Justification by Faith vs The Sacrament of Confession

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If scripture tells us that we are justified by faith and that one must accept the kingdom of God as a child would accept a gift, then why does the Catholic church emphasize one attempting to recall each and every sin committed at a sacremental confession? If it is by faith in the sacrifice that Christ made for our sins that cleanses us, then why the scrutiny in confession??
 
Are you opposed to confessing your sins to God and repenting of them?
 
If scripture tells us that we are justified by faith and that one must accept the kingdom of God as a child would accept a gift, then why does the Catholic church emphasize one attempting to recall each and every sin committed at a sacremental confession? If it is by faith in the sacrifice that Christ made for our sins that cleanses us, then why the scrutiny in confession??
Because of what St. John wrote at the beginning of his first epistle (1 John 1:6-10):
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not live according to the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
 
Not at all. I just believe that to attempt to recall every single that one may have committed from one confession period to another is really contradicting scripture. The emphasis should be on forgiveness and repentance, not guilt.
 
Since Scripture tells us that we are to submit to authority (St. Paul), that there are sins which are mortal and which are not mortal (St. James), and since Jesus gave to His apostles the power to bind or loose sins, one of the seven sacraments that were established by Christ and His Church is that of confession.

We are not justified by ‘faith alone’, IOW. Since that is so, the fact that we are justified by faith does not preclude such scriptural and 2000 year old apostolic practices as sacramental confession being a part of Christian living.

God bless.
 
I suppose this is really where I must disagree, first with your interpretation (I should say the magisterium’s) of scripture and secondly recognizing when scripture speaks to something in a crystal clear manner such as faith alone as Paul did clearly in Romans. If faith alone were not true, then how could a man who sinned graveously his entire life be saved just breaths before death by our one and true savior himself? Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise, not if you say a set number of Hail Mary’s and such maybe you will make it through purgatory. Jesus’ actions alone prove scripture as being a person justified by faith alone.
 
Not at all. I just believe that to attempt to recall every single that one may have committed from one confession period to another is really contradicting scripture. The emphasis should be on forgiveness and repentance, not guilt.
First of all, it is the grave sins that are really to be confessed. None of us remember all the small sins we commit, but we can remember patterns of sin.

Secondly, how can you ask forgiveness of a sin if you don’t even bring it to mind? How can you repent of a sin if you don’t even bring it to mind? Do you really think “I have no idea what sins I’ve committed, Lord, but I repent of them and ask your forgiveness for them” is honoring God’s mercy and forgiveness? If nothing else, what does that say about one’s calousness towards serious sin?

Oh, and why should one emphasis (not the emphasis, but one emphasis) not be on guilt? Should not every Christian be aware of their guilt in sinning against God? Or is that just too uncomfortable?
 
I suppose this is really where I must disagree, first with your interpretation (I should say the magisterium’s) of scripture and secondly recognizing when scripture speaks to something in a crystal clear manner such as faith alone as Paul did clearly in Romans. If faith alone were not true, then how could a man who sinned graveously his entire life be saved just breaths before death by our one and true savior himself? Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise, not if you say a set number of Hail Mary’s and such maybe you will make it through purgatory. Jesus’ actions alone prove scripture as being a person justified by faith alone.
You can be saved that way too, if you’re lucky enough to sincerely repent just before you die. Good luck on that timing. 😉

But since you bring up the thief on the cross (as so many Christians do, even though it doesn’t apply to them), let me ask you, can you be saved if you live the rest of your life as the thief on the cross, but without the deathbed conversion (for you are already converted, right)? Is the thief on the cross your ideal of the Christian life you desire to live?
 
Not at all. I just believe that to attempt to recall every single that one may have committed from one confession period to another is really contradicting scripture. The emphasis should be on forgiveness and repentance, not guilt.
There’s more to consider even than forgiveness and repentance. The woman caught in adultery was, one presumes, repentant, and most certainly was forgiven. But there was the ‘go and sin no more …’ added at the end which is the real kicker.

If we are to have any hope of avoiding or at least minimising future sin we must be self-aware enough to put a name and number to our past sins, and humble enough to speak them aloud. There really is no serious substitute for sacramental confession, not even therapy.
 
Hello,
Not at all. I just believe that to attempt to recall every single that one may have committed from one confession period to another is really contradicting scripture. The emphasis should be on forgiveness and repentance, not guilt.
How does it contradict Scripture. Do you believe in the Sacrament of Confession? Do you believe in any of the Sacraments? God gave the power to forgive sins to men. (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; John 20:21-23; many others) Why would He do this if He didn’t intend for us to confess our sins to the priests He commissioned to minister to mankind. Now, Jesus gave them the power to either forgive sins or to retain sins. (John 20:21-23) How can a priest know what sins to forgive and which to retain if you don’t tell them - they are not mind readers.

As far as justified by faith - do you know what faith is? It is not “I believe in the existence of God and of Jesus’ redemptive mission.” Satan believes in God and Jesus’ role in redemption - and look where he is at. Faith is much more - it is that virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that He has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because He is truth itself. We are justified by grace, through faith, unto good works.
 
