Does the believer have direct access to the throne of grace for the forgiveness of sin?
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [Heb 4:15, 16]
If the believer now has access to God’s throne of grace and is commanded to come boldly, why not take God at His word? Why go through an earthly priest when you have authority to boldly go to Jesus Himself?
You are creating a false dichotomy. The priest acts in the Person of Christ. He is just an avenue through which we approach the throne of Grace with boldness.
Code:
Show me from the book of Acts your version of retaining sins and I will believe it. Many, many people were forgiven of their sins in the book of acts so you should have no problems finding plenty of examples of confession to a priest.
Most of the book of Acts is about the initial preaching of the gospel. Confession is for post baptismal sins. The best example of retention of sin is Ananias and Sapphira. They were baptized members of the community who sinned against the HS and the Church.
This passage is about post-baptismal sin:
2 Cor 2:5-11
5 But if any one has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure -not to put it too severely - to you all. 6 For such a one this punishment by the majority is enough; 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Any one whom you forgive, I also forgive. What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 to keep Satan from gaining the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
Paul is writing about someone who was being ostracized for sinning against the Church. It may be that this individual was excommunicated, which is what caused him to be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. This is the main purpose of exocommunication. Paul instructs the Church to receive him back, since he has repeneted of his sin. He reassures the community that, if they have forgiven the offender, then he does also. The priest forgives sin for the sake of the Church, in the presence of Christ. The priest acts in the person of Christ, to prevent the devil from taking advantage of peoples sins.
In the Bible, sins were forgiven publically, not privately. This is true for John the Baptist, Jesus and the Apostles.
Well, we have public examples. We don’t know how many may have confessed their sins privately to the Apostles and those He appointed. However, the history of the early church demonstrates that you are correct. Confession was public. It was not until the Church realized that public confession could cause more harm than good that private confessions were implemented.
How did John forgive and retain sins seeing he is not a priest? But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
John was from the priestly line. In fact, His father was acting as High priest the year he was conceived. His birth was announced to his father inside the Holy of Holies, remember? In any case, God ordained him to that ministry, so even if he had not been of a priestly line, he was authorized by God.
Do you think it might be harmful to confess your sins to an elder?
The church that Jesus gave does not have an earthly priesthood because it does not need an earthly priesthood. All believers have equal access to the throne of Grace. If you are attempting to come another way, you are not of His church.
I do not understand what you mean by “earthly priesthood”. It seems to me that the function of the presybters is primarily spiritual, not “earthly”. I will not rule out the corporate works of mercy, which are largely “earthly” in the sense that they address temporal physical needs, but the primary duties of the presbyters are all spiritual.
1 Tim 5:17-19
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching; 18 for the scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
The Apostles is clear that the primary duty of the presbyter is to teach and preach. ARe these “earthly” duties?
The elders “rule” and are worthy of “double honor” if they rule well. They labor for the gospel, and are supported by the Church. In this way, their lifestyle is similar to that of the Levitical priesthood, who were supported by all the other tribes of Israel, so that they could be free to conduct their responsibilities to God and to the nation.
BereanRuss:
Jesus is the only one who can forgive sin. Try confessing to Him.
In saying this, you are siding with those who spoke detractions against Christ, and are denying the gospel message.
Matt 9:1-8
9:1 And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. 2 And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” 4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? 5 For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 6 But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” - he then said to the paralytic - “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” 7 And he rose and went home. 8 When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and **they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
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You are thinking evil in your heart, and are failing to give glory to God, who has given this authority to men.
The authority of the priest to forgive sin comes from Christ. The fact that he has given this authority to men does not subtract from His authority.
John 20:22-23
22 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 you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
The breath of Christ, the power of the HS, is what empowers men to forgive sins in His name.
Why is this a problem?
