Do protestants have their sins forgiven?

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Hi everyone

can protestants have their sins forgiven since they do not confess to a priest?

I personally think they can, otherwise many people will not be saved.

I am enough scared already when I see so many people who do not care to follow Jesus. If you analyse our youth, they just care about going to parties and they dont even believe in sin.

catholics+protestants being saved is a small number of people who will be saved.
Now if you think only catholics can be saved because they confess to a priest, the number of people who will go to heaven is really small, and it is scaring to be honest.
 
When a person dies with unconfessed mortal sins, God can choose to show mercy to the sinner if he is truly repentant. However, it’s up to God whether he would choose to show mercy or not.

This applies whether the person who dies with the unconfessed mortal sin is Protestant or Catholic or any other religion or no religion.

If you are concerned about other people, just pray for them and try to set a good example with your own life. You don’t know what’s in their hearts, and probably don’t know everything about their actions either, and in any event it is up to God how he chooses to judge them. It’s not for you to judge.
 
Yes protestants and any other human being even one who does not even know about Jesus or any religion can have their sins forgiven by GOD.

GOD is not bound to any of our limits. The normal way to Salvation is through Jesus and the Church HE founded.
That does not mean that there are not Extraordinary means of Salvation.

St Paul alludes to this fact here: Romans 2:14 For when the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature those things which are of the law, such persons, not having the law, are a law unto themselves.
2:15 For they reveal the work of the law written in their hearts, while their conscience renders testimony about them, and their thoughts within themselves also accuse or even defend them.
Carefully reading this text it makes abundantly clear that it does not matter whether one “believes in sin” or not. GOD knows our heart and HE sees what we truly are and renders judgement on that.
 
HSTV said:
can protestants have their sins forgiven since they do not confess to a priest?
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As the poster above pointed out, God can forgive anyone at any time for any or all of their sins, by a free act of His grace. Given what the Church teaches about contrition or acts of contrition, it’s hard to imagine a Protestant could not abhor their sins or sinful ways (and we are assuming they have been sinning, even mortally), implore God’s mercy and forgiveness for their sins, and that to the point where it could be supposed that if he or she were aware of the need for Confession and Reconciliation, they certainly would (or would have) confess(ed) and done everything Reconciliation usually requires (e.g. penance). Under such circumstances I imagine we would have to believe or assume that their sins were indeed forgiven by God, though again it would be left up to God: that is why the sacrament of Confession and Reconciliation is such a great gift and act of mercy to the Church: it allows Christians a true and reasonable certainty that we have indeed been forgiven by God for our sins and have been restored to His grace and fellowship.

I think many of David’s Psalms help give us an idea of the kind of sorrow and repentance and abhorrence for sins that is appropriate for believers and expresses a true conversion (and softening, as a kind of fruit of repentance) of the heart. Of course, I think invincible ignorance could apply to some sins a Protestant Christian may have committed but, again, in ignorancel and again, if it could be said that had he or she known those were sins, and particularly mortal sins, they would have ceased and abhorred such acts (or inaction, as it might happen), then I think we can be reasonably confident that their sins would also have been forgiven them by God. But again, however, God is always free to forgive or not to forgive sins and as far as I know the only time we can have certainty about the forgiveness of sins revolves around baptism and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which includes contrition and penance.

See, for example, the Catholic Encyclopedia on Contrition and the Sacrament of Penance. You could also look up what the Catechism says about the forgiveness of sins - but remember that sometimes it might be assumed the person is a Christian (i.e. baptized) and further a Catholic and the sin is post-baptismal but other times perhaps non-Catholic Christians or even non-Christians, which changes things.

God bless.
 
Don’t forget some Anglicans/Episcopalians confess to a priest. However, in the Anglican tradition there is a saying relating to confession: ‘All may, none must, some should.’
 
LawyersGunsAndMoney said:
How do you “know” that?
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Catholics associate especially post-baptismal sins with contrition, which is rather profound:

I​

3Have mercy on me, God, in accord with your merciful love;

in your abundant compassion blot out my transgressions.

4Thoroughly wash away my guilt;

and from my sin cleanse me.

5For I know my transgressions;

my sin is always before me.b

6Against you, you alone have I sinned;

I have done what is evil in your eyes

So that you are just in your word,

and without reproach in your judgment.c

7Behold, I was born in guilt,

in sin my mother conceived me.*d

8Behold, you desire true sincerity;

and secretly you teach me wisdom.

9Cleanse me with hyssop,* that I may be pure;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.e

10You will let me hear gladness and joy;

the bones you have crushed will rejoice.
It’s difficult to separate contrition from visible signs of sorrow or remorse: if those visible signs are lacking, it is quite natural to wonder if there has been repentance: I mean even priests in the confessional (from my experience) seem to sometimes need almost reassurance, by some visible sign (e.g. words) that there is true sorrow and desire to amend before proceeding to grant absolution.
 