I’m really sorry that you look at it that way. If you really and truly believe that God wishes you to be guilt ridden your entire life, than I think unfortunately you have missed the boat. Sin is certainly not to be soft peddled I do agree but again, what does scripture say?? Paul said that all have fallen short of the grace of God. Guilt doesn’t keep one from sinning, but keeps one from realizing the true joy of being forgiven.
 
I suppose this is really where I must disagree, first with your interpretation (I should say the magisterium’s) of scripture and secondly recognizing when scripture speaks to something in a crystal clear manner such as faith alone as Paul did clearly in Romans. If faith alone were not true, then how could a man who sinned graveously his entire life be saved just breaths before death by our one and true savior himself? Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise, not if you say a set number of Hail Mary’s and such maybe you will make it through purgatory. Jesus’ actions alone prove scripture as being a person justified by faith alone.
Faith alone is nowhere taught in scriputre, in fact it contradicts scripture. The only time the phrase appears in scripture is in James2 where it says, ‘Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?’ Faith is dead without works. Works justify as James says.

Was the man on the cross beside Christ devoid of works? I would have to disagree with you. As the gospels reveal, this man rebuked the other theif for mocking Jesus. That is a work in itself. Works is not a stiff word that has absolutely no variation in meaning. The man could have had an internal stirring of love and to defend Jesus. That is a work in itself. Love is the principle work of our salvation. As Paul said, if I have faith but have not charity I am nothing[1Cor.13].
 
This is almost the same topic as this thread here: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=138442 Ongoing discussion regarding why the Church believes in a salvation that’s hinged on grace through faith and works as opposed to faith alone. I think that we have to be clear here–the Church isn’t opposed to salvation by faith; it is when salvation is by faith alone that the Church draws the line. More on this on that thread…
 
I’m really sorry that you look at it that way. If you really and truly believe that God wishes you to be guilt ridden your entire life, than I think unfortunately you have missed the boat.
Oh please, did I speak about being “guilt-ridden your entire life”? Or did I speak about acknowledging the guilt of one’s offenses against God? Is acknowledging a fact being “fact-ridden your entire life”?
Sin is certainly not to be soft peddled I do agree but again, what does scripture say?? Paul said that all have fallen short of the grace of God. Guilt doesn’t keep one from sinning, but keeps one from realizing the true joy of being forgiven.
So you’re preaching guilt-free Christianity. Since we are guilty of sin, what you are preaching is not in accord with the reality of our condition. You are soft-peddling sin, despite your claims to the contrary. Sin without understanding of one’s guilt is soft-peddled sin. But it’ll probably be a hot seller in this day and age.
 
Guilt doesn’t keep one from sinning, but keeps one from realizing the true joy of being forgiven.
I disagree with both of the above.

You’re a former catholic, right? I think perhaps you should be a little more clear on what you mean by guilt.
 
I would say guilt as in not being fully forgiven as scripture does teach. Confessing one’s sins is what scripture does speak of as well, but with the full knowledge that God forgives the sin and it is fully forgiven, no left over guilt.
 
If you really and truly believe that God wishes you to be guilt ridden your entire life, than I think unfortunately you have missed the boat. Sin is certainly not to be soft peddled I do agree but again, what does scripture say?? Paul said that all have fallen short of the grace of God. Guilt doesn’t keep one from sinning, but keeps one from realizing the true joy of being forgiven.
I disagree with the last statement you made (that is, guilt “keeps one from realizing the true joy of being forgiven”); if we didn’t feel bad when we sinned how would we feel any differently when we were forgiven? Luke 7:36-50:
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house, and took his place at table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”
And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.”
And he answered, “What is it, Teacher?”
“A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?”
Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, to whom he forgave more.”
And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.
And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?”
And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
Jesus didn’t say “your guilt has saved you”, he said “your faith has saved you”. It’s not guilt that drives us, but repentance, and part of repentance is acknowledgement of our sin and remorse for its effect. It is our faith that our contrite hearts will be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.
 
Wow, what is all this talk about guilt.

Does God want us to be guilty?

There is only one thing worse than guilt and that is not feeling guilty for sin. This is to avoid taking responsibility for ones own action. By simply avoiding regarding sin as sin is to become permissive.

Secondly, the sacrament of confession is not about guilt. I REPEAT it is not about guilt.

It is about making a true reconciliation with God, it is in this way that God forgives sin. He does not forgive sins by simply having us forget about them or pretending that sins aren’t sins.

The sacrament of confession is a blessing that allows us to know that we have been forgiven by God on his terms not our own.

Confession is about freeing us from sin, NOT guilt. We are forgiven by confession, this is not about Guilt but forgiveness and the Love of God.
 
I would say guilt as in not being fully forgiven as scripture does teach. Confessing one’s sins is what scripture does speak of as well, but with the full knowledge that God forgives the sin and it is fully forgiven, no left over guilt.
Guilt is the driving force that one would confess one’s sins; guilt is the recognition of that fault, and from there one would, or should, feel remorse and then towards a commitment not to do it again. So guilt in itself is not bad–and in fact, should motivate one to change for the better.
 
I would say guilt as in not being fully forgiven as scripture does teach. Confessing one’s sins is what scripture does speak of as well, but with the full knowledge that God forgives the sin and it is fully forgiven, no left over guilt.
Yes, that is why we go to confession, because we know that God will forgive us the sin.
 
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