Protestants, how are you certain your sins are forgiven?

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

We can only fool ourselve but not God. We are spiritual being, we know how our heart and mind very well apart from God.
Without a heart to repent, our sins shall never be forgiven despite our confession to God. So for those who does not even examine their heart closely and don’t even feel a sense of remote about their wrong doing, then certianly there isn’t even a room of repent. Why i say that becoz i am one of them. Although i confess my sin to God, but deep down inside me i do not even have a heart to repent and don’t feel a sense of remorse ,so despite my numerous confession of my sin, mine is still not cleanse.

That is exactly what I am saying. Apart from the ministry of Confession, we need that perfect contrition. And we can very easily fool ourselves, so how would one know that they are truly repentant for the right reasons and not just deluding themselves.

We can simply go and confess all our sins out without much thought (some pple are very gd at acting) but does our heart really in a stage of guilt/remorse for our wrong doing?? Only you and God will know. Do you think by confessing to a Priest without a repent heart, your sin shall be absolves?? To me is a 100% no.

I would say that if one is not repentant than they wouldn’t be at Confession. Just showing up to ask for forgiveness shows signs of sorrow for your sins. And even if that sorrow is because you dread going to hell and not necessarily because you love God more than anything and have offended Him, that will suffice within the Sacrament of Confession.

The sacrament of confession cannot be taken on a lightly manner and i never deny the confessing to a Priest is not necessary

And if you are serious, then we are in agreement.

 

[Michael_Howard]

You’re assuming we don’t…James speaks of confessing our faults one to another…Friends have…“Meetings for Clearness”…and “Meetings for Disipliine”…we work together…one of our understandings of God is He still speaks to His people…He is present among us in our worship…we do not subscribe to “sola scriptura”…

We believe in freedom of conscience…we believe the Light will guide sincere seeking hearts…God is a Lover…not a taskmaster.

Forgive me if I’m wrong it’s been awhile since I studied this, but I believe what is meant here by “confess your sins one to another” and James being the bishop of the church of Jerusalem was sins were confessed in a group with the bishop present, the same as today but in a group. I read this is Justins writings I believe, anyone care to speak further on this?

 

[Michael_Howard]

You’re assuming we don’t…James speaks of confessing our faults one to another…Friends have…“Meetings for Clearness”…and “Meetings for Disipliine”…we work together…one of our understandings of God is He still speaks to His people…He is present among us in our worship…we do not subscribe to “sola scriptura”…

We believe in freedom of conscience…we believe the Light will guide sincere seeking hearts…God is a Lover…not a taskmaster.

Forgive me if I’m wrong it’s been awhile since I studied this, but I believe what is meant here by “confess your sins one to another” and James being the bishop of the church of Jerusalem was sins were confessed in a group with the bishop present, the same as today but in a group. I read this is Justins writings I believe, anyone care to speak further on this?

 

[Michael_Howard]

You’re assuming we don’t…James speaks of confessing our faults one to another…Friends have…“Meetings for Clearness”…and “Meetings for Disipliine”…we work together…one of our understandings of God is He still speaks to His people…He is present among us in our worship…we do not subscribe to “sola scriptura”…

We believe in freedom of conscience…we believe the Light will guide sincere seeking hearts…God is a Lover…not a taskmaster.

Forgive me if I’m wrong it’s been awhile since I studied this, but I believe what is meant here by “confess your sins one to another” and James being the bishop of the church of Jerusalem was sins were confessed in a group with the bishop present, the same as today but in a group. I read this is Justins writings I believe, anyone care to speak further on this?

 

[LilyM]

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanes us from ALL unrightousness.

God said it and I believe it and thats good enoght for me.

Sorry, let us not forget for an instant, that Jesus also spoke to the Apostles about RETAINING people’s sins. In other words there would be some whose sins were and are retained. By the Apostles and by Jesus.

The Apostles, clearly, could choose to retain sins REGARDLESS OF oral confession of same. People can admit to sins while still not being sincerely repentant, you know. Example - someone is sorry he cheated on his wife, but only because he was caught.