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SeraficLeo said:
It’s difficult to separate contrition from visible signs of sorrow or remorse:
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I get that, but his Protestant friends aren’t likely to show such signs in casual conversation, especially over sins they think are in the past/forgiven. Assuming they don’t actually care about repentance because they don’t break down crying in front of him seems like a pretty wild leap.
 
And assuming that somebody is truly repentant because they are putting on a Jerry Falwell “O Lord I have sinned against you” crying show is also a big leap.

Only God knows what’s in a heart.
 
HSTV said:
Now if you think only catholics can be saved because they confess to a priest, the number of people who will go to heaven is really small, and it is scaring to be honest.
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It’s my understanding we are not saved by our works. We are “saved” by the merits of Christ.

Any part of me that is not perfect will have to be perfected prior to me being able to be in the presence of God. Still it is God, through the person of Jesus who will perfect me.

I believe the sacramental life is about preparation for life everlasting. “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” Me partaking of the sacramental life is me surrendering my life, my will to God, through His Church.

I understand there will be more not in heaven than in. The way is narrow.
 
In my office, I’m the only Catholic. I won’t say what I do for a living, but a Catholic priest came in briefly for a business matter. I was friendly to them and then they left.

Out of nowhere, one Protestant gal in my office started asking me the usual protestant questions about the Church. She asked me if I went to Confession and I said yes. She instantly exploded and borderline admonished me. She claimed that the priest has no authority, and that I can confess straight to God and don’t need Confession, penance, or anything.

I simply asked her how protestants get their sins forgiven. She said she talks to God. I pressed and asked her how these sins were forgiven and how often. She said she didn’t have an answer, but claimed “He’s there any time” pointing at the ceiling.

You see mate, when I go to Confession I tend to make a list. Not an excruciatingly detailed one, but I make a thorough examination of conscience. In fact the priest I confessed to at the Advent Penance Service told me he wished more Catholics did what I do.

Do you honestly think, given what I’ve said, that protestants are making that examination of conscience? Creating their own penance? Enforcing it? If you do, I have some beachfront property in Kansas I’d like to sell you.
 
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I’m sure you know there are also Protestants who do not believe they have to have their sins forgiven because they believe they are already either in the Elect or they aren’t, and if they are living a generally good responsible life then that shows they’re members of the Elect. They don’t worry much about sin, or forgiveness for sin. They do their best to lead moral lives but don’t stress about whether they sinned that day or not.

Obviously this lady in your office who got all up in your business isn’t one of those kind of Protestants, as they would be unlikely to hassle you about your Catholicism or your going to confession.
 
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SteelArchangel said:
Do you honestly think, given what I’ve said, that protestants are making that examination of conscience? Creating their own penance? Enforcing it? If you do, I have some beachfront property in Kansas I’d like to sell you.
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None of that means that these Protestants don’t feel genuine sorrow and regret for their sins. Obviously, that doesn’t manifest itself in a way that is familiar to a Catholic: that shouldn’t be surprising, given that they’re Protestants. But it’s pretty presumptuous of you to think you can read their heart and know whether their repentance is only “lip service.” Most Catholics I know would say that kind of insight is reserved to God alone. It’s good that you’re so thorough with confession, of course.

For the record, I’m a Catholic too. I go to confession. But I don’t assume non-Catholics don’t go to confession is that they don’t feel sorrow and contrition for their sins. I think for most of them they just don’t understand the necessity of confession. They’re wrong, but a lot of them are probably sincerely wrong. As to whether God forgives their sins, I have no idea, but I hope so. I would think God would take their ignorance into account and judge them on their intentions.
 
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LawyersGunsAndMoney said:
But I don’t assume non-Catholics don’t go to confession is that they don’t feel sorrow and contrition for their sins. I think for most of them they just don’t understand the necessity of confession.
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Actually I’ve met Protestants who envied me being able to go to confession because their particular Protestant sect had somehow left them in a state of constant uncertainty over whether they were saved or not.
When I was younger I thought they were barmy because I regarded confession as a very unpleasant, anxiety-inducing task and I didn’t understand why they would want to do such a thing when I wished I personally did not have to do it. Now that I’m older and have read stuff on the Internet, I understand. They were feeling very guilty and bad over sins and had no way of being certain they were forgiven or saved.
 
If you love God, then you have the capacity for contrition. If you feel contrition for the wrong you’ve done, then it’s very possible that God will forgive you.
 
SteelArchangel said:
I suppose I’ll rephrase. I’m highly skeptical of protestants who call out Catholics for not needing Confession and claiming that you can just “confess in your head to God”. Ever been to one of their churches? I’e had that misfortune and let me tell you, they confess and are healed at the drop of a hat; self imposed of course.
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I am convinced God wants me to be Catholic.

I am pretty sure he wants you to be Catholic.

Blessed is he who is called to the Supper of the Lamb.
 
The Protestants I know believe that because the veil was torn at the crucifixion, that means they don’t have to use an intermediary such as a priest, but can now go directly to God through Christ to have their sins forgiven. They would believe that 1 John 1:9 is speaking of confession to God: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” As others have said, that is up to God who knows their hearts and who knows if their repentance is true.
 
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