Does God forgive even before I repent?

[Ender]

This question was addressed in the Catechism of Trent.

*…it is so much the special province of **Penance *to remit sins that it is impossible to obtain or even to hope for remission of sins by any other means; for it is written: Unless you do penance, you shall all likewise perish. These words were said by our Lord in reference to grievous and mortal sins

…those parts which constitute Penance, so to say, whole and entire; namely, contrition, confession and satisfaction. On these St. Chrysostom thus speaks: Penance enables the sinner to bear all willingly in his heart is contrition; on his lips confession; in his actions entire humility or salutary satisfaction.

Penance is composed of contrition, confession, and satisfaction and without penance (“whole and entire”) it is "impossible to obtain" remission of sins. So it would seem that not only are we not forgiven our sins before repentance but that repentance alone is insufficient.

Ender

 

[brgregmack]

so possibly this could be an issue of semantics. If forgiveness means remission of sins then no. If it means God still loves us, then yes we are forgiven, but not reconciled. Either way, our salvation depends on penance.

 

[saved4sure]

I guess you didn’t do that well in school when it came to reading comprehension, right?

Note in my post, where I said “for an example of this.” Do you know what that means? It doesn’t mean that this is a comprehensive list of what sins will send you to hell if you don’t repent of them before you die.

Oh, I see you have an attitude problem here. Is that how you respond to people who question your erroneous beliefs? You know what lack of scriptural understanding means? Well you are ignorant of the truth of scripture!

 

[Scoobyshme]

Oh, I see you have an attitude problem here. Is that how you respond to people who question your erroneous beliefs? You know what lack of scriptural understanding means? Well you are ignorant of the truth of scripture!

Well, one of us is, for sure.

You Protestants base your beliefs on Sola Scriptura (the Bible Alone), but nowhere in the Bible does it support this man-made doctrine.

The Bible says the Church is the “pillar and foundation of truth.” Nowhere does it say the individual, personally interpreting his/her Bible is anything of the sort. In fact St. Peter warns against personal interpretation in 2 Peter 1:20.

Jesus taught orally when He walked the earth. He didn’t write any books. He commanded the Apostles to spread His oral teachings to everyone. The Apostles, in turn, taught their successors the bishops, who did likewise, down through 2000 years.

SOME of what was orally taught got written down. That’s the New Testament. But not all! (See John 21:25). Yet, they were commanded to teach “all.” (See Matt. 28:20) The difference is Oral Tradition, that St. Paul puts on the same level as Scripture in 2 Thes 2:15. We call Oral Tradition “Sacred Tradition.”

Where would Protestants find the rest of Christ’s teachings, i.e., Sacred Tradition, if they only had the Bible?

 

[fhansen]

The title says all I am asking. Thanks.

Gods’ forgiveness effects nothing unless we accept it by repenting. Nothing changes in someone who offends me just because I may continuously forgive them. But knowing that the forgiveness is offered opens the door for change. God wants us to know we’re forgiven so we can proceed to have a change of heart, if we’re willing.

 

[saved4sure]

Well, one of us is, for sure.

You Protestants base your beliefs on Sola Scriptura (the Bible Alone), but nowhere in the Bible does it support this man-made doctrine.

The Bible says the Church is the “pillar and foundation of truth.” Nowhere does it say the individual, personally interpreting his/her Bible is anything of the sort. In fact St. Peter warns against personal interpretation in 2 Peter 1:20.

Jesus taught orally when He walked the earth. He didn’t write any books. He commanded the Apostles to spread His oral teachings to everyone. The Apostles, in turn, taught their successors the bishops, who did likewise, down through 2000 years.

SOME of what was orally taught got written down. That’s the New Testament. But not all! (See John 21:25). Yet, they were commanded to teach “all.” (See Matt. 28:20) The difference is Oral Tradition, that St. Paul puts on the same level as Scripture in 2 Thes 2:15. We call Oral Tradition “Sacred Tradition.”

Where would Protestants find the rest of Christ’s teachings, i.e., Sacred Tradition, if they only had the Bible?

It appears that Paul differs with you and states clearly that The Word of God is quite good enough.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto **all **good works."

 

[Scoobyshme]

It appears that Paul differs with you and states clearly that The Word of God is quite good enough.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto **all **good works."

You have a reading comprehension problem.

Nowhere in that statement does it say Scripture is “solely” sufficient. All it says is that all Scripture is “profitable,” etc. It’s like saying, “Drinking 8 glasses of water per day is very profitable for your body.” But if that’s all you do, you’ll eventually starve to death.

 

[saved4sure]

You have a reading comprehension problem.

Nowhere in that statement does it say Scripture is “solely” sufficient. All it says is that all Scripture is “profitable,” etc. It’s like saying, “Drinking 8 glasses of water per day is very profitable for your body.” But if that’s all you do, you’ll eventually starve to death.

Read again:

“That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

It appears that you are far to ignorant in understanding scripture so communicating with you is a waste of time. Therefore, you need to be ignored. bye, bye.