Do you think the Apostles never retained the sins of some who approached them to confess but weren’t sincere in doing so? Of course they did. You think Jesus doesn’t do the same sometimes to those who kinda sorta attempt to confess directly to him but aren’t genuinely sorry? Of course He does.

So the question remains - how do you know you’ve been forgiven? How do you know your confession was sincere enough?

 

[LilyM]

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanes us from ALL unrightousness.

God said it and I believe it and thats good enoght for me.

Sorry, let us not forget for an instant, that Jesus also spoke to the Apostles about RETAINING people’s sins. In other words there would be some whose sins were and are retained. By the Apostles and by Jesus.

The Apostles, clearly, could choose to retain sins REGARDLESS OF oral confession of same. People can admit to sins while still not being sincerely repentant, you know. Example - someone is sorry he cheated on his wife, but only because he was caught.

Do you think the Apostles never retained the sins of some who approached them to confess but weren’t sincere in doing so? Of course they did. You think Jesus doesn’t do the same sometimes to those who kinda sorta attempt to confess directly to him but aren’t genuinely sorry? Of course He does.

So the question remains - how do you know you’ve been forgiven? How do you know your confession was sincere enough?

 

[LilyM]

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanes us from ALL unrightousness.

God said it and I believe it and thats good enoght for me.

Sorry, let us not forget for an instant, that Jesus also spoke to the Apostles about RETAINING people’s sins. In other words there would be some whose sins were and are retained. By the Apostles and by Jesus.

The Apostles, clearly, could choose to retain sins REGARDLESS OF oral confession of same. People can admit to sins while still not being sincerely repentant, you know. Example - someone says he is sorry he cheated on his wife, but only because he was caught, and really wouldn’t mind doing so again if the opportunity came along.

Do you think the Apostles never retained the sins of some who approached them to confess but weren’t sincere in doing so? Of course they did. You think Jesus doesn’t do the same sometimes to those who attempt to confess directly to him but aren’t genuinely sorry? Of course He does.

So the question remains - how do you know you’ve been forgiven? How do you know your confession was sincere enough? Doesn’t EVERYONE, no matter how heinous their sins and how insincere their confession, think they’ve been forgiven? Have you ever met anyone who tried the direct mode who genuinely thought their sins were retained against them? I haven’t.

 

[LilyM]

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanes us from ALL unrightousness.

God said it and I believe it and thats good enoght for me.

Sorry, let us not forget for an instant, that Jesus also spoke to the Apostles about RETAINING people’s sins. In other words there would be some whose sins were and are retained. By the Apostles and by Jesus.

The Apostles, clearly, could choose to retain sins REGARDLESS OF oral confession of same. People can admit to sins while still not being sincerely repentant, you know. Example - someone says he is sorry he cheated on his wife, but only because he was caught, and really wouldn’t mind doing so again if the opportunity came along.

Do you think the Apostles never retained the sins of some who approached them to confess but weren’t sincere in doing so? Of course they did. You think Jesus doesn’t do the same sometimes to those who attempt to confess directly to him but aren’t genuinely sorry? Of course He does.

So the question remains - how do you know you’ve been forgiven? How do you know your confession was sincere? Doesn’t EVERYONE, no matter how heinous their sins and how half-hearted their confession, think they’ve been forgiven? Have you ever met anyone who tried the direct mode who genuinely thought their sins were retained against them? I haven’t.

 

[LilyM]

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanes us from ALL unrightousness.

God said it and I believe it and thats good enoght for me.

Jesus also said some sins would be retained. He gave the Apostles power to do so. And that’s regardless of confession or not, since of course people can confess in such a half-baked insincerely-sorry manner that they don’t merit forgiveness.

So the question still remains - how do you really know whether your sins have been forgiven or retained? Does ANYONE, even the most insincere self-deluded person, ever attempt to confess directly but think they haven’t been forgiven?

