is it a confessor and his priest.When I read 1John 1:9, I hear that if we cry out to God, He is faithful to hear us. I know nothing about catholic confession, but I would feel uncomfortable confessing my sins to a stranger. Is there a guarantee of confidentiality? So, I choose to believe that I speak directly to God through prayer, which includes confession of sins!
Nicea325;7943828:
You may not like the US president, but you still call him the president. You may like the Holy Father, but he is still addressed as such. You know what that is…respect…and it is reflective of your upbringing, of Christian charity, values…which you seem to be lacking.Not really, as there is no scripture dealing with the calling of a mortal man, Holy Father!
Yes; there in fact is a guarantee of confidentiality. It is called the seal of confession. And it is absolute. This is the case for Roman Catholic priests as well as Lutheran ones. Historically, when a priest breaks this seal, he is severely disciplined, even defrocked. You do have the right to expect complete confidence when you go to confession. The priest’s ears are a closed tomb. He is there is hear you, and to absolve you.I know nothing about catholic confession, but I would feel uncomfortable confessing my sins to a stranger. Is there a guarantee of confidentiality? So, I choose to believe that I speak directly to God through prayer, which includes confession of sins!
Actually, you missed v 8:In most circles, this is called intercessory prayer; so I guess you could say that God started intercessory prayer, also! See, God accepted Job’s prayer for his friends and witheld judgement! Nice try though!