How are Protestants forgiven of sin without Priest?

[curtishouse29]

Hello everybody,

Since a Priest is required for absolution, how exactly are Protestants forgiven of their sins? When Protestants ask God to forgive them of a sin (mortal or venial) without the intercession of a Priest, is that Confession valid? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Curtis

 

[Feedmysheep]

Christ instituted the sacrament of Confession as the ordinary means for the forgiveness of sins.
God chooses to work through the sacraments, but, being God, is not bound by them. That means that while we are assured of absolution through Confession, God can choose to extend it in extraordinary ways, though one is never assured of absolution in the same manner as through the sacrament.

 

[JesuXPIPassio]

Hello everybody,

Since a Priest is required for absolution, how exactly are Protestants forgiven of their sins? When Protestants ask God to forgive them of a sin (mortal or venial) without the intercession of a Priest, is that Confession valid? Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Curtis

That’s a good question.

Well, God still forgives sins, priest or not. The difference is that when you have a priest, you have the *assurance *of God’s forgiveness, whereas if you’re flying solo, God may or may not. That’s one of the valuable things about the Sacrament of Confession – you have the assurance of the forgiveness of sin so you don’t have guilt forever on your conscience. People kill themselves over that, but God gave Confession to us as a remedy.