 

[LilyM]

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanes us from ALL unrightousness.

God said it and I believe it and thats good enoght for me.

Jesus also said some sins would be retained. He gave the Apostles power to do so. And that’s regardless of confession or not, since of course people can confess in such a half-baked insincerely-sorry manner that they don’t merit forgiveness.

So the question still remains - how do you really know whether your sins have been forgiven or retained? Does ANYONE, even the most insincere self-deluded person, ever attempt to confess directly but think they haven’t been forgiven?

 

[LilyM]

I John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanes us from ALL unrightousness.

God said it and I believe it and thats good enoght for me.

But again, Jesus made clear to the Apostles that some sins would be retained. And that must be regardless of whether they’re confessed or not, since of course people can confess in a totally insincere or half-baked way devoid of genuine repentance, and not actually merit forgiveness.

So the question remains, how do you really know that your sins have been forgiven or retained? Is there anyone you know of who’s ever attempted confession but is aware of their sins having been retained rather than forgiven? Clearly this must be the actual end result in some cases, but how would you know? Do you think a voice would boom down from heaven and say ‘not good enough!’

 

[Mannyfit75]

The question remains unanswered. I could add an addition, how do you know your sins are forgiven or retained?

I ask Fr. Peter in Abu Guraib if he ever retain a sin of a sinner. He said, "Yes, I have. The man lived with a woman. He ask him to move out of the apartment and not live with his girlfriend. He could not. The sin that this man did was staying with a woman who is not married, and have committed the sin of fornication. The penitent ask for forgiveness but when the priest gave sound advise to avoid this sin, he could not fully comply. So his sin was retained. He also retain a penitent man, who is a homosexual, and didn’t wish to remain chaste and live a holy life and avoid homosexual activity.

Fr. John Corapi also retain sin from a man who could not leave his girlfriend’s house.

Suppose the situation was not a Catholic. A Protestant who lives with his girlfriend. He ask God to forgive him for having sex with his girlfriend. Yet he remain to live with her, and falls into the sin of fornication. So was his sin retain or forgiven? There is no answer to this in Protestant concept of forgiving sin.

 

[Mannyfit75]

The question remains unanswered. I could add an addition, how do you know your sins are forgiven or retained?

I ask Fr. Peter in Abu Guraib if he ever retain a sin of a sinner. He said, "Yes, I have. The man lived with a woman. He ask him to move out of the apartment and not live with his girlfriend. He could not. The sin that this man did was staying with a woman who is not married, and have committed the sin of fornication. The penitent ask for forgiveness but when the priest gave sound advise to avoid this sin, he could not fully comply. So his sin was retained. He also retain a penitent man, who is a homosexual, and didn’t wish to remain chaste and live a holy life and avoid homosexual activity.

Fr. John Corapi also retain sin from a man who could not leave his girlfriend’s house.

Suppose the situation was not a Catholic. A Protestant who lives with his girlfriend. He ask God to forgive him for having sex with his girlfriend. Yet he remain to live with her, and falls into the sin of fornication. So was his sin retain or forgiven? There is no answer to this in Protestant concept of forgiving sin.

 

[Mannyfit75]

The question remains unanswered. I could add an addition, how do you know your sins are forgiven or retained?

I ask Fr. Peter in Abu Guraib if he ever retain a sin of a sinner. He said, "Yes, I have. The man lived with a woman. He ask him to move out of the apartment and not live with his girlfriend. He could not. The sin that this man did was staying with a woman who is not married, and have committed the sin of fornication. The penitent ask for forgiveness but when the priest gave sound advise to avoid this sin, he could not fully comply. So his sin was retained. He also retain a penitent man, who is a homosexual, and didn’t wish to remain chaste and live a holy life and avoid homosexual activity.

Fr. John Corapi also retain sin from a man who could not leave his girlfriend’s house.

Suppose the situation was not a Catholic. A Protestant who lives with his girlfriend. He ask God to forgive him for having sex with his girlfriend. Yet he remain to live with her, and falls into the sin of fornication. So was his sin retain or forgiven? There is no answer to this in Protestant concept of forgiving sin.

