Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004
IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
For sins committed after baptism, a different sacrament is needed. It has been called penance, confession, and reconciliation, each word emphasizing one of its.aspects. During his life, Christ forgave sins, as in the case of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1–11) and the woman who anointed his feet (Luke 7:48). He exercised this power in his human capacity as the Messiah or Son of man, telling us, "the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Matt. 9:6), which is why the Gospel writer himself explains that God "had given such authority to men" (Matt. 9:8).
Since he would not always be with the Church visibly, Christ gave this power to other men so the Church, which is the continuation of his presence throughout time (Matt. 28:20), would be able to offer forgiveness to future generations. He gave his power to the apostles, and it was a power that could be passed on to their successors and agents, since the apostles wouldn’t always be on earth either, but people would still be sinning.
IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827
permission to publish this work is hereby granted.
+Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004
“Since he would not always be with the Church visibly, Christ gave this power to other men so the Church, which is the continuation of his presence throughout time (Matt. 28:20), would be able to offer forgiveness to future generations. He gave his power to the apostles, and it was a power that could be passed on to their successors and agents, since the apostles wouldn’t always be on earth either, but people would still be sinning.”
The letter to the Hebrews makes it CLEAR that any earthly priesthood is FINIS. Not needed since the Priest Forever entered into heaven itself and now sits FOREVER interceding. Rome had no business rebuilding what God tore down and replaced (the Levitical priesthood, not the pretend one Rome fashioned).
Again....context is everything in understanding the Word.
In this passage we see it is Jesus who forgives the sin....not the disciples.
From Matthew 9:1-8 (NASB)
1Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city.
2And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.”
4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts?
5“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?
6“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.”
7And he got up and went home.
8But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.
Actually He gave one means of forgiveness of all sins...
Repent and believe in Him.
Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord (Acts 3:19);
Baptism in itself does not save you. If you do not believe in Christ and you're baptized you're just a wet sinner.
Hear the Word, be convicted by the Word, believe in Him which includes repentance and receive the Holy Spirit by whom you are sealed, then baptism, then follow Him and His commandments and produce fruit for the Kingdom.
1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Belief in Jesus is the end result regardless of how we get there.
One would hope people would see the folly in this. Christ died for all sins and we are reconciled to Him when we accepted Him. We belong to God. We don't do things to earn "good behavior" nor are we reconciled over and over to Him. He knows what we are when He saved us and He is at work in us to mold us into what we are becoming.
1 John 1:7-9 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 to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Just tell God. He'll take care of the rest.
Catechism of the Catholic Church
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1449 The formula of absolution used in the Latin Church expresses the essential elements of this sacrament: the Father of mercies is the source of all forgiveness. He effects the reconciliation of sinners through the Passover of his Son and the gift of his Spirit, through the prayer and ministry of the Church:
God, the Father of mercies, |
Apostates of the highest order...
Is the Catholic who confesses his sins to a priest any better off than the non-Catholic who confesses directly to God? Yes. First, he seeks forgiveness the way Christ intended. Second, by confessing to a priest, the Catholic learns a lesson in humility, which is avoided when one confesses only through private prayer. Third, the Catholic receives sacramental graces the non-Catholic doesn’t get; through the sacrament of penance sins are forgiven and graces are obtained. Fourth, the Catholic is assured that his sins are forgiven; he does not have to rely on a subjective "feeling." Lastly, the Catholic can also obtain sound advice on avoiding sin in the future.
This is sick...
So while you Catholics claim that you can go directly to God in prayer, you are taught not to...WOW!!!
Oh??
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan, unto John, to be baptized by him.
14 But John stayed him, saying: I ought to be baptized by thee, and comest thou to me?
Why; in ALL of His ministry; do we find no instance of Jesus ever baptizing anyone?