And what do you think the means are that Christ has chosen to make that sacrifice of His apparent to us and applicable to us? We’re human, we need cues and signs that are apparent to the senses to reassure us of His presence and to anifest His sacraments.
WE, nor anyone else needs “cues and signs” as you say. The Bible plainly teaches that Jesus is with us if WE are His.
Why do you think He commands the Apostles to do such things as celebrate the Eucharist, baptise people and so forth? For that matter, why are you presuming that ‘whosoever sins you forgive they are forgiven’ doesn’t mean exactly that? Why presume only a limited ability to forgive when He places no such limit upon it?
First, because He commanded them to do so and to teach His followers to do the same; very simple (Matt 28:18-20). Second, Jesus forgives through His blood. I cannot “wash away your sins” no more than I can give my child a bath and it stay clean forever. Jesus’ power washes away sin by obedience to His Word…“Hebrews 9:22 says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission.” I John 1:7 tells us that “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” God, in choosing the cleansing agent for our sins, chose the very best that He had, the blood of His own Son. It is by the precious blood of our Lord, that we are cleansed from all of our sins. Revelation 1:5 says, “To Him who loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Yes, it is only by the blood of our Lord, that we get our sins washed away. John 19:34, “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” Jesus shed His blood for us, in His death, when He died on the cruel cross of Calvary.”
bible.ca/interactive/salvation-15-contacting-blood-christ.htm
“How do we come into contact with that cleansing blood, which our Lord shed in his death, in order to have our sins washed away? Romans 6:3 tells us how. “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” Since Christ shed His blood in His death, when a person is baptized into our Lord’s death, it is there that he comes into contact with the blood of Christ and his sins are then washed away. Baptism is the only means of reaching His death where His blood was shed, so we can have forgiveness of sins. So, when Ananias told Paul in Acts 22:16, “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins,” it was the blood of Christ that washed away Paul’s sins when he was baptized.”
More importantly, how on earth do you explain their power to RETAIN sins? How could any man dare to say to another that they are unforgiven unless they are empowered to speak in God’s name from Whom forgiveness comes?
Good question; the answer is - because Jesus said THEY could, not us. You see, Jesus told us to “love one another, as I have first loved you!” We can forgive someone of a wrong, but it is Christ reigning in our lives who spurs us on to good works and “forgiving those who trespass against US”.
Do you truly think that Christ was only making the completely bleeding obvious and tautological statement that when we forgive people’s sins we forgive them and when we don’t we don’t? That is precisely what you’ve reduced this important commision to.
Tough question; but we don’t “cover” those sins as some people think men can by repetitive sayings, prayers, while wrapped in fine linens and titles. Only His Blood can do that.
Knowing as we do, however, that He was in fact speaking of extending GOD’S forgiveness to men through the Apostles, why then did He limit the power to forgive sins in His name to His Apostles only, and not all His disciples? Only makes sense if it’s because He had chosen to use them as a visible and limited priesthood through which to make Himself available to us, just as the Jews had their Aaronic priests?
bible.ca/cath-apostolic-succession.htm#only
“We have already shown that the apostles were the only ones who were to receive the power from on high and were to wait in Jerusalem for it (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4,8). This power enabled them to speak in tongues, prophesy, and work miracles (Acts 2:4,43). Also, it gave them the ability to transmit the Holy Spirit by laying their hands on others. New Testament prophets were made in this manner and they also could speak in tongues, prophesy, and work miracles, but could not pass the power to others (Acts 8:4-6, 14-19). The apostles and prophets, and they alone, were the chosen ambassadors of Christ through which we are reconciled to God (2 Cor. 5:20). They were chosen to reveal God’s will to mankind (Eph. 3:5). We are to receive their word as the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13; 1 John 4:6). They are the foundation on which we are built (Eph. 2:20). They were selected to deliver “the faith” to mankind and it has once and for all been delivered (Jude 3). Their message has the promise of God to remain forever (1 Pet. 1:23-25).”
If the Apostles were priests because people around them needed such, why would you say there is no need for priests NOW? What makes us different from the Christians of Apostolic times in that they needed priests and we don’t?
Because, as Christians, we are ALL PRIESTS: “You, however, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased people; that you may proclaim the perfections of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Pet. 2:9)"
. I always knew your heart was in the right place regardless 
Even if you did think I was a weirdo 