 

[Mannyfit75]

The question remains unanswered. I could add an addition, how do you know your sins are forgiven or retained?

I ask Fr. Peter in Abu Guraib if he ever retain a sin of a sinner. He said, "Yes, I have. The man lived with a woman. He ask him to move out of the apartment and not live with his girlfriend. He could not. The sin that this man did was staying with a woman who is not married, and have committed the sin of fornication. The penitent ask for forgiveness but when the priest gave sound advise to avoid this sin, he could not fully comply. So his sin was retained. He also retain a penitent man, who is a homosexual, and didn’t wish to remain chaste and live a holy life and avoid homosexual activity.

Fr. John Corapi also retain sin from a man who could not leave his girlfriend’s house.

Suppose the situation was not a Catholic. A Protestant who lives with his girlfriend. He ask God to forgive him for having sex with his girlfriend. Yet he remain to live with her, and falls into the sin of fornication. So was his sin retain or forgiven? There is no answer to this in Protestant concept of forgiving sin.

 

[Mannyfit75]

The question remains unanswered. I could add an addition, how do you know your sins are forgiven or retained?

I ask Fr. Peter in Abu Guraib if he ever retain a sin of a sinner. He said, "Yes, I have. The man lived with a woman. He ask him to move out of the apartment and not live with his girlfriend. He could not. The sin that this man did was staying with a woman who is not married, and have committed the sin of fornication. The penitent ask for forgiveness but when the priest gave sound advise to avoid this sin, he could not fully comply. So his sin was retained. He also retain a penitent man, who is a homosexual, and didn’t wish to remain chaste and live a holy life and avoid homosexual activity.

Fr. John Corapi also retain sin from a man who could not leave his girlfriend’s house.

Suppose the situation was not a Catholic. A Protestant who lives with his girlfriend. He ask God to forgive him for having sex with his girlfriend. Yet he remain to live with her, and falls into the sin of fornication. So was his sin retain or forgiven? There is no answer to this in Protestant concept of forgiving sin.

 

[Mannyfit75]

The question remains unanswered. I could add an addition, how do you know your sins are forgiven or retained?

I ask Fr. Peter in Abu Guraib if he ever retain a sin of a sinner. He said, "Yes, I have. The man lived with a woman. He ask him to move out of the apartment and not live with his girlfriend. He could not. The sin that this man did was staying with a woman who is not married, and have committed the sin of fornication. The penitent ask for forgiveness but when the priest gave sound advise to avoid this sin, he could not fully comply. So his sin was retained. He also retain a penitent man, who is a homosexual, and didn’t wish to remain chaste and live a holy life and avoid homosexual activity.

Fr. John Corapi also retain sin from a man who could not leave his girlfriend’s house.

Suppose the situation was not a Catholic. A Protestant who lives with his girlfriend. He ask God to forgive him for having sex with his girlfriend. Yet he remain to live with her, and falls into the sin of fornication. So was his sin retain or forgiven? There is no answer to this in Protestant concept of forgiving sin.

 

[Kitty_Chan]

If you confess your sins to God you can only assumed that He forgave you and remove the sins…

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I dont assume, I believe in His promise because God never breaks promises.

I

don’t see how Protestant concept of forgiving sins can fullfill Jesus Christ’s gift of forgiveness of sins to his Apostles. It would only make sense if there is a mediator between God and the pentitent.

And the mediator between God and the pentitent is Jesus.

 

[LilyM]

1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I dont assume, I believe in His promise because God never breaks promises.

And the mediator between God and the pentitent is Jesus.

Jesus also promises that those whose sins the Apostles chose to retain would be retained. Why would sins still not be retained at times today??? Why would Jesus tell the Apostles that it was sometimes OK to retain people’s sins if he himself never does so?

Just doesn’t make sense.

 

[Mannyfit75]

To the Moderator,

Please delete one of the triple post…Thanks