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jessicalukis
Guest
Why is it that a priest can forgive you of your sins when the bible says only god can?
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Non_sum_dignus
Guest
Only God can forgive sins; this is correct. The priest, however, has the authority to speak on Christ’s behalf. Remember when Jesus sent out his disciples, telling them that sins that they bound or loosed on Earth would be bound or loosed in Heaven? A priest today is in the same apostolic succession and enjoys the same authority (and corresponding responsibilities).
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Black_Knight
Guest
These articles on my blog might help you out.
Catholic Confession
Scriptures About Penance
"I Find No Sacraments In the Bible" he said.
Catholic Confession
Scriptures About Penance
"I Find No Sacraments In the Bible" he said.
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1edyson
Guest
Welcome to CAF!
I didn’t know priests could forgive sins, as a Catholic this is new to me. I know Priests can bind and loose sin, but that God alone can forgive sin. I always like to think of the story of the leaper that came to Christ, and has to be cleansed. Christ did the work, but after he told the leaper to tell who…the priests so that the leaper could publicly be declared as clean. Where ever did you hear a silly little thing like Priests forgiving sin?
I didn’t know priests could forgive sins, as a Catholic this is new to me. I know Priests can bind and loose sin, but that God alone can forgive sin. I always like to think of the story of the leaper that came to Christ, and has to be cleansed. Christ did the work, but after he told the leaper to tell who…the priests so that the leaper could publicly be declared as clean. Where ever did you hear a silly little thing like Priests forgiving sin?
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danalad
Guest
Priests don’t forgive sin in the true sense. It is Jesus who is the power behind all sacraments; his priests simply act in persona christi or in the “person of Christ”.
For more information about in persona christi you can check out the Catholic Connection
For more information about in persona christi you can check out the Catholic Connection
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Paul2274
Guest
Here is a link to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
Only God forgives sin
1441 Only God forgives sins.39 Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, “The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven."40 Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.41
1442 Christ has willed that in her prayer and life and action his whole Church should be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that he acquired for us at the price of his blood. But he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the "ministry of reconciliation."42 The apostle is sent out “on behalf of Christ” with “God making his appeal” through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God."43
Paul
Only God forgives sin
1441 Only God forgives sins.39 Since he is the Son of God, Jesus says of himself, “The Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” and exercises this divine power: "Your sins are forgiven."40 Further, by virtue of his divine authority he gives this power to men to exercise in his name.41
1442 Christ has willed that in her prayer and life and action his whole Church should be the sign and instrument of the forgiveness and reconciliation that he acquired for us at the price of his blood. But he entrusted the exercise of the power of absolution to the apostolic ministry which he charged with the "ministry of reconciliation."42 The apostle is sent out “on behalf of Christ” with “God making his appeal” through him and pleading: "Be reconciled to God."43
Paul
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WMM
Guest
*Yes, only God can forgive sins, but Jesus can and has delegated that authority to his ordained priests. The Bible says as much.
Jn 20: 22-23 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
James 5: 14-16 Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters [priests] of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
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WMM
Guest
The forgiveness of sin is not a silly thing!
As I posted earlier, the ability of the priest to forgive sin in persona Christi has strong Biblical proof as well as being part of Sacred Tradition from the beginning of the Church.
Jn 20: 22-23 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."
James 5: 14-16 Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters [priests] of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.
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Eucharisted
Guest
Christ forgives sins. The priest acts in the person of Christ. He is only a screen for Christ, just as a screen separates the priest from the penitent.
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1edyson
Guest
I believe my comment may have been misunderstood, it was meant to be taken tongue and cheek.
It was meant to allude to the misconception that many non-Catholic Christians believe that Catholic Christians teach that it is the Priest in of him self as a mere man, that forgives sin, and not Christ through the Priest in persona christi. Cheers
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expectthebest
Guest
So, it’s God that forgives sins but the Priest who “looses” you of the sin. Can God forgive a sin without it being loosed?
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promethius
Guest
CAN is not the question. God is omnipotent. The question should be WOULD God forgive a sin without it being through the sacrament of reconcilation.
Yes, in extraordinary cases or in cases of invincible ignorance, we hope and believe He would.
No, in ordinary circumstances He would not. Why? Because Christ Himself instituted the sacrament of reconciliation as a three part process: 1) contrition 2) confession 3) penance. This was done because this is the most effective way to repair damage to the soul after sinning. To say that we only need contrition to be forgiven is to ignore the process that Christ laid out, to blow off the healing power of God’s sacraments.
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expectthebest
Guest
So it is absolutely imposible to hope that God, in his infinite wisdom and mercy, would ever forgive anyone who did not use the Sacrement?
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Maranatha33
Guest
I have a sincere question. What does this verse mean in regards to confession? I have wondered this for a while, so I hope someone can explain it to me.
1 Timothy 2:5 (New International Version)
5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Thanks, and may God Bless.
1 Timothy 2:5 (New International Version)
5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
Thanks, and may God Bless.
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1edyson
Guest
Fits it quite well I believe, it is God Alone that forgives the sin, and the Priest is the tool that Jesus uses to mediate between God and Man.
