I have read this whole thread and find it helpful but confusing. Many priests have told me that there is no sin so great that God will not forgive you. With this in mind it seems that we may have absolute assurance that any sin confessed with sincere repentance directly to God will be forgiven. This seems to make confession to a priest optional. I have also discussed confession with Baptists, Evangelicals, Messianic Jews and other Protestants. Their response is always the same: “I prefer to go straight to God to confess my sins.” I know for a fact that some of them have committed very serious mortal sins such as abortion. How am I to make a case to them (non-Catholics) that they must confess those sins to an ordained Catholic priest or they may not be forgiven and will, as a consequence, spend eternity in hell? I am good friends and relatives of many of these people who express this view and I do not want them to go to hell.
Thank you dear friend in Christ:thumbsup: A very thoughtful post!
1st permit me to point out that Sacramental Confession to a Ordained Priest is anything except optional;
John.20: 19 to 23
“On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to
THEM “Peace be with you.” ** {“PEACE” IS THE SUM AND SUMMARY OF THE SACRAMENT OF KNOWN SIN FORGIVENESS} When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” ** {These words of Jesus ARE Literal} And when he had said this, he breathed ON THEM , and said TO THEM, "
Receive the Holy Spirit. [23]
IF YOU forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven;IF YOUI retain the sins of any, they are retained."
While in an emergency {Sacramental Confession being the NORM}; an act pf “PERFECT” contrition will remit the Mortal sin{s} until one can with urgency get to Sacramental Confession; there is NO assurance that such as act meets GODS requirements for being “perfect”, which it MUST be to be effective.{hence no or very little “peace.”}
It is an absolute TRUTH that any [ALL] sin that is [1] sincerely repented [2] proven by a change of life-style commitment [not to sin that way again WITH God’s grace] can be forgiven by an Ordained Priest
ANY {& ALL} methods outside of Sacramental Confession {this FACT is in the bible; [precisely to make the case clear, concise and precise as being GOD"S Way} hence all other methods are man’s IMPOSED desire to REQUIRE GOD to accept THEIR way, OVER His. And are HIGHLY suspect.
Jesus in freely choosing to Institute this Sacrament of KNOWN Peace through Sacramental Confession was not a NEW invention, or even a innovation. NOl what Christ DOES here is perfect and OT practice:
“Take unto thee also Aaron thy brother with his sons, from among the children of Israel, that they may minister to me in the priest’ s office: Aaron, Nadab, and Abiu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.” [Exodus 28:1]
Leviticus [THE BOOK OF THE LAW[ 5:16
And he shall make good the damage itself which he hath done, and shall add the fifth part besides, delivering it to the priest, who shall pray for him, offering the ram, and it shall be forgiven him.
Leviticus 5:18
He shall offer of the flocks a ram without blemish to the priest, according to the measure and estimation of the sin: and the priest shall pray for him, because he did it ignorantly: and it shall be forgiven him,
While GOD was “OK” with simply covering over man’s sins in the OT; Jesus the MESSIAH, now under a period of GRACE gives more and demands more:
Rom.6: 14-15
“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!”
These my friend are the points to be raised; solidly supported by the Bible too:thumbsup:
One final thing about the bible it self {which BTW is a CATHOLIC BOOK}
***My friend have you ever been exposed to the One Infallible Rule for right understanding of the Bible?
Never Ever; can, may or DOES
One verse, passage or teaching have the power or authority to
Invalidate, make void or override another Verse, passage or teaching:
Were this even the slightest possibility; [it’s NOT!] it would render the entire Bible useless to teach or learn Christ Faith”*
God Bless you and thanks for asking!
Patrick