Now I have a question, what does that quote mean with regards to asking you to pray for me? or tell me the Good News about Jesus Christ? Are you, by telling me about the Gospel and giving me your interpretation mediating between God and me? How would I know God, if a good Christian never took me aside and told me about God?
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Maranatha33
Guest
Now I have a question, what does that quote mean with regards to asking you to pray for me? or tell me the Good News about Jesus Christ? Are you, by telling me about the Gospel and giving me your interpretation mediating between God and me? How would I know God, if a good Christian never took me aside and told me about God?
*The importance of your questions completely out weighs my response. What you have asked are the most important questions for all mankind. This is the foundation of Christianity.
My answer (and next question) is, mediation means to settle a dispute. Is there a dispute incorporated in your question?*
*The importance of your questions completely out weighs my response. What you have asked are the most important questions for all mankind. This is the foundation of Christianity.
My answer (and next question) is, mediation means to settle a dispute. Is there a dispute incorporated in your question?*
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promethius
Guest
I believe I already addressed this question under the line “yes in cases of extraordinary circumstances or invincible ignorance” meaning it IS possible to receive sacramental reconciliation outside the strictures of the rite, but on limited basis.
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promethius
Guest
All those who are in need of conversion are in contention with God’s will that we turn to Him and be saved. That’s even MORE dispute than any that is settled in the confessional. Further, one might note that for all intents and purposes the scripture you quoted appears to refer to mediation of SALVATION, not forgiveness of sins. If it DID refer to forgiveness of sins, then Christ would have contradicted himself by commanding the apostles to take confessions and telling them that they had the power to bind and loose sins on earth.
Further, as stated, during sacramentals, the priest acts in persona Christi, and therefore Christ IS present in the confessional anyway.
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expectthebest
Guest
Other than invincible ignorance, please give me some example of the extraordinary circumstances you are referring too.
Thanks.
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grannymh
Guest
Dear Maranatha,
May I approach your question (regarding 1Timothy 2:5) leading to Confession) from my personal view as a Catholic? I am in no way an expert in Bible study. When I read the Bible, I read it with my ears, as if God is speaking to me as an individual. This time, I will imagine that God is speaking to a bunch of us.
First, it is valuable to include the concluding line to verse 5 which is verse 6a. Since I am using The New American Bible, I’ll repeat 5 and 6. The assumption is that our two translations of verse 6 will mean the same thing. If not, I would like to read your translation.
To understand the truth of Confession, it needs to be seen in its relationship to the whole of Christ’s mission. Does it make a difference which Bible passage is used to describe Christ’s mission? Maybe it does. But to the ordinary reader, what is important is that God is speaking to my soul from whatever passage I choose.
1 Timothy 2:5-6: “For there is one God. There is also one Mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus, Himself human, Who gave Himself as ransom for all.
This was the testimony at the proper time.”
Ransom is the word which speaks the loudest to me, bringing me back to John 3: 16-17. Spiritual thoughts flow like a river from the concept of ransom. “That the world might be saved through Him.” Thus, my first approach to Confession is to meditate on the reason Christ was on earth. “For God so loved the world.”
As I process the amazing event of God becoming human to walk with us, mediator takes on its traditional meaning with gusto. Of course there is one mediator; none of us are on the Divine level. “He gave His only Son” – “Christ Jesus, Himself human.”
so we could actually have eternal life with our loving Creator beyond this vale of tears.
Being the practical sort, my first question is: Eternal life, how? The One Mediator answers that He is the way, the truth, and the life. And knowing how skeptical I can be, He assures me that He won’t be leaving me an orphan. Jesus continues to remain truly present in His Church on earth. With respect to other Christian faiths and practices, I understand that Jesus’ true presence is seen in many different forms. Catholics, too, have a variety of meanings as to how Christ is present within the congregation, in the Eucharist, etc. It would take a month of Sundays to recognize all. So, I will use the Catholic approach that Christ, True God and True Man, currently lives and acts in and with His Church. (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1076)
As I read Timothy and think about ransoming sinful humanity, I realize that Christ Jesus continues as Mediator for sinful me. In other words, He continues to reconcile me with God, but not dying again on the cross. Instead, He acts specifically through the seven Sacraments He instituted. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is one of the Sacraments in which Jesus is present before me.
He instituted this Sacrament in John 20: 19-23.
There is the story about the little boy who was afraid to go to sleep in the dark. His mother told him that Jesus was always with him. “But” said the boy looking around the room, “I want a Jesus with skin!” The seven Sacraments have an outward sign, what we see and hear, which signals the action of the Sacrament. Water and the words together are the outward signs for Baptism. The words of absolution and the presence of the priest (with skin) are the outward signs for Confession.
In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the Good Shepherd is bringing us home to God. Christ is present to give us courage to walk through a dark valley regardless of how we interpret it. Comfort is ours as we see God as a loving and forgiving Father reaching out to His prodigal daughters and sons. The Sacramental graces we receive give us strength for the future. This forward looking aspect of the Sacrament is why Catholics often go to Confession when there are not any mortal sins to confess. This Sacrament helps us to get rid of our annoying flaws.
In Timothy, as in other passages, we see Jesus’ great act of reconciliation on the cross. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession), Jesus’ great act of reconciliation is personal for us.
Blessings,
granny
All humanity belongs at the foot of Christ’s cross.